Crusaders player ratings vs Reds | Super Rugby Pacific
After a shaky start to the season, the Crusaders have started to string some good wins together and while they entered Queensland with a number of injuries, they’re also a team gathering momentum.
It was a tight opening 20, points were hard to come by and the Crusaders eventually decided they’d take what they could get, opening the scoring with three points in the 17th minute.
Three tries followed in the first half, two for the Crusaders through well-executed running lines and one from the Reds off a silky counter-attack instigated by Jock Campbell.
Not too much changed in the second 40, the game was an arm wrestle for long stretches with defence the deciding factor. Fulltime score: 25-12.
Here’s how the Crusaders rated:
- Joe Moody – 7.5
Moody and the Crusaders’ front row had good control of the scrum, they applied pressure throughout the game and forced the referee into giving the Reds front row a warning by the 50th minute. Perhaps a bit passive in a few tackles, hanging off Reds players and allowing post contacts metres which translated into front foot ball.
- Codie Taylor – 6.5
Taylor again was quiet for long stretches of this match, his set-piece work stood up for the most part with just one ill-thrown lineout while the scrum operated strongly.
- Tamaiti Williams – 7
Williams’ scrummaging stood out this game, earning his side a number of penalties against both the Reds’ first and second units. He was one of many that struggled with handling errors, Mo’unga after the game noted the ball was a little slippery which contributed to the game never really finding much of a rhythm.
- Scott Barrett – 7.5
Barrett’s efforts around the park stood out in this match due to the scrappy nature of it, he was hitting rucks all over the park and doing his best to provide a decent platform for his backs to let loose. That being said, his tackle numbers weren’t overly impressive and the Crusaders’ lineout wasn’t as on-song as you’d expect from the reigning champs.
- Dominic Gardiner – 8
Shows excellent effort in the micro areas around the park, getting up after tackles in a fraction of a second ready for the next play. Shows the odd sign that there’s still some adjusting to do to get used to Super Rugby’s pace. Found a great line off Hotham’s shoulder to score late in the first half. Huge effort around the park, had some nice offloads and led his side in tackles.
- Sione Havili-Talitui – 6
In such a stagnant match, the work was far from glorious and Havili-Talitui along with his loose forwards just had to knuckle down and make tackles. Sione’s defence has been more than up to the task so far this season but he did fall off a few tackles in this one.
- Tom Christie – 7.5
Six rounds in and Christie has played every single minute for the Crusaders. Each round gives you more appreciation for his workload for this Crusaders team, he was again on of the leading tacklers tonight.
- Christian Lio-Willie – 6.5
Got through his work defensively and racked up 41 metres on his 13 carries with a couple of offloads too.
- Noah Hotham – 8
One or two wobbles in the 19-year-old’s first start, but plenty of superb plays to outweigh them. A dart around the ruck in the 30th minute set up Gardiner’s try and displayed some of the X-factor that Tasman Mako fans know he’s capable of. Off early in the second half.
- Richie Mo’unga – 7.5
Richie would no doubt be a bit frustrated with having limited opportunities to stretch his legs in this one but marched his team around the pitch well, just was let down by not having such strong secondary options in the kicking duels. Both kickers missed some basic kicks off the tee, adding to the scrappy feeling of the match.
- Leicester Fainga’anuku –
This guy rarely misses when an opportunity presents itself. Fainga’anuku has excellent timing when he runs his lines off set plays and crossed the white chalk in the 22nd minute as a due reward. Was cut down in a one-on-one with Jordan Petaia with his first touch and threw an offload with no Crusader around to receive, landing straight in the hands of a Reds player.
- Dallas McLeod –
McLeod’s influence on this one wasn’t quite as dramatic as in previous rounds, but the subtleties in his game serve the Crusaders well. Delivered a couple of offloads and silky touches that gave contributed to his side’s momentum and his physical presence defensively saved a try amongst other
- Braydon Ennor – 7
Put boot to ball a couple of times and gained some good territory out of it. His pace again proved a great asset in chasing contestable kicks and finding those half gaps to get a few more metres on his runs. Spaced himself well defensively.
- Pepesana Patafilo – 6.5
Patafilo’s defensive instincts have him consistently placed in the right place at the right time, which was needed as he dealt with a mercurial Jordan Petaia in this one. The ball barely touched his side of the pitch.
- Fergus Burke – 6.5
Another quieter outing for Burke, he was;t able to find opportunities to inject himself and his kicking game was a mixed bag.
Reserves:
16. Brodie McCalister – 7
17. George Bower – 7
18. Seb Calder – 7
19. Jamie Hannah – 7
20. Corey Kellow – 7.5
21. Willi Heinz – 8
Scored what must be the easiest try in history in the 54th minute, simply pushing the ball forward a few centimetres after a strong Tamaiti Williams carry got the ball right next to the try line. Again came through with a clutch play, this time producing a turnover at a time that was perhaps the Reds’ last chance of scoring the two tries needed for a comeback.
22. Will Gualter – 7
23. Chay Fihaki – 7
Comments on RugbyPass
An on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusades , you can keep going.
1 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
24 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
24 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
24 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
24 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
11 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
11 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to comments