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Hurricanes player ratings vs Highlanders | Super Rugby Pacific
The Hurricanes have held firm to record a narrow 22-21 win over the Highlanders in Dunedin.
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After building a decent lead early in the second half, the Hurricanes found themselves under pressure late in the match and came within a whisker of losing the game, with the TMO eventually making the right call to deny the Highlanders a try for a double-movement.
The win means the Hurricanes will enter the second stage of Super Rugby Pacific in seventh spot and very much still in contention for a home quarter-final.
How did the Hurricanes players rate in the 1-point game?
1. Pouri Rakete-Stones – 5/10
Pinged for holding onto the ball following one carry when a pass would have been the better option. Wasn’t able to get his running game going. Off in 53rd minute.
2. Asafo Aumua – 7
A solid 80-minute effort from the All Black. Very shakey at lineout time in the opening exchanges but settled down after a few dodgy deliveries. Put in some big hits on defence – including one questionable hit late in the piece. Found his way over the goal line shortly before halftime but couldn’t get the ball down in the tackle of Liam Coltman. Topped the Hurricanes’ tackle count.
3. Tevita Mafileo – 4
Destroyed by Ethan de Groot at the first scrum and was lucky the ball went in and out quickly for the Hurricanes’ first feed or it would have been a similar result. Seemed to find his feet after that. Left the field for an HIA in the 20th minute after copping a high shot from Josh Dickson then rejoined the competition in the 33rd minute. Pinged late in the second half for not releasing the tackled player before going for the steal. Off in 70th minute.
4. James Blackwell – 5.5
Busy, making tackles and trucking the ball up when needed, but did nothing with any major impact. Off in 65th minute.
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5. Isaia Walker-Leawere – 7
Has quickly found his feet after spending the better part of the season on the sidelines. Combined with Ardie Savea on the kick-chase to nab the Hurricanes a turnover early in the second quarter. Earned a penalty at the breakdown a few minutes later to shut down a Highlanders skirmish but couldn’t do anything to prevent Coltman getting over the ball at the next set of attacking phases and the Hurricanes conceded 3 points. Not quite back to his physical best but signs are very promising.
6. Reed Prinsep – 5
Not as industrious as he normally is – though that might be a product of having to back-up after a big effort against Moana Pasifika earlier in ther week. The top lineout target for the Hurricanes but otherwise relatively ineffective. Off in 53rd minute.
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7. Blake Gibson – 7
Carried with purpose from the opening stages until the final minutes of the game. Matched Aumua’s defensive efforts and always took a few men to bring him to ground. May have fought his way into the regular starting XV.
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8. Ardie Savea – 7
Stood out in the contest for the ball but was actually relatively well contained by the Highlanders defence. Made one typically strong carry in the lead-up to the opening try then disrupted the breakdown not long after to shut down the Highlanders’ first attack. Earned another turnover from a fierce counter ruck at the end of the third quarter. Looked to have prevented a try in the 68th minute after pilfering the ruck, only to have the ball immediately swiped from him (questionably) by Folau Fakatava. Penalised once for kicking the ball out of the breakdown.
9. TJ Perenara – 6
His quick tap early in the piece paved the way for the Hurricanes’ first score. Provided relatively quick and clean ball for his teammates. There shouldn’t be any complaints about his performance. Off in 65th minute.
10. Jackson Garden-Bachop – 4.5
Failed to have much of an impact on the match. Tried to mix up his kicking game but ultimately simply handed the ball back to the Highlanders. Bumped off more than once on defence. Might have lost his starting jersey. Off in 72nd minute.
11. Salesi Rayasi – 8
Perhaps his most complete performance in a Hurricanes jersey. Got himself involved regularly throughout the game, popping up all over the show. A scything run in the 21st minute off a Hurricanes lineout was all that was needed for the Hurricanes’ second try of the evening. Penalised once for not releasing the tackled player before going for the steal. Made a nice break to kick off the second half. Set up the Hurricanes’ final try with a great run and offload down the left. Clocked up over 120 metres with the ball in hand.
12. Jordie Barrett – 6
Had very limited opportunities in the midfield, with the Highlanders not affording him any room to move. Got himself in the perfect position to take a midfield bomb under the Highlanders’ posts early in the game but couldn’t quite make the catch. Attempted one drop goal from almost 50 metres out but it never threatened the sticks. Surprisingly, dropped a second high ball – this time on the defence – early in the second quarter. Switched to fullback late in the piece.
13. Bailyn Sullivan – 6.5
Showed off his attacking prowess in the first 10 minutes, jinking through some weak Highlanders tackles for the first try. Made one nice tackle which dislodged the ball out of Fetuli Paea’s grasp and was generally busy on defence. Won’t have done his chances of reselection any harm.
14. Julian Savea – 6
A nice offload in the lead-up to the Hurricanes’ first try kept the ball alive and the Highlanders under pressure. A damaging run at the end of the second quarter almost earned the Hurricanes their second, but Savea knocked on while trying to get the ball over the line.
15. Josh Moorby – 4.5
Looked solid with the ball in hand but too often wasn’t able to link up with his teammates. Not as impressive as in his debut start against the Crusaders last weekend. Probably needs another run or two to gauge his capabilities. Off in 65th minute.
Reserves:
16. Kianu Kereru-Symes – N/A
Never took the field.
17. Xavier Numia – 5
On in 53rd minute. Penalised immediately for collapsing a scrum, alongside his tighthead teammate.
18. Pasilio Tosi – 5
On as an HIA replacement in the 20th minute. Knocked on with his first touch – although it was a late pass from Garden-Bachop – and was then penalised for not rolling away at the ruck. On permanently in the 70th minute.
19. Justin Sangster – N/A
On in 65th minute.
20. Caleb Delany – 6
On in 53rd minute. Busy in his time on the field, notching up eight tackles.
21. Jamie Booth – N/A
On in 65th minute.
22. Adian Morgan – N/A
On in 72nd minute. Ran a great support line to nab himself a late try.
23. Peter Umaga-Jensen – N/A
On in 65th minute.
Comments on RugbyPass
The RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
1 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
2 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
2 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
2 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
4 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
21 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
21 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
3 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
3 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to commentsMake what step up? Manie has a World Cup winner’s medal around his neck and changed the way the Springboks can play. He doesn’t have anything to prove to anyone. The win record of the Boks with him in the team is tremendous. Sacha can be wonderful and I hope he has a very succesful Bok career, but comparing him to Manie in terms of the next Bok flyhalf is very strange. Manie is the incumbent (not the next) and doing pretty incredibly.
4 Go to comments00 😍 U
1 Go to comments