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Super Rugby Aotearoa: Chiefs player ratings vs Highlanders
The Chiefs approached their first match of the Super Rugby year staring down a losing streak of nine matches. They had five debutantes in the match day squad and apart from the All Black captain Sam Cane, the pack had an untried look about it.
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The Highlanders were coming off their loss against Crusaders last week and posed a surprise selection with Folau Fakatava garnering a start and leaving Aaron Smith on the bench.
The Chiefs got some real momentum early on with some confidence building attacks and two Highlanders yellow cards. After 30 minutes they were 20-6 ahead and Ash Dixon was sitting on the naughty chair; the Chiefs were in the driving seat. The brilliance of Jonah Nareki and crucial defensive errors from leading players Sam Cane, Brad Weber and Anton Lienert-Brown saw the Highlanders surge back for a 39-23 victory.
Here’re the Chiefs’ ratings
1. Reuben O’Neill – 6
Powered a solid scrum in the first half that led to some dominant play for his team. Early in the second half on a carry got bested by Frizell which saw him post negative metres. A bit embarrassing.
2. Samisoni Taukei’aho – 7
Aggressive first tackle on Ash Dixon to announce his presence. Dynamic, powerful player around the park. Last season he had some problems at the lineout but he’s obviously spent some summer evenings practising lineout throws, perhaps that’s why he got the starting spot back.
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3. Sione Mafileo – 6.5
Strong rampage on attack after 12. Anchored a firm scrum. Off at 48.
4. Tupou Vaa’i – 6
Dropped a ball in attack in 7th minute but heads up play around the ruck moments later for a steal. Is very good around the field and his aerial play is inspiring; he took virtually all of the Chiefs’ lineout ball. Would love to see him have a season with a veteran like Retallick but he has been inserted as the senior lock at the franchise early in his career. Could make or break him.
5. Naitoa Ah Kuoