North vs South: South player ratings vs North
Inter-island rivalry was cranked up again for only the third time in 33 years with the North South match up in Wellington.
The South picked a Crusaders flavoured starting XV and it paid dividends as they played with cohesion and stayed in the game even with limited possession early on.
North hit the front halfway through the second half but the South had the last say to win 38-35. Here’re the South team’s ratings.
1. Joe Moody – 6.5
Good covering tackle on Beauden Barrett as he was haring though. Solid scrum time but gave away a couple of penalties. Off at 50.
2. Codie Taylor – 7
Unjustly robbed of a try with an obstruction call at maul time on 23 minutes. Set up Jordie Barrett’s try with a clever pass. Off at 50.
3. Nepo Laulala – 7
Good halfback reflexes to pinch the first try. Solid scrummaging against the dangerous Big Karl and good hands late in the first half. Off at 50
4. Samuel Whitelock – 7
Flung Dunshea in the air most of the first half. Good turnover in the 74 after a sustained North attack to show he’s still got the energy.
New Zealand and the rest of the rugby world wanted an exciting game of rugby, and the North and South Islands delivered it.https://t.co/oTGi3Q40DX
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 5, 2020
5. Mitchell Dunshea – 7.5
Took his chance well in international company. Good fake on 2 handed line out take to gain penalty. Good snuff out of Ioane attack at 20. Spent a lot of time in open play hitching up his shorts, someone must have sabotaged his elastic. Off 67
6. Shannon Frizell – 7
Always a handful with ball in hand. Hits hard as Tuungafasi found out after 44.
7. Tom Christie – 7.5
Looked really at home on defence and some nice work with the ball. Great turnovers after 42 and 56 on Reece and Barrett. Off at 60.
8. Tom Sanders – 8
Must have been close to Man of the Match with strong measures of carries and tackles. Great rampage off the scrum at 25 minutes and then 5 minutes later a nice bid for the line in an attack that led to Jordie Barrett’s try.
9. Brad Weber – 7
Played well above the form he’d shown so far this season and put in a good bid to retain the third AB 9 spot. Off at 63.
10. Richie Mo’unga – 6
Didn’t quite look 100% especially after his HIA test in the 28th minute. Linked well but we didn’t see the dazzle dazzle with ball in hand.
Much of the hype surrounding the #NorthvSouth match stemmed from the exciting brand of rugby many were expecting of New Zealand's best players, and Damian McKenzie's try perfectly embodied that.https://t.co/6Nch6bGPM9
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 5, 2020
11. George Bridge – 7
Some good bursts on the left flank, even a line out take to his credit. Always dangerous and you’d think he’ll be the first wing picked in the All Black squad.
12. Jack Goodhue – 7
Looked a little tentative early on but was right up there with Sanders for carries and tackles. Good glue.
13. Braydon Ennor – N/A
Off at 13 with nasty knee problem.
14. Will Jordan – 8
Has the freakish ability to turn chances into metres gained and points. Great cover tackle on Reece at the end of the first half. In the second half he really started to shine; good pounce on the bobbling ball to get a 5 pointer in the 59th. And then the last try…..oh what brilliant skill!
15. Jordie Barrett – 7.5
Used his booming boot well in the swirling wind. Great co-ordination with Mo’unga for the grubber and chase and then brute power to get over for a try in the corner. Also smashed Savea with a menacing cover tackle at 53 minutes and always at the forefront running the ball up.
Replacements:
16. Liam Coltman – 6
On at 50 and lineout pill became a real issue on his introduction. To his credit he managed to get the last few right.
17. George Bower – 6
On at 50 and performed his role well
18. Tyrel Lomax – 7
On at 50 and looked like his dad and former Kiwis star John bursting on to a ball in midfield for his try.
19. Manaaki Selby-Rickit – 7.5
On at 67. This guy looks like a real athlete and if he can fill out he has a rosy future. Some good line out ball and awesome romping in open play.
20. Dillon Hunt – 7
On at 60 and played with a fiery intensity.
21. Finlay Christie – 7
On at 63 and tackled his heart out with his usual energy. Top tackles in less than a half on the field.
22. Josh Ioane – 7
Came on after 28 minutes with Mo’unga’s HIA and played the rest of the first half. Returned at 71 and rolled out a perfect cross kick for Jordan to win the game.
23. Leicester Faingaanuku – 6.5
On at 13 minutes in the 13 position and certainly didn’t let his team down. A couple of good strong runs and looked reasonably assured in defence against some talented opponents.
Comments on RugbyPass
Lets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
10 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
10 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe 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.
9 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…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 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)
4 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?
5 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.
6 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.
22 Go to comments