Five of the best: The top five performers from round seven of Super Rugby Aotearoa
The latest round of Super Rugby Aotearoa brought with it arguably the biggest upset of the competition when the Hurricanes emerged triumphant over the Crusaders in Christchurch.
Ignoring their 12-3 defeat to the British and Irish Lions in 2017, the Wellingtonians’ enthralling 34-32 victory over the reigning Super Rugby champions signalled the first loss the hosts had suffered in their backyard in four years.
Not only was it a drought-breaking win, but it has blown the competition wide open with three rounds remaining, as any one of the Crusaders, Blues and Hurricanes – who are all separated by just three points – stand as realistic chances of claiming the title.
In Auckland, meanwhile, the Blues bounced back from their two-match losing streak to return to the winners’ circle with a hard-fought 21-17 win against the Chiefs at Eden Park.
It was a match where the home side’s forward pack blossomed in the physical nature of the battle, with the front row among the stars of the show.
With that in mind, here are five of the best performers from the round seven of Super Rugby Aotearoa.
Richie Mo’unga (Crusaders)
When the Crusaders beat the Blues in a top-of-the-table clash a few weeks ago, many pundits cried out to All Blacks boss Ian Foster that Richie Mo’unga should be maintained as New Zealand’s first-choice No. 10 after outshining Beauden Barrett.
If there were any doubters about Mo’unga’s ability and capacity to tear a game apart while in the thick of the action, those concerns must surely be dispelled as he put on a ball-playing clinic in a losing effort against the Hurricanes.
The 26-year-old’s fleet-footedness was of the quality you’d expect of a world-class wing, while his vision, distribution and ability to pierce the defensive line with his agility and acceleration showed how good of a playmaker he is.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CDH4UaUg8ep/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
What transpired from his outstanding showing was an outrageous stat sheet that reads a try, a try assist, 17 points (most of the round), 92 running metres (third-most of the round), 12 defenders beaten (most of the round), four clean breaks (second-most of the round), an offload, five out of six tackles made and a turnover won.
Perhaps the only blight on his performance was the late conversion attempt to Sevu Reece’s try that went agonisingly close to tying the game up, but with efforts like this, it’s hard to argue against Mo’unga retaining the national first-five jersey.
Peter Umaga-Jensen (Hurricanes)
All the attention on the Hurricanes’ midfield was centred on Ngani Laumape after he bulldozed his way through the Blues in Wellington last week, but it was his partner Peter Umaga-Jensen who stole the show for the men in yellow.
It was almost a coming of age performance for the 22-year-old, in what could almost be described as his best performance in a Hurricanes jersey aside from maybe last year’s display against the Blues, when he and Danny Toala teamed up superbly.
Saturday’s task, however, was entirely different to last year’s assignment.
Rather than playing against a battling franchise rooted near the bottom of the Super Rugby table, Umaga-Jensen had to step up against the best team in New Zealand in front of their home crowd, of whom hadn’t seen their side lose in the flesh since 2016.
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Step up is exactly what the promising nephew of former All Blacks captain Tana Umaga did, though, as he used his big frame to physically impose himself against Crusaders rookie and Tongan international Fetuli Paea.
The results were destructive for the Crusaders, who struggled to contain Umaga-Jensen as he beat four defenders to break the line twice, set up a Wes Goosen try and score one himself as he carried three defenders over the line with him.
With Laumape expected to be ruled out until November with a fractured forearm, the Hurricanes will be reliant on Umaga-Jensen producing similar displays if they are to challenge for the Super Rugby Aotearoa crown.
Kurt Eklund (Blues)
Veteran Blues hooker James Parsons may be signed on with the Auckland franchise until the end of next season, but head coach Leon MacDonald might have just uncovered his long-term replacement in the form of Kurt Eklund.
It’s hard not to be impressed by the 28-year-old Super Rugby rookie, who has long shone at Mitre 10 Cup level for both Auckland and Bay of Plenty without getting the recognition he probably deserves.
That’s changed over the past couple of weeks, though, as in the absence of Parsons from the Blues’ starting lineup, Eklund has established himself as one of the league’s most in-form hookers.
Backing up his admirable efforts against the Crusaders and Hurricanes, Eklund was handed man-of-the-match honours against the Chiefs on Sunday.
Playing a starring role in the Blues’ standout front row, his work rate didn’t go unnoticed, while his defensive tenacity and knack of being in the right place at the right time was key to the Blues’ success.
With 13 tackles from 13 attempts, his accuracy and hunger for work off the ball was as dependable as his unblemished success rate at the lineout, but neither were as eye-catching as his ability to “boof” a whole Powerade in a matter of seconds.
https://twitter.com/SuperRugbyNZ/status/1287523092810665986
Sevu Reece (Crusaders)
Whatever shape the All Blacks’ outside back trio takes when they eventually get around to playing international rugby later this year, it would be a safe bet to put money on Sevu Reece being heavily involved.
The Fijian-born maestro was in his typical red-hot form, proving to be a menace to contain with his electric footwork and evasive skills.
Factor in his speed, power and athleticism, and it’s no surprise to see the 23-year-old finishing the Hurricanes clash with a try, 116 running metres (sound-most of the round), six defenders beaten (third-most of the round) and five clean breaks (most of the round).
With figures like those, Reece is making Foster’s job of trying to configure a back three – with a plethora of candidates in the running – a difficult one, but it’s really difficult to see the seven-test All Black not being in the mix.
Ofa Tu’ungafasi (Blues)
Super Rugby Aotearoa has been the stage of which seasoned Blues prop Ofa Tu’ungafasi has stated a hefty case to be elevated from a specialist bench player for the All Blacks to a starting player.
That’s how good the 35-test star has been over the past few weeks, and his string of strong performances didn’t fade away against the Chiefs.
You could say he even enhanced his reputation with another spellbinding display where his physicality on both sides of the ball were evident for all to see.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CBfvfrwFz-6/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
The bruising power Tu’ungafasi puts into his tackles is what sets him apart from a raft of other props across New Zealand, and he showed on Sunday that he’s no slouch with ball in hand either as he helped set up Finlay Christie’s try with a burst around the fringes of a ruck.
Capable of playing at both loosehead and tighthead, his immense scrumming ability has also been well-documented, and it’s no surprise to see the Blues’ burst of form coinciding with Tu’ungafasi’s career-best performances.
Comments on RugbyPass
Bell 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.
13 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?
4 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.
4 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 commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
4 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
13 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to comments