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Highlanders player ratings vs Reds | Super Rugby Pacific

By Nick Turnbull
Ethan de Groot. (Photo by AAP Image/Darren England)

The Highlanders were victorious against Australian Super Rugby heavyweights the Queensland Reds at Suncorp Stadium this evening. The men from the deep south of New Zealand took the match 29-17 after grinding down an uncharacteristically passive home side.

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Going into the match the Highlanders needed a win to keep within striking distance of a finals birth and upon this result have moved into eighth position on the Super Rugby ladder. Make no mistake, any side that can come back after being down two players and find a way to win is a side to be wary of moving forward.

This is how the Highlanders rated:

1. Ethan de Groot – 7.5/10
Solid in the set-piece and worked industriously on both sides of the ball around the recycle. What impresses is his micro-skills as a first receiver and distributor around the first pod. What’s next – a kicking game?

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2. Liam Coltman – 7
Started to grow into the game in the latter stages of the first half with several strong carries through the middle of the park. Further impressed with his defensive output. Just a solid performance all round.

3. Jermaine Ainsley – 7.5
Impressed at set-piece and never allowed his opposite to gain a sniff of ascendency. But more to that, he applied himself to the task and was committed in and around the ruck defence and showed he has somewhat of a running game. Are the All Blacks and Wallabies selectors paying attention?

4. Bryn Evans – 6
An anonymous first half probably because he was quietly doing the hard graft. A fair crack.

5. Josh Dickson – 7
Was the recipient of a yellow card for an ill-timed tackle but when he returned to the park, he was a man ignited. Was a genuine ‘Iron-Man’ in defence and delivered in the set-piece.

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6. James Lentjes – 7
One of the Highlanders’ best in the first half despite falling off a few tackles. Exhausted himself and illustrated a wonderful mindset and work ethic. Nearly cost his side with a no-look pass that was snapped up by Tate McDermott who crossed the paint but luckily for the visitors it was disallowed due to a previous error. Complements Billy Harmon well.

7. Billy Harmon – 8
Had a habit of popping up when his side needed him most with either a try-saving tackle or two, a mid-field carry or a charge down to maintain pressure on the Reds. The cumulative effect of all his efforts is not to be underestimated. One of the best on the park tonight.

 

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8. Marino Mikaele-Tu’u – 6
Another recipient of a yellow card for a low-grade tip tackle. Despite some strong carries, he was guilty of pushing a pass at times. Yet he wasn’t much of a presence in defence and was exposed either down the short side and through the middle in tight.

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9. Aaron Smith – 7
A measured professional performance. Didn’t really chance his arm with a running game, yet he did influence the match with his passing game and game management. Controlled the rhythm and tempo and gave his side wonderful service.

10. Mitch Hunt – 5.5
Has had better nights out at Suncorp. Never really appeared to find a way to consistently influence the match in a positive manner. Whilst there were passages of good play, they were equalled by a missed tackle or poor execution.

11. Scott Gregory – 6.5
A mixed bag. The best thing about him is he plays with great intent but his execution can be hit and miss. Yes, he scored a try, but he also dropped off a tackle or two and was exposed positionally at times. But all things considered, a fair performance.

12. Fetuli Paea – 7
An astute performance and was a handful for the Reds’ attack. Didn’t make every tackle but nullified many Reds raids. Did his job and linked well.

13. Thomas Umaga-Jensen – 7
scored a really impressive try as he had work to do on the edge to get there but he made it happen with sheer will. Like Paea, he linked well and thwarted the Reds several times. Good job.

14. Sam Gilbert – 6
Blessed with talent but yet to shake off the exuberance of youth that can fuel a poor decision or two as displayed this evening, Still, all things considered, he contributed to a much-needed Highlanders win.

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15. Connor Garden-Bachop – 7.5
The stats might not illustrate the intelligence this man played with tonight. Be it his 50/22 kick, or a covering tackle or support-line run he was very impressive and evidently committed to the lads he was playing alongside tonight. Appeared to play with that extra spring in everything he did. A statement match from him.

Reserves:

16. Rhys Marshall – 6
Has a lovely throw and also displayed some impressive footwork around the contact zone. Brought the energy a reserve should.

17. Daniel Lienert-Brown – 6
Akin to Marshall, he brought some zeal for the contest and really took Queensland on through the middle with some telling drives. Impressed in the set-piece.

18. Saula Mau – 6
Dominated the scrum and looked to inject himself into the fray when opportunities presented themselves.

19. Max Hicks – N/A
On late and didn’t see enough

20. Hugh Renton – 6.5
Enjoyed his performance. Managed to win the advantage line several times with his carries and contributed in other facets of the match. Could find himself back as the starting No 8 next week.

21. Folau Fakatava – 7
Was the energy conductor when he came on. Just took the game away from Queensland through his work around the base, bringing runners in close and flat to the line and gaining that ascendency which deflated their opponents.

22. Marty Banks – 6
Just managed the game nicely and didn’t overplay his hand.

23. Mosese Dawai – 6
Had several impressive carries and looks comfortable at this level.

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J
Jon 7 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

This is the problem with conservative mindsets and phycology, and homogenous sports, everybody wants to be the same, use the i-win template. Athlete wise everyone has to have muscles and work at the gym to make themselves more likely to hold on that one tackle. Do those players even wonder if they are now more likely to be tackled by that player as a result of there “work”? Really though, too many questions, Jake. Is it better Jake? Yes, because you still have that rugby of ole that you talk about. Is it at the highest International level anymore? No, but you go to your club or checkout your representative side and still engage with that ‘beautiful game’. Could you also have a bit of that at the top if coaches encouraged there team to play and incentivized players like Damian McKenzie and Ange Capuozzo? Of course we could. Sadly Rugby doesn’t, or didn’t, really know what direction to go when professionalism came. Things like the state of northern pitches didn’t help. Over the last two or three decades I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have all that Jake wants. There was International quality Super Rugby to adore, then the next level below I could watch club mates, pulling 9 to 5s, take on the countries best in representative rugby. Rugby played with flair and not too much riding on the consequences. It was beautiful. That largely still exists today, but with the world of rugby not quite getting things right, the picture is now being painted in NZ that that level of rugby is not required in the “pathway” to Super Rugby or All Black rugby. You might wonder if NZR is right and the pathway shouldn’t include the ‘amateur’, but let me tell you, even though the NPC might be made up of people still having to pull 9-5s, we know these people still have dreams to get out of that, and aren’t likely to give them. They will be lost. That will put a real strain on the concept of whether “visceral thrill, derring-do and joyful abandon” type rugby will remain under the professional level here in NZ. I think at some point that can be eroded as well. If only wanting the best athlete’s at the top level wasn’t enough to lose that, shutting off the next group, or level, or rugby players from easy access to express and showcase themselves certainly will. That all comes back around to the same question of professionalism in rugby and whether it got things right, and rugby is better now. Maybe the answer is turning into a “no”?

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j
john 10 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

39 Go to comments
A
Adrian 12 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

39 Go to comments
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