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Super Rugby Aotearoa: Chiefs player ratings vs Highlanders
Both teams were desperate to win this game in a bid to avoid the wooden spoon in Super Rugby Aotearoa. The Chiefs 0 wins from 4 outings and the Highlanders with just their 1 point victory over the Waikato-based franchise earlier in the competition.
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The Chiefs got a cracking start with a point a minute in the first quarter but they didn’t count on Aaron Smith leading the resilient Highlanders back to a heart-breaking 33-31 last gasp victory.
Here’re the Chiefs player ratings.
1. Aidan Ross – N/A
Lasted a minute with a leg injury. Sad as the last few rounds he’s looked like he’s getting his mojo back.
2. Bradley Slater – 8
Has grown massively with his extended spell starting. Has been strong and reliable at the set piece but displaying some presence in open play now too. Two tries from rolling mauls, classic, bullish Mooloo from the man from Ferdinand land. The Chiefs missed him in the last quarter.
3. Nepo Laulala – 7
A rock. Funny moment when he gave Aaron Smith a big bear hug to slow him down off a quick tap. Got away with it.
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4. Tupou Vaa’i – 6.5
Looks a little coltish but showed he was tough taking one to the chin from Thompson. Still learning his trade but obviously brimming with potential. Did well in defence making some good spot tackles, the most obvious one on the wing to deny Ash Dixon.
5. Mitchell Brown – 6.5
Good piston in the Chief’s V8 forward performance.
6. Lachlan Boshier – 8
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Try in the 5th minute running a smooth line. Big source of line out ball. Lovely display of defensive rucking over Scott Gregory at 52 minutes and some classic turnovers at 72 and 78 minutes that seem to seal the Chief’s victory…… but the Rugby Gods thought otherwise!
7. Sam Cane – 6.5
Lovely last pass to Boshier for his try. Yellow carded for an indiscretion at the breakdown and couldn’t grab Mitch Hunt as he scurried for his try in the 47th minute. Obviously frustrated he can’t spark his team.
8. Pita Gus Sowakula – 7.5
Slow start but storming run at the end of the first half just after a poor option off a scrum. That seemed to spark him up as he got his demolition derby runs and some spirited defence into action. Off at 66 which was a turning point.
9. Brad Weber – 6.5
Topped the tackle count with Wainui and provided good service. Nasty swinging arm on Aaron Smith and a brilliant tackle on Thompson to snuff out a Highlanders attack at the end of the first half. Looks to be getting back some of that attitude that made him a standout last year.
10. Kaleb Trask – 6
Started the game with a natty little netball pass to Boshier, played flat in the first quarter but couldn’t make a difference to stem the tide in the second half.
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11. Solomon Alaimalo – 5
The play didn’t come his way and he didn’t show much inclination to find work.
12. Alex Nankivell – 7
Keeps it simple and uncomplicated. Runs straight lines, good pressure at the tackle at 19 minutes to effect turnover. Off at 51
13. Anton Lienert-Brown – 7.5
Seemed to enjoy playing at centre again, strong running and pilfering early and then smashing over for a well deserved try in the 11th minute. Faded on attack after that but a great defender.
14. Sean Wainui – 7
Spent the game on the left wing with 14 on his back and is a cruncher on defence. It’s not often a winger tops the tackle count but is solid as.
15. Damian McKenzie – 7
Set up ALB with a snappy inside pass early on. What a shame no one kicks to him anymore in open play. We saw a glimpse of what he can do around the 59 minute mark with some high balls coming his way and then the explosive run on the way to his disallowed try.
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16. Samisoni Taukei’aho – 5
On at 58. Line out hiccough again and gave up a crucial penalty under pressure.
17. Reuben O’Neill – 7
Must have been a shock after a minute to get on the paddock. Acquitted himself well.
18. Ross Geldenhuys – N/A
On at 60
19. Adam Thomson – N/A
On at 60
20. Mitch Karpik – N/A
On at 66
21. Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi – N/A
On at 65
22. Aaron Cruden – N/A
23. Quinn Tupaea – N/A
On at 51
Comments on RugbyPass
It’s not up to Wales to support Georgian Rugby. That’s up to International Rugby and Georgia. I sympathise with Georgia’s decent attempt to create this fixture. But for Wales the proposed match up is just a potential stick to beat them with and a potential big psychological blow that young Welsh team doesn’t need. (I’m Irish BTW.)
2 Go to commentsCale certainly looks great in space, but as you say, he has struggled in contact. At 23 years old, turning 24 this year, he should be close to full physical maturity and yet there exists a considerable gap in the power and physicality required for international rugby. Weight doesn’t automatically equate to power and physicality either. Can he go from a player who’s being physically dominated in Super rugby to physically dominating in international rugby in 1 or 2 years? That’s a big ask but he may end up being a late bloomer.
