1
Super Rugby Aotearoa: Blues player ratings vs Hurricanes
The Blues and the Hurricanes cracked into Super Rugby Aotearoa on a beautiful evening in Wellington. The Savea clan provided the crowd a poignant moment as Ardie marched out with his brother Julian and two children to commemorate 100 games for his franchise.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Blues couldn’t convert dominance, chances and an extra man for 10 minutes into points, to trail at halftime 11-7.
Things improved in the second half as timing became a little slicker and the northerners edged to a flattering 31-16 victory.
Here’re the Blues’ ratings.
15. Stephen Perofeta – 7.5
As a result of having Dan Carter and Beauden Barrett in the squad last year, looks like a more consistent, mature player. No glaring errors, good positionally and top runner in the match. Flew in for try to get the Blues out to a decent 21-11 lead after 53 minutes.
14. Mark Telea – 6.5
No space early on and knocked on a highball 23rd minute. Turned it around though with great evasive run out from try line pressure in the 40th minute. Had one of the longest runs of the match in the 73rd minute as he again ran from deep.
13. Rieko Ioane – 6
ADVERTISEMENT
After a frigid first half, he got such a surprise to get the ball early in the second half he dropped it cold. Finally saw some space with a 63 metre run to the line to seal the deal for the Blues. Looks like he’d been practising his downward pressure on the try and his post-try poses……
12. Harry Plummer – 5
Solid at best, anonymous at worst. First sighted at 58 minutes with a good clearing kick. Held grimly on to Laumape a couple of times. Short with his only kick at goal at 66 minutes.
Fans have taken to social media to express their confusion at a controversial call by the assistant referees that denied Jordie Barrett a conversion that appeared to be successful. #HURvBLU #SuperRugbyAotearoa https://t.co/IR3mJV6rYr
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 27, 2021
11. Caleb Clarke – 6.5
ADVERTISEMENT
Heavy boned runs in the first and 18th minutes. Sometimes defenders off a cartoon look as they bounce off his bumper. Silly delaying tactics cost his side a free kick early in the 2nd half but banked a try moments later. Having trouble judging kick offs close to sideline. Off at 73.
10. Otere Black – 8
Otere is a cool customer and he’s courageous too with a telling head on tackle on Aumua and showing no nerves dealing with dodgy passes and high balls. Decision-wise, lovely cross kick to Caleb Clarke for his try then minutes later great option taking on attack to set up Perofeta’s try. He really is a key to the Blues chances of improving even more this year.
9. Sam Nock – 5.5
Given a pretty comfortable ride by his pack but outplayed by his novice opponent Taumateine. Subbed out after 51 minutes.
8. Hoskins Sotutu – 6.5
Off the back of his powerful scrum Sotutu showed his running skills but couldn’t convert it to points. Round the park he was shaded by his opposite Flanders. Off at 66.
7. Dalton Papalii – 6
Perfect start to the season swooping on a Hurricanes error to score the first Blues try of the season. Couldn’t defuse Ardie at the tackle but has a great engine. Great defence around the 60 minute mark with a slew of powerful tackles. Only negative was the Aussie Rules shorty shorts! Off at 65.
PLAYER RATINGS
Finn Morton rates the Hurricanes.#SuperRugbyAotearoa #HURvBLUhttps://t.co/4ljTEAJ0CB
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 27, 2021
6. Akira Ioane – 7
Powerful effort from the loosie. Interesting period in the game for him early in the second half. Cut in half by Kirifi 47th minute but then shrugged off Ardie off to set up the Clarke try in 50th minute. Ten minutes later he conceded two penalties in a row. A younger Akira might have had a melt-down but kept his nose clean to finish the Hurricanes off.
5. Gerard Cowley-Tuioti – 6
Good aerially apart from one kick off error after 5 minutes. Off at 66.
4. Patrick Tuipulotu – 6
Strong as in the contact zone and a leading carrier. Credit must be given to his leadership as he managed to extract his team from a sticky situation.
3. Nepo Laulala – 6.5
Gave Fraser Armstrong a headache with an ox-like performance at scrum time. From the 13th minute on the Blues had the ascendancy mostly due to Nepo’s tighthead moves. And then off at 44 minutes and replaced by Tu’ungafasi…. nightmares for the other Kiwi packs.
2. Kurt Eklund – 6
Eklund looked like the guy in the mechanic’s workshops who checks under the cars as he inspected Julian Savea and Aumua’s undercarriages as they ran over him. No questioning his bravery and he was rewarded with a turnover after 17 minutes. Off at 54.
View this post on Instagram
1. James Lay – 5.5
Got penalised in a 17th minute scrum but other than that added to a good pack effort. Was useful around the field. Off at 44 to make way for Big Karl.
SUBS
16. Luteru Tolai – 6
On at 54 and was solid. Has a good work rate round the field.
17. Karl Tu’inukuafe – 6
On at 44 and was his normal no-nonsense self.
18. Ofa Tuungafasi – 6.5
On at 44 and does everything in a very bruising manner.
19. Josh Goodhue – 6
On at 66 and added some vigour
The Hurricanes have exploded into life in their opening Super Rugby Aotearoa match of the year. #HURvBLU #SuperRugbyAotearoahttps://t.co/rVS1Uk2lnI
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 27, 2021
20. Tom Robinson – 7
On at 66. Two big runs in 69th and manic on defence. Must be an inspiration to his flagging mates who started.
21. Adrian Choat – 6
On at 65, tried to bodysurf a few tackles but couldn’t get a turnover. Solid in the tackle.
22. Jonathan Ruru – 6
On at 51. Didn’t look interested at all to have a go at Aumua as he charged towards the line off a maul for a try. Has improved his speed and agility.
23. Tanielu Tele’a – N/A
On at 73.
Comments on RugbyPass
Leinster are going to win the world cup.
13 Go to commentsSuper Rugby desperately needs to lose at least 2, but up to 4 teams. Rebels quietly going bankrupt would have made that a bit easier. Teams like the Rebels and Force serve only to weaken Australian Rugby and Super Rugby more widely. In 13 years in the comp the Rebels are yet to win more games than they lose in a season, have never finished in the top half of the competition, and have come dead last a number of times. The Western Force, barring a brief stint of mediocrity under John Mitchell from 2007-2009 have been even worse. Sadly it’s hard to see a future for Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby. Likewise I think the writing is on the wall for the Highlanders, it’s hard to see how NZ rugby can continue to support 5 SR teams, and population distribution suggests one team in the south island would make the most sense.
42 Go to commentsNice that Connor Evans is happy to stay on here, that JD Schikerling is returning and Steven Kitshoff. Dobbo is careful to bring back just anybody but having a new financial lease of life, it has made the Stormers a more attractive club. On top of being good quality, having the financial backing helps a lot
1 Go to commentsEngland-qualified too, I believe.
1 Go to commentsThis might turn out to be emblematic of a real issue in Irish rugby. Ireland have one of the best -if not the best - senior sides in the world, and one of the best under 20s sides as well, but don’t seem to be giving graduating under20s players many opportunities to break through into URC starting lineups. There is a risk that a lot of the junior talent they are developing will either be wasted, or lost to other nations.
1 Go to commentsYou ask good questions, Nick. The group who have put together the proposal to play out of Tarneit and participate in the growing of the ground’s capacity are not a bunch of white knights who have been dragged in post-crisis; they were around whilst the Rebels accummulated $23m in debt. Why do we come up with ideas that might make the franchise affordable after it’s broke and not when it might have prevented the trainwreck this offseason was? As for Gordon/Kellaway v Lolesio/Wright, they are both good options. I think the former are better rugby players but the goal kicking of Noah may be decisive when Schmiddy makes his choices. I know Harry Jones has the hots for Edmed but I think it’s one of his few poor choices and he and Jorgensen aren’t close to the other pairs. By coincidence, the wife and I went into town over the weekend to watch Brian Cox and Patricia Clarkson in Long Day’s Journey into Night. Beautifully acted but it was 3.5 hours in the chair and very hard work. Like the Rebels, there were only small bursts of joy to go with a lot of bad news and a depressing story line. In the end, I was hoping it would end and I could give my sore butt a break. Again, familiar.
