Reds player ratings vs Highlanders | Super Rugby Pacific
In the second of a Friday night double-header in round 12 of Super Rugby Pacific, the Reds welcomed the Highlanders to Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
The Reds went into the match understrength at the scrum with the late withdrawal of Harry Hoopert due to illness, already contending with the loss of Tupou for the remainder of the regular season. They did welcome back Jordan Petaia and Suliasi Vunivalu to add some strike power in the backs.
The Highlanders were looking to stay in the race with a win on Aussie soil and were able to control the game at crucial periods.
The Reds had their chances in the first half with the Highlanders copping two yellow cards, but the Landers hung on to trail 12-10 at the break. It was a tough day at the office for the Reds scrum, and the team lost Harry Wilson to a nasty head knock just after halftime.
The Highlanders edged ahead late to run out victors 27-19.
Here’s how the Reds rated:
1. Dane Zander – 5
Called in to start the game just before kick-off and struggled to hold up his side during the game. Had running repairs to gash in his head all night.
2. Richie Asiata – 5.5
Was solid at lineout time and managed the ball at the back in the maul. Subbed off in the 52-minute.
3. Feao Fotuaika – 5.5
Was overpowered in the scrum at times and was largely ineffective in his carries. Was able to get around the park to support his forwards in the breakdown.
4. Ryan Smith – 6.5
Was targeted in the lineout six times for the Reds and did well to disrupt the Highlanders at times. Showed a tremendous work rate around the park. Scored for the Reds in the 54th minute to regain the lead.
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5. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto – 6
Was heavily involved in the forward battle, carrying hard in tight and forming a nice combination with Uru. Brought some much-needed aggression to the pack but couldn’t lift his team when the game was in the balance.
6. Seru Uru – 7
Made plenty of carries, finishing with a team-high 14 and making 37 metres. He was dangerous when he got his arms free, providing clever offloads when needed. Won an important turnover in the second half to keep the Reds in the game.
7. Fraser McReight – 7
Worked his backside off all game, making a team-high 20 tackles and finding space out wide to carry for 48-metres. Made a crucial turnover on the Reds line to shut down a Highlanders attacking raid.
8. Harry Wilson – 5
A few handling errors early on. Was well contained by the Landers in the first half and played more of a link role to supply his teammates with the ball out the back. Copped an ugly head knock regathering the ball to open the second half and had to be carted off the field.
9. Tate McDermott – 6
Set the tempo for the Reds with fast service from the base of the ruck. Sniped around the Landers defence in the tight corridors and exposed some lazy forwards. In a crucial period for the Reds, he was replaced by Jeans just before the 70th-minute mark.
10. Lawson Creighton – 5
The young playmaker is still finding his feet at Super Rugby level and made some poor decision-making. He tried hard to rally his troops but couldn’t get the backline firing.
11. Jordan Petaia – 6
Returning to starting line-up, he looked like a threat whenever he got the ball in his hand. Ran for 81 metres off 11 carries. Threw an unnecessary offload when the Reds were hot on attack, but other than that looked in good nick.
12. Hamish Stewart – 6.5
Was solid in defence in the midfield, making tackles other backline players were shy to make. Made a great burst through a Highlanders ruck to set up Smith’s try. He needed to step up and support Creighton but didn’t make good use of possession.
13. Josh Flook – 6.5
Jumped over Hunt to reel in a brilliant cross-field kick to score the Reds’ second try. Played well above his weight in defence, putting on some big shots. Straightened up the attack with some hard running.
14. Suliasi Vunivalu – 5.5
Returning from injury, he came off his wing looking for work. Managed to get the ball in hands but was limited with time and space by the Highlanders.
15. Jock Campbell – 6
Took advantage of two yellow cards to the Highlanders to slice through a gap to score the opening points of the match. Tried to inject himself into the match late in the game but found his way shut by the Highlanders defence.
Reserves:
16. Matt Faessler – N/A
On in the 52nd minute.
17. Sef Fa’agase – 5
Called up late to the match-day squad as injury cover, he got on the field to shore up the scrum.
18. Albert Anae – 5
Another prop brought in for injury cover, Anae replaced Zander to add some experience but never really gained any ascendency at scrum time.
19. Angus Blyth – 5.5
Came on late and added some aggression but couldn’t turn the tide in the Reds favour.
20. Angus Scott-Young – 6
Entered the fray in the 42nd minute for an injured Harry Wilson and was industrious as ever.
21. Spencer Jeans – N/A
Came on in the 70th minute. Showed some good awareness to put in a quick box kick off a turnover that put the Reds in Highlanders territory.
22. Filipo Daugunu – N/A
Came on in the 68th minute and was combative in the ruck.
23. Mac Grealy – N/A
Didn’t get on the park.
Comments on RugbyPass
Results probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
1 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
56 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to comments