Super Rugby Aotearoa: Blues player ratings vs Highlanders
The Blues travelled to Dunedin in round eight of Super Rugby Aotearoa not having won there for nine years.
The Highlanders came off a bye and, of course, the Gordon Hunter Memorial Trophy was up for grabs which tends to get these two teams invigorated.
Also, a poignant moment as the Aucklanders played their first match after the death of legend Andy Haden.
A last minute change to the Blues line-up saw Tony Lamborn come in for Blake Gibson, while for the Highlanders, Josh Ioane slotted in at first five and Michael Collins at centre.
The Blues power was too much for the southern men and they took a dominant win, 32-21.
Here’re the Blues player’s ratings.
1. Karl Tu’inukuafe – 7.5
Great comeback to the starting line up for Big Karl. The scrum purred with him dictating terms. Off in the 53rd minute.
2. Kurt Eklund – 7
Climbed in boots and all with some stringent runs early on, almost got a rolling maul try moments later but denied by Aaron Smith’s boot. Lost his lineout bearings around 46 minutes for a couple of wobbles. Off at 71.
3. Ofa Tu’ungafasi – 8
It seems as though Ofa may have the inside running for a black number 3 jersey with his form this year. Led a commanding scrum. Great turnover in the lead up to the Faiane try. Well deserved try for himself after a bruising scrum and clean out. Off at 65 but a bonus seven minutes after Mafileo’s yellow.
4. Patrick Tuipulotu (c) – 7
A massive supertanker with surgical hands. Early in the second half we saw a lovely backhanded flick to Eklund then seconds later a thundering hit on Collins. Off at the 73rd minute for a well-deserved rest.
5. Gerard Cowley-Tuioti – 7
Just to illustrate that he’s an 80 minute player in the 77th minute he swooped behind some great defensive rucking for a pick up turnover off the ground, awesome skills! Solid tight forward who seems to be back to full fitness.
PLAYER RATINGS ✍️
A couple of admirable displays for the Highlanders in their 32-21 loss to the Blues in Dunedin.https://t.co/tCA2sNE7wJ
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 2, 2020
6. Dalton Papalii – 7
The top tackler in the tournament after round seven showed he has pace to burn with his run-away try, which bizarrely was disallowed. Off at 47.
7. Tony Lamborn – 6.5
The last minute call up acquitted himself well. HIA test at 53 minutes but managed to get back for some more robust play.
8. Akira Ioane – 8.5
Enjoyed the fruits of a dominant scrum. Took his chance well for the first try and delivered some karma to Aaron Smith off the back of the scrum that led to the Tu’ungafasi try. Good defensive performance as well; top Blues tackler.
9. Finlay Christie – 8
Popped up all over the place, running the tram lines for his first try and out on the wing to flick an inside ball to Faiane for his try in the 32nd minute. Cocked up his box kick first up in 2nd half but bounced back with a lovely tracking run for his second try a minute later. Off at 65.
10. Beauden Barrett – 7.5
Great vision for the first Christie try with the cross field kick to Clarke. Christie’s second try also owed a lot to the influence of Barrett. A huge hanging kick for the turnover then a looping pass out to Lambourn to create havoc. Off at 71.
11. Caleb Clarke – 8
Finally got some ball with space and made the Highlanders pay. Nice set up for the Christie try; busting runs at the 22nd and 32nd minutes setting off alarm bells in the Highlanders defence.
12. TJ Faiane – 7
His try in the 32nd minute was a good reward for his solid all-round outing. Off at 59.
13. Rieko Ioane – 7
A little quiet but played a great foil role. Great distribution infield to Christie for his first try.
14. Mark Telea – 6.5
Was industrious in the first half but the ball eluded him in the second forty.
15. Matt Duffie – 6.5
The fullback is playing with real courage under high balls and running hard on to the ball.
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SUBS
16. Luteru Tolai – N/A
On at 71.
17. Alex Hodgman – 6.5
On at 53 and continued the scrum dominance.
18. Sione Mafileo – N/A
On at 65 and the poor prop was the victim of a team yellow so had an abbreviated game.
19. Jacob Pierce – 7
Came on as HIA replacement at 53 minutes. Amazing ball playing skills in his 10 minutes, back on at 73 for the skipper. Proved the locking stocks in the Blues are deep.
20. Aaron Carroll – 6.5
On at 47 and buried himself in his duties.
21. Sam Nock – N/A
On at 65.
22. Otere Black – 6.5
On at 59 and a solid outing.
23. Harry Plummer – N/A
On at 71.
Comments on RugbyPass
I 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 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 comments