Super Rugby Aotearoa: Blues player ratings vs Hurricanes
The arrival of both Beauden Barrett and Dan Carter in Auckland ensured that Blues fans entered the new season of Super Rugby Aotearoa with positive attitudes. A packed-out crowd was on hand to watch Barrett’s debut – although they’ll have to wait a few weeks for Carter to make an appearance – and they were hoping for a considerably better flowing match than the season opener between the Highlanders and the Chiefs on Saturday evening.
Fortunately, fans won’t have been disappointed with the quality of the match. Yes, there were a few more penalties than most would have hoped for – but there were also some exceptional tries. Ultimately, the Blues came out on top, winning 30-20.
Who were the Blues’ top performers in their first match of the new Super Rugby Aotearoa season?
1. Alex Hodgman – 6
Not as busy as his front row partners but did honest work. Off in 66th minute.
2. James Parsons – 6.5
Led the Blues’ defensive line. Apart from one little blip, helped the Blues lineout function very efficiently. Off in 66th minute.
3. Ofa Tu’ungafasi – 7.5
Topped the Blues’ tackle charts with 13. Earned a scrum penalty in the 36th minute to put the Blues hot on attack then was done over by Tevita Mafileo in the second half. Off in 66th minute.
4. Patrick Tuipulotu – 8
Physical. Exactly what the Blues needed from their captain. Threw himself into tackles and cleaned out more than Hurricane breakdown threat. Not used too much by the Blues for their own throws into the lineout but made a nuisance of himself when the Hurricanes were feeding. Off in 71st minute.
5. Josh Goodhue – 7
The Blues’ key lineout forward and reliable on defence. More graft than glamour for the first 79 minutes then came alive, forcing a breakdown penalty then giving a nice offload to Papalii out wide.
6. Tom Robinson – 8.5
Constantly disrupted the Hurricanes’ set-piece throughout the match, managing three steals. Showed good pace to cover Vince Aso’s attacking grubber kick and prevented a sure try. Popped up everywhere.
7. Blake Gibson – 6
A couple of big tackles early on – showed more physicality than we’re traditionally seen from him. Busy on defence. Off in 30th minute.
8. Hoskins Sotutu – 7.5
Didn’t clock up as many metres on attack as we’ve become accustomed to (still the most of any Blues forward though) but showed off his wider range of skills. Surprisingly disruptive in the breakdowns, forcing a few penalties. Nice cover tackle on Ngani Laumape.
9. Sam Nock – 7.5
Maintained the pace exceptionally well – especially in the lead-up to the Blues’ second try. One of the best performances from a Blues halfback in recent years. Off in 66th minute.
10. Otere Black – 8
Didn’t see too much of his running game but kept the score ticking along with perfect goal kicking and was a calming presence in the backline. Cleverly timed passing gave Rieko Ioane the space for the Blues’ first try. Bumped by Asafo Aumua then promptly left the field. Off in 71st minute.
11. Caleb Clarke – 8.5
The Blues’ biggest metre-eater with over 100 to his name. Very dangerous and deceptively fast but perhaps a bit too greedy at times. Burst onto a Rieko Ioane ball in the 13th minute then broke two tackles to score a well-taken try. Had the opportunity to send Beauden Barrett away not much later but held on a smidge too long. Forced one ruck penalty. Off in 66th minute.
12. TJ Faiane – 6.5
Faiane is normally a quiet operator, leaving the flashy stuff to his teammates. Scored one try this afternoon and put in one expertly weighted grubber to set up Dalton Papalii’s try but probably still didn’t have quite as much an impact throughout the game as he would have liked. First man of the game to get hit for a breakdown infringement, which the Hurricanes promptly converted into points. Bowled over by Asafo Aumua.
13. Rieko Ioane – 7.5
Looked deadly, a completely different player to last year. Great cover tackle on Ben Lam in the 10th minute after the Hurricanes winger almost escaped Mark Telea’s grasp. Great burst set up Clarke’s first try of the afternoon.
14. Mark Telea 7.5
Swapped onto the right wing after making such a big impact on the left earlier in the season – it didn’t faze the 23-year-old. Created space for himself with expert sidestepping and physicality. Broke two tackles then offloaded to Faiane for the Blues’ second try. Sent Chase Tiatia to the shadow realm with a beautiful fend.
15. Beauden Barrett – 7
Lovely inside ball to create the Blues’ second try. Brilliant tactical kicking throughout the match. Rushed out to try cut down Hurricanes attack which created the overlap for Ben Lame to score. Pinged once in the breakdowns.
Reserves:
16. Kurt Eklund – N/A
On in 66th minute.
17. Ezekiel Lindenmuth – N/A
On in 66th minute.
18. Marcel Renata – N/A
On in 66th minute.
19. Gerard Cowley-Tuioti – N/A
On in 71st minute.
20. Dalton Papalii – 7.5
On in 30th minute. Almost immediately won a penalty. Maintained Gibson’s physicality in defence then showed good pace to capitalise off Faiane’s grubber.
21. Finlay Christie – N/A
On in 66th minute.
22. Harry Plummer – N/A
On in 71st minute. Slotted in at fullback, unusually.
23. Matt Duffie – N/A
On in 66th minute. One nice clearance kick.
Comments on RugbyPass
Absolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
5 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
14 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
14 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
5 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to comments