Reds player ratings vs Hurricanes | Super Rugby Pacific

The Reds have surrendered a 17-point lead to go down 30-17 to the Hurricanes in Melbourne on Saturday evening.

The Queenslanders started the match well and hand momentum on the side in the first half as the Hurricanes regularly infringed – resulting in two players spending time in the sin-bin.

After scoring two tries and a penalty, however, the wheels seemed to fall of for the Reds. The Hurricanes nabbed a fortuotus try then flanker Connor Vest was handed a yellow card for a high tackle right on halftime, with the Hurricanes piggybacking their way down the field and eventually scoring their second. From that point on, it was all Hurricanes.

What the All Blacks squad could look like halfway through Super Rugby Pacific.

What the All Blacks squad could look like halfway through Super Rugby Pacific.

Who were the Reds’ top performers on the night?

1. Harry Hoopert – 7.5
Was industrious on defence but stood up in the set-piece battle. Won the first two scrum battles with Tyrel Lomax, earning back-to-back penalties. Off in 63rd minute.

2. Richie Asiata – 5 
You knew it was going to be a tough night at the lineout from early in the piece when Asiata threw a ball that deviated about three metres from the line (although somehow it was missed by the refereeing team). Had a couple of yips early but really struggled in the second spell. Made one great run in the midfield in the first stanza and was generally hard to bring down on the carry in the second while also chalking up 14 tackles. Off in 72nd minute but returned not long after.

3. Taniela Tupou – 6
Put his hand up as ball carrier but was generally well contained by the Hurricanes defence. Made some poor decisions when hard on the attack early in the match and was ultimately penalised for a double movement. Moments later, threw the final pass for the Reds’ first try. Off in 63rd minute.

4. Ryan Smith
Copped one early penalty for not rolling away and another on halftime for playing the man in the air at the lineout. Missed the tackle on Jordie Barrett at the beginning of the second half that gave the Hurricanes the momentum needed for their third try. Some good dominant carriers in the first quarter.

5. Angus Blyth
Did well to put pressure on the Hurricanes lineout without infringing. Topped the Reds’ tackle count with 15 to his name.

6. Connor Vest – 4
Nabbed one lineout steal in the first half but otherwise contributed little on either attack or defence. Pinged for some pretty blatant offside play at the maul and then copped a yellow card in the 40th minute for a high tackle on Ardie Savea. Left the game permanently in the 57th minute.

 

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7. Fraser McReight – 5
Ran a good line off Tate McDermott to give the Reds momentum towards the end of the first quarter and generally did a good job supporting his teammates on breaks. Pinged for not releasing before going for the steal twice in the second spell and copped another penalty for diving on the ball. Did nab a breakdown penalty to shut down one Hurricanes skirmish in the second half as well as a turnover in the final 10 minutes but the net performance at the breakdown was not great. Equalled Blyth’s efforts on defence.

8. Harry Wilson – 7
Carted the ball up 17 times – the most of any player on the field. Looked good with the ball in hand, always chewing through metres – but did cough up possession once or twice. Looked for the offload when it was on to keep the ball alive. A messy ball placement scuppered the Reds’ first attacking opportunity inside the Hurricanes’ 22. Managed 14 tackles.

9. Tate McDermott – 7
A great dart from the scrum set up the linebreak that led to the Reds’ first scoring opportunity. Generally got to the breakdowns quickly and delivered quality ball to his team. The Reds’ attack dropped a notched when he was off the field. Off in 61st minute but joined the game again with a couple of minutes left on the clock.

10. Lawson Creighton – 5
A bit tentative in his first start – seemed unsure what to do with himself at times. Threw a pass directly into the path of Julian Savea, which the winger managed to disrupt and knock backwards, leading to the Hurricanes’ first try. Kicked all three of his goals.

11. Filipo Daugunu – 3
One great read on defence near halftime led to a Reds turnover but was otherwise mostly absent from the match. Dropped two balls stone cold in the second half. Off in 74th minute.

12. Hamish Stewart – 5.5
A safe pair of hands in the midfield. Wasn’t afraid to hit breakdowns when his teammates needed support and got through eight tackles with zero misses.

13. Hunter Paisami – 6.5
Broke between two forwards and offloaded to Tupou to create the Reds’ first try and generally looked like an attacking threat in the centres. Probably tried to do too much himself, however.

14. Suliasi Vunivalu – 4
A threat in the air but he had few opportunities to prove it. Barely touched the ball. Off in 72nd minute.

15. Jock Campbell – 5
A bad mis-kick early in the second half handed the Hurricanes prime attacking ball then dropped a tough offload from Paisami when the Reds were hot on the counter-attack. Made the second-most metres of any player on the field.

Reserves:

16. Matt Faessler – N/A
On in 72nd minute then left the field again five minutes later.

17. Dane Zander – N/A
On in 63rd minute.

18. Feao Fotuaika – N/A
On in 63rd minute. Pinged for holding on after a tackle.

19. Lopeti Faifua – N/A
Unused.

20. Angus Scott-Young – 6
On in 57th minute. Pinged once but otherwise got himself involved well on both sides of the ball.

21. Kalani Thomas – N/A
On in 61st minute.

22. Josh Flook – N/A
On in 72nd minute.

23. Mac Grealy – N/A
On in 74th minute.