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Highlanders player ratings vs Force | Super Rugby Pacific
Losing All Black Shannon Frizell two minutes before kickoff to a groin injury wasn’t an ideal start for the Highlanders as they took on the Western Force in the deep south in Invercargill.
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The Force took advantage of ill-discipline from the home side to build a 6-0 lead early before the Highlanders opened the try scoring through Jonah Lowe. A second strike right on half-time gave them a 15-13 lead.
Early kicking and errors plagued the Highlanders with five handling errors in the first 25 minutes, but they maintained set-piece dominance over the Force at scrum. The visitors had ascendency at the maul.
After seven lead changes the Highlanders pulled away to secure a 43-35 victory and their first win of the season. Here’s how they rated:
1. Ethan de Groot – 3.5
Coughed up possession on a pick and go in the first half. A couple of off-target passes as the lead pod runner. Gave effort in defence and at the breakdown when needed, but otherwise switched off and took rest. Well below All Black standard but could be part of planned game management. Off at 45.
2. Andrew Makalio – N/A
Suffered a nasty head knock going low into the hip of fullback Chase Tiatia on a kick return. Off in 17th.
3. Jermaine Ainsley – 7
Early offside penalty gave Force three points but offered some strong carries and clean outs. Was one of the best forwards for the Highlanders in terms of intensity. Off at 73 min after a big ticker performance.
4. Fabian Holland – 3.5
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Early take at the lineout but an early offside penalty was indicative of his afternoon. Big body still learning his trade, coaches clearly weren’t impressed with something. Off at 31 mins.
5. Josh Bekhuis – 6
The Southland boys product back from Japan returned for a new second row partnership with Dutch-born Holland. Strong defence. Had a big effort on a Force maul to disarm it late in first half. Solid work at the lineout to run the side’s calls.
The Southland boys product back from Japan returned for a new second row partnership with Dutch-born Holland. Strong defence. Had a big effort on a Force maul to disarm it late in first half. Solid work at the lineout to run the side’s calls.
6. Sean Withy – 6.5
Inserted into the line-up after Shannon Frizell was scratched in the warm-up. Competed hard at the rucks. Slipped off a tackle on Tiatia but maintained a high work rate. Industrious showing. Effort was not a question as he was everywhere. Rewarded with a try after running a good line against the grain.
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7. Billy Harmon – 5
Produced a beautiful offload on an early Highlanders’ attack. Gave away a few penalties at the breakdown through a lack of execution.
8. Hugh Renton – 8.5
Big effort early in defence and in the carry that continued throughout. Stood up and led the Landers’ pack by action. Made some key carries to build front foot momentum including in the lead-up to Gilbert’s try. Finished the afternoon with a try following two touches on the left edge and getting the last pass back inside. Best on field for the home side.
9. Aaron Smith – 7
Pushed the pass searching for an opportunity early as the Highlanders lacked a bit patience in the first half. Capitalised on Umaga-Jensen’s first break with some good tempo and an assist for Jonah Lowe. Defended very well.
Got unfortunately beaten in a foot race by a smart kick over the top on the blindside by English wing speedster Zach Kirbirge with Landers down a man. Off at 62 mins.
10. Mitch Hunt – 7
Great try-saver early on the Force’s first break but kicked a bit too deep with a poor chase line. Had a grubber charged on first phase from a lineout launch. Highlanders’ kicking game wasn’t effective.
Went for a bold intercept attempt with a try on offer for the Force and only got one hand to it, leading to a yellow card. Made amends on his return by scoring the second try at a critical time right on half-time. A nice short ball onto Sam Gilbert for a try assist in the second.
Added some spark to the Highlanders attack when needed.
11. Jonah Lowe – 6
Had a mixed day with limited opportunities, but still scored two tries. Won a turnover at the ruck in the first half. Scored the first try off a flat Aaron Smith pass and another late off Mitch Hunt close to the line.
12. Thomas Umaga-Jensen – 8.5
Focal point of the attack all day. Had some big carries off set-piece early, breaking the line in the 13th minute which led to the Highlanders’ first try. A nice offload for Timu on another.
Made some big plays on defence forcing a couple of key turnovers after strong tackles. Strong all-round performance from one of the Landers’ best on the day.
13. Josh Timu – 6
Awful pass first up with a round-the-back flick, got back into the game with some solid defence. Had a good partnership with Umaga-Jensen through the afternoon.
Awful pass first up with a round-the-back flick, got back into the game with some solid defence. Had a good partnership with Umaga-Jensen through the afternoon.
14. Martin Bogado – 6
Long kicking option for the Highlanders in the backfield. Strong defence on the edge with good low chop tackles. A reliable performance with good execution, didn’t put a foot wrong.
15. Sam Gilbert – 6.5
Had a rough introduction to Tony Pulu when he was sat down on the left hand touchline. A nice kick in behind on a set-piece launch from the midfield. A smart line for a try close to the line in the second half and had a hand in the last try with a nice break and inside pass. Offered a big punt but was part of the kicking group whose kick decisions bordered on aimless at times.
Reserves
16. Rhys Marshall – 6 – on in 17th. Performed his core role well. Had a nice touch finder with a 50/22 late in the 2nd half.
17. Ayden Johnstone – 5 – on in 45th. Brought energy straight away but Landers scrum and maul was a mixed bag with the reserves on.
18. PJ Sheck – N/A – on at 73.
19. Max Hicks – 6 – on in 31st. Reliable lineout target for the Landers. A solid showing by Hicks.
20. James Lentjes – N/A – on at 80
21. Folau Fakatava – 5 – on in 62nd. Brought some impact late in the game with a nice half-break after a big dummy around the ruck. Gave away an offside penalty at scrum time which let the Force out of their 22.
22. Cameron Millar – N/A – on at 80 for his sixty second debut.
23. Connor Garden-Bachop – didn’t get on
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
39 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
39 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
39 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
39 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
39 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
39 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
39 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments