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Reds player ratings vs Crusaders | Super Rugby Pacific
The Queensland Reds’ season is over after going down valiantly 37-15 to the Crusaders at Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch on Friday.
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Whilst the scoreboard indicates the visitors were completely outplayed, the reality is the Reds came to play and despite being under pressure at the scrum, at one stage the score was 16-15. If not for a missed penalty goal, Brad Thorn’s men could have even taken the lead.
It was a bruising and physical encounter, but also one of skill and execution, and the Reds contributed to such with two very well worked tries.
But, in the end, the Crusaders were simply too good in the key moments and took the match away from the visitors in the last 20 minutes.
Queenslanders should be proud of their side and this is how they rated tonight.
1. Harry Hoopert – 6/10
Had a torrid time of it in the scrum. Appeared to pick any number of knocks and niggles during the match but he hung and left everything he had out on the park. Outclassed and outplayed.
2. Matt Faessler – 6
A busy performance but found it very tough going up front. Didn’t shirk anything yet was a cruiserweight in a heavyweight bout. Courageous player.
3. Feao Fotuaika – 5
Was under serious pressure at the scrum that subsequently transferred to his side who couldn’t establish much of a platform to unleash their talented backline. Was physical enough but replaced before half-time.
4. Ryan Smith – 7
One of Queensland’s best tonight. Made a number of significant tackles that thwarted the Crusaders. Did the dirty work and on the whole did it well. Every team needs a Ryan Smith in their pack.
5-Angus Blyth – 5
Made an unforced error after his side had scored points that allowed the Crusaders to hit back. A cardinal sin. As always, he put in the effort yet he didn’t make any significant impact on the game.
6. Seru Uru – 6
Showed his handling skills tonight and worked well off Harry Wilson in the carry, yet appeared to lack the physicality required to dent the Crusaders tonight.
7. Liam Wright – 6
Wonderful to see him back after a horrid season with injury. An exhaustive and intelligent performance, yet also dropped off a fairly simple tackle on Leicester Fainga’unuku on the right edge. Can’t excuse those at this level in a finals match.
8. Harry Wilson – 7.5
A real ‘follow me’ type of performance by the big man this evening. Time and time again he thundered into the Crusaders’ defensive line, attracting numerous defenders. Was physical and illustrated he is more than ready for a Wallabies return.
9. Tate McDermott – 5
As busy and as energetic as ever but boy he made some poor decisions in possession tonight. Be it feeding a scrum whilst it was moving backwards, unnecessarily kicking whilst under pressure, or kicking away possession when possession pressure was required. Needed to be better if he wants to start against England.
10. Lawson Creighton – 6
Showed a bit tonight. He got caught a little lateral at times but, on the whole, his decision-making was sound. His execution was fair and the Reds may have unearthed a future long-term 10. A respectable effort tonight, but he needed to land the penalty when it was 16-15.
11. Filipo Daugunu – 7.5
Was a genuine threat tonight. Scored a wonderful try off a set piece move that should make the highlight reel. After being dropped to club rugby several weeks ago, he did his Wallabies squad selection chances no harm tonight. Class performance.
12. Hamish Stewart – 7.5
An intelligent, effective performance tonight. Be it 50/22 kicks, or linking with Lawson Creighton to execute that wonderful Reds try after half-time, there was so much to like about his game. One day, the Wallabies selectors will wake up and realise what he can bring.
13. Jordan Petaia – 6.5
Showed some serious gas when he exploited the space off turnover ball that set up the Suliasi Vunivalu try. Would have liked to have seen some more intent when looking for work. Little quiet tonight in a game where he appeared to have his opposite’s measure.
14. Suliasi Vunivalu – 7
Showed he can mix it at this level. Scored a wonderful try down the right edge to keep his side in it when it was 10-3. Appears to know where the sideline is and can operate in small spaces for a big man. Wallabies squad beckons.
15. Jock Campbell – 6
Had some moments in both attack and counter attack. Had the ball stripped from him which isn’t the first time this season. Clearly has the ability to go the next level, but needs to work on his carry and or upper body strength. A fair crack tonight.
Reserves:
16. Richie Asiata – N/A
On in the 67th minute but didn’t see enough.
17. Dane Zander – 6
On in the 58th and beefed up the scrum. Did his job there.
18. Sef Fa’agase – 5.5
On in the 34th and toiled well.
19. Connor Vest – 5.5
On in the 61st and had a crack but the game speed caught him out at times.
20. Angus Scott-Young – N/A
On in the 72nd but didn’t see enough.
21. Fraser Mcreight – 6
On in the 59th and added some class around the breakdown as expected.
22. Kalani Thomas – 5
On in the 66th was a bit beige to be honest.
23. Hunter Paisami – 6.5
On in the 63rd and brought some go-forward and starch.
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Comments on RugbyPass
🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
26 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusades , you can keep going.
1 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
26 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
26 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.
26 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.
26 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?
11 Go to comments