Super Rugby Aotearoa: Blues player ratings vs Crusaders
It seemed as though the nation’s focus was drawn to the showdown between two unbeaten, in-form teams oozing with talent. The Crusaders match with the Blues was a big tense clash that will certainly influence the outcome of this year’s Super Rugby Aotearoa competition.
A cool crisp night in Christchurch and the Blues were pumped up out of the gate and they shook the Crusaders in the first quarter. The champions know how to sap up pressure and win crucial moments, however, and ultimately came through 26-15.
Here’s how the Blues players rated:
1. Alex Hodgman – 7.5/10
Reliable one-off runner and an ox at the breakdown. Dominated Michael Alaalatoa at the scrum and if he can keep this standard up, higher honours could be on the horizon.
2. James Parsons 7
Has played reliably and error-free this season and was all industry again tonight. Sadly, got a nasty smack on the noggin from his buddy Ofa Tu’ungafasi at 28 mins and was off for the night.
3. Ofa Tuungafasi – 7
Stayed straight and true in the scrum all night, forcing Joe Moody to swing out in the scrum in the lead up to the Rieko Ioane try. Solid tackle count (12) and even found himself at halfback on his line to relieve some pressure.
Magical finish from this blockbuster on the right wing ? #SuperRugbyAotearoa #CRUvBLUhttps://t.co/GSO50dbivd
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 11, 2020
4. Patrick Tuipulotu – 6.5
Stamped his mark on David Havili in the 13th minute and had a storming start to 2nd half with ball in hand to earn an opening penalty. A tough ask in Christchurch but as a leader, the Blues really needed him and Beauden Barrett to step up and spark a comeback against the python-like Crusaders.
5. Josh Goodhue – 7
Tireless, honest outing against the Crusaders pack.
6. Akira Ioane – 7
Got his work rate back to a very solid level and showed plenty of strength. With Hoskins Sotutu’s knock, went the full 80 and was still contributing at the final whistle.
7. Dalton Papalii – 8
Defended like a dervish, topping the tackle count from either team. Has the Richie McCaw-like ability to look fresh after a brutal clash. Sad indictment on the game to be penalised after a poisonous tackle that landed him on top of a ball carrier.
8. Hoskins Sotutu – 7
Made an incredibly powerful run from an attacking scrum at 7 minutes and was only just denied a try. Great intercept just before halftime to deny the home team but faded in the second half after a knock.
9. Finlay Christie – 7.5
Like a dancing flame, the redhead popped up to spark attacks from the base of the breakdown and scorched ball carriers in the defensive line.
10. Otere Black – 6.5
Visionary pass for Mark Telea’s first try and slotted the conversion from the sideline. Ran the flat offence really well with good option taking but the charge down of his conversion was a clanger and a turning point in the game. Off in the 58th minute.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CCfWQRxgiEI/
11. Caleb Clarke – 6
Chased gainfully all night but couldn’t stamp his mark on this game. One nice high-ball take.
12. Harry Plummer – 6.5
Penalised at 30 mins after Christie trapped his legs in at a tackle. Solid performance, especially in defence, as Crusaders looked to exploit his channel. Lasted the full 80 but looked tired as Will Jordan exploded past him in the 77th minute.
13. Rieko Ioane – 7.5
Up for this game, crisp distribution and dominant against a big, physical midfield opposition. When he got his chance at 54 minutes he had no hesitation to plough his way through 4 tacklers to score an awesome try.
14. Mark Telea – 7.5
Started the game full of pep, chasing and tagging Crusaders high-ball takers. Beautiful finish for the game’s first try. Explosive run down the right moments later but then was eclipsed by Bridge as the red tide turned.
15. Beauden Barrett – 6.5
Seemed to have his red head on in this big match rather than the cool collected demeanour we’d seen so far in the Blues jersey. Got pinged 3 times at the tackle for some over-exuberance. Showed some amazing skills with his positional and territorial kicking work but, in contrast to Mo’unga, couldn’t spark his team with ball in hand.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CCe7KXvlSeE/
Reserves:
16. Kurt Eklund – 7.5
On at 28 mins. Always hard to come on cold but kept the lineout ticking over and was like a pitbull in open play on both sides of the ball. 11 tackles, 6 carries for 20 odd metres. Nice work.
17. Karl Tu’inukuafe – N/A
18. Sione Mafileo – N/A
19. Aaron Carroll – N/A
20. Blake Gibson – N/A
21. Jonathan Ruru – N/A
22. TJ Faiane – 6.5
On at 58 mins. Wound up on a couple of straight runs but to no effect. Highlight was a beautiful daisy cutter tackle at 69 minutes.
23. Matt Duffie – N/A
Comments on RugbyPass
In 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 getitng 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.
5 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.
6 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
5 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.
55 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.
6 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
6 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
18 Go to comments