Hurricanes player ratings vs Blues | Super Rugby Aotearoa
The Blues have got their Super Rugby Aotearoa campaign back on track with a 27-17 victory over the Hurricanes at Eden Park in Auckland.
The defeat puts the Wellingtonians back into the losers’ circle after their maiden win of the season over the Highlanders last week, leaving them rooted to the bottom of the competition’s standings.
With that in mind, here’s how the Hurricanes rated:
15. Jordie Barrett – 6.5
Missed a 51 metre penalty by a slim margin. Followed that up with an inexplicable spillage from a Leger bomb kick. Nailed the next four shots at goal, including a monster 55 metre effort, but again showed his shakiness in the air near the end of the first half. His spiral punting ability was on full show, though.
14. Julian Savea – 6
Barely sighted in the first half. Spilled the ball cold after some good work on his inside to breach the Blues’ defence in the 55th minute. Burst into life when he cantered into opposition territory with a big clean break midway through the second half. Off in the 72nd minute.
13. Billy Proctor – 6
Heavily involved on attack. Solid but unspectacular. Off in the 58th minute.
12. Ngani Laumape – 7.5
Showed some good variation in attack, as has been the case all season, and continues to prove his worth as a multi-faceted attacking threat rather than just as a ball-carrying bulldozer. Will be a big loss for the franchise if reports of him going to Stade Francais are true.
11. Salesi Rayasi – 8
Pierced through the defensive line and was threatening throughout the opening quarter of an hour. Lethal offloading and stepping ability. Looks a long-term occupant of the franchise’s No 11 jersey.
10. Orbyn Leger – 6
Strange option to put up a midfield bomb that was poorly executed midway through the first half. Orchestrated the backline well enough, but a bit more flare in such a crucial attacking position would serve the Hurricanes well.
9. Luke Campbell – 5
Showed a decent box kicking game, but his influence with ball in hand was largely subdued. Off in the 61st minute.
The Blues have survived a late Hurricanes fightback to emerge victorious in a 27-17 win to reignite their Super Rugby Aotearoa campaign. #SuperRugbyAotearoa #BLUvHUR https://t.co/zgdlfX7cKb
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 3, 2021
8. Ardie Savea – 7
Fended off by Mark Telea and spilled the ball inside the first five minutes. Applied good pressure at the breakdown in the 19th minute to earn his side a penalty. Was his usual energetic self on attack all game long, though. Hard done by by referee Brendon Pickerill for supposedly dragging the rolling maul down which led to a penalty try and a yellow card. The heartbeat of this side.
7. Du’Plessis Kirifi – 5.5
Heavily involved on attack, without too much effect. Sent to the sin bin for a reckless clear out on Otere Black. Was then pinged for playing the ball illegally on the ground, although the officiating on that decision was questionable. Good work rate defensively, but needs to lower the penalty count if he’s to further his All Blacks ambitions. Off in the 63rd minute.
6. Reed Prinsep – 6
Got into his work well without catching the eye too much. Capitalised on some good pressure to score late on, even if it was too little too late.
5. Scott Scrafton – 6
Earned his side a hard-earned turnover to defuse a rolling maul threat in the 11th minute. Otherwise quiet. Off at half-time.
4. James Blackwell – 5
Hardly seen throughout the match until the 51st minute when his missed tackle was key in TJ Faiane’s try. Worked in tandem well with Walker-Leawere to force a turnover by holding Sam Darry up in a tackle a few minutes later.
3. Tyrel Lomax – 3
Dismantled by the Karl Tu’inukuafe at the scrum in the 23rd minute. Was then pinged for entering through the side of the maul in the lead-up to the Blues’ penalty try, and was then penalised again for being offside at the breakdown, leading to an easy three points for the Blues. His place in the All Blacks squad beginning to look unsafe. Off in the 67th minute.
2. Dane Coles – 7
Mixed bag at the lineout. Good rush defence forced a knock on out of Mark Telea near the half hour mark. Showed some good footwork to turn on a dime out wide.
1. Fraser Armstrong – 4
Pinged for not rolling away inside the first 10 minutes. Was also dismantled by Ofa Tuungafasi at the scrum in the 23rd minute. Subbed at the 37th minute.
Hurricanes captain Ardie Savea has remained coy about the possibility of replacing Sam Cane as All Blacks skipper over the coming months. #SuperRugbyAotearoa https://t.co/qspEOKaL5c
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 3, 2021
Reserves:
16. Ricky Riccitelli – 5
On in the 67th minute. Overthrew a lineout well inside his own half that eventually led to Mark Telea’s try. Showed good intent with ball in hand.
17. Xavier Numia – 5
On in the 37th minute. Held his own well enough at the scrum. Not much to write about other than that.
18. Tevita Mafileo – 6
On in the 67th minute. Earned a late penalty at the set piece that led to Prinsep’s try.
19. Isaia Walker-Leawere – 7
On at half-time. Felt the full force of the Blues’ defence with his first touch of the ball but did well to stay on his feet. Worked well with Blackwell to earn a penalty via some strong defensive work on Darry. Busy throughout. Really pushing for a starting role.
20. Devan Flanders – 6
On in the 63rd minute. Brought the sort of energy his coaching staff likely would have asked from him. Probably deserving of a start as well.
21. Jonathan Taumateine – N/A
On in the 61st minute. Showed good pressure defensively at times but otherwise quiet.
22. Peter Umaga-Jensen – 6
On in the 58th minute. Still unsure why he isn’t starting. Plenty of power and energy off the bench.
23. Wes Goosen – N/A
On in the 72nd minute.
Comments on RugbyPass
NZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
22 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
22 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.
22 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.
22 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?
9 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.
9 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.
28 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 🤐
22 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….
28 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….
22 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….
90 Go to comments