24 Go to commentsIf rugby wants to remain interesting in the AI era then it will need to work on changing the rules. AI will reduce the tactical advantage of smart game plans, will neutralize primary attacking weapons, and will move rugby from a being a game of inches to a game of millimetres. It will be about sheer athleticism and technique,about avoiding mistakes, and about referees. Many fans will find that boring. The answer is to add creative degrees of freedom to the game. The 50-22 is an example. But we can have fun inventing others, like the right to add more players for X minutes per game, or the equivalent of the 2-point conversion in American football, the ability to call a 12-player scrum, etc. Not saying these are great ideas, but making the point that the more of these alternatives you allow, the less AI will be able to lock down high-probability strategies. This is not because AI does not have the compute power, but because it has more choices and has less data, or less-specific data. That will take time and debate, but big, positive and immediate impact could be in the area of ref/TMO assistance. The technology is easily good enough today to detect forward passes, not-straight lineouts, offside at breakdown/scrum/lineout, obstruction, early/late tackles, and a lot of other things. WR should be ultra aggressive in doing this, as it will really help in an area in which the game is really struggling. In the long run there needs to be substantial creativity applied to the rules. Without that AI (along with all of the pro innovations) will turn rugby into a bash fest.
24 Go to commentsSouth Africa rarely play Ireland and France on these tours. Mostly, England, Scotland and Wales. I wonder why
1 Go to commentsIt was a let’s-see-what-you're-made-of type of a game. The Bulls do look good when the opposition allows them to, but Munster shut them down, and they could not find a way through. Jake should be very worried about their chances in the competition.
2 Go to commentsHats off to Fabian for a very impressive journey to date. Is it as ‘uniquely unlikely’ as Rugby Pass suggests, given Anton Segner’s journey at the Blues?
1 Go to commentsSad that this was not confirmed. When administrators talk about expanding the game they evidently don’t include pathways to the top tier of rugby for teams outside of the old boys club. Rugby deserves better, and certainly Georgia does.
2 Go to commentsLions might take him on if they move on Van Rooyen but I doubt he will want to go back, might consider it a step backwards for himself. Sharks would take him on but if Plumtree goes on to win the challenge cup they will keep him on. Also sharks showing some promising signs recently. Stormers and Bulls are stable and Springboks are already filled up. Quality coach though, interesting to see where he ends up
1 Go to commentsAnd the person responsible for creating a culture of accountability is?
3 Go to commentsMore useless words from Ben Smith -Please get another team to write about. SA really dont need your input, it suck anyway.
264 Go to commentsThis disgraceful episode must result in management and coach team sackings. A new manager with worse results than previous and the coaching staff need to coached. Awful massacre led by donkeys.
1 Go to commentsInteresting article with one glaring mistake. This sentence: “And between the top four nations right now, Ireland, France, South Africa, and New Zealand…” should read: And between the top four nations right now, South Africa, Ireland, New Zealand and France…”. Get it right wistful thinkers, its not that hard.
24 Go to commentsHow did Penny get the gig anyway?
3 Go to commentsNice write up Nick and I would have agreed a week ago. However as you would know Cale & co got absolutely monstered by the Blues back row of Sotutu, Ioane and Papaliti and not all of these 3 are guaranteed a start in the Black jumper. He may need to put some kgs before stepping up, Spring tour? After the week end Joe will be a bit more restless. Will need to pick a mobile tough pack for Wales and hope England does the right thing and bashes the ABs. I like your last paragraph but I would bring Swinton, Hannigan into the 6 role and Bobby V to 8
24 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can still get in to the Play Off’s. The imminent return of outstanding captain Scott Barrett and his All Black team mate Codie Taylor will be a big boost.There are others like Tamaiti Williams too. Two home games coming up. Fellow Crusader fans get there and support these guys. I will be.
2 Go to commentsCant get more Wellington than Proctor.
2 Go to commentsWhy not let the media decide. Like how they choose the head coach. Like most of us we entrust the rugby system to choose. A rugby team includes the coaches. It's collective.
14 Go to commentsHi NIck, I have been very impressed with him and he seems a smart player who can see opportunities which Bobby V _(who must be an international 6_) doesn’t see or have the speed to take advantage of. If he continues to improve and puts on 5kgs then he could be a great 8. He is a bit taller than Keiran Reid at 1.93m and 111 kgs, so his skill set fits his body size and who knows where it will lead. I hope the spate of Achilles tendon issues have been dealt with by the S&C people. It’s been a very long time since Mark Loane and Kefu stood out at 8. The question is will we be able to hold onto him, if he does make it he will be pretty hot property. I disagree with the idea of letting them go to the Northern Hemisphere and then bring them back.
24 Go to commentsBilly Fulton 🤣🤣🤣🤣 garrrmon not even close
14 Go to commentsDoes the AI take into account refs? hahaha Seriously why not have two on field refs to avoid bias?
24 Go to comments