42 Go to commentsGood decision, very good player but not international quality. But so was Jamison Gibson Park …..
3 Go to commentsLoose forwards always look good going forward and winning. It’s the same loose forwards for the Crusaders and the Canes this year as last year. Too much of the shiny new things getting noticed here while older consistent ones getting bagged. It’s early days. Calm the farm.
6 Go to commentsThanks Nick, and on the money. We tend to be apathetic until something REALLY BAD happens, then we aren't! At least this applies to the Reb players and coach, if not the spectators. They seem to be getting very quick ball at times. Have they altered something, or is it just all of the skills coming together at the right time? It seems almost the opposite of the Reds, who started the season with quick ball, but haven't been showing that in the last 3 losing games. Is it attitude (McDermott hasn't looked “right” to me for 3 weeks), or something else?
42 Go to commentsGood summary. As said, Sevu Reece has been electrifying for the Crusaders. Great try and he has been everywhere. Amazing he is now equal with Caleb Ralph , club record of 52 tries for the Crusaders. That record beckons. Good to see Dallas McLeod getting regular starts at last. A big few weeks are ahead.
6 Go to commentsGood article/interview.As was said Christian Lio-Willie was barnstorming when he came on for the Crusaders. What happened at the end, self-explanatory.Captain fantastic Scott Barrett is due back soon as well, once they are back from Aussie. Great to see Ethan Blackadder back last week.
1 Go to commentsYou must have been watching one team, Andrew - and even then you missed the brightest star in the Chiefs pack - Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 2 turnovers, genuine line-out presence and grunt around the field, and the soft hands of a back.
6 Go to commentsHaha what a crock of sh!t these headlines are. Moorby’s best year was that first. Still doesn’t seem to have the same game about him as when he was fresh but has bounced back well this season to be playing consistent tight accurate footy
3 Go to commentsIt’s even dumber than Bernard Foley not kicking the penalty to touch in the Melbourne Bledisloe in 2022.
3 Go to commentsYes, they are traveling well but it’s early days. The Chiefs were in front with 20 to go while they snatched a last minute win v the Reds. Keep calm.
1 Go to commentsThe failure of the Irish system / rugby playing style to produce their own backs has them looking elsewhere for innovation and flair - not that Jordie has much flair. He’s a converted fullback. The Canes have plenty of other younger options.
13 Go to comments1.Watch Wallace Sititi be the wild card AB. A genuine full time no 8 2. Luke J like Sotutu has not delivered. 3. Chiefs have all the right cattle but badly miss the leadership of Webber. LJ is about as unconvincing as Sam Cane when under the pump. They had the winning of that game in the second half then fell apart.
6 Go to commentsYes the Rebels are showing signs of life because they are literally playing for their live -lihoods and thanks to their Australian attack coach. However they are still playing an essentially dull boring south african style for the rest of the time. And Geoff Parling must be the most useless lineout coach ever. Worse than Steve Hansen even. Interestingly we are starting to see more cheap shots and attempts to get away with cheating by Australian players, now they are being influenced by Joe Schmidt. It was exactly the same when Rennie started out as Wallaby coach and thru his tenure. Trying to teach Australians to play like kiwis doesn’t work, as the last 20 years has conclusively demonstrated. Especially when we are not as good at it as kiwis. Which of course is the whole idea …..
42 Go to commentsGreat signing, not sure where he’ll fit in though. As for him ‘playing alongside RG Snyman, that’s highly debatable given the likelyhood that the latter will spend most of the season on sick leave.
13 Go to commentsWowee!
13 Go to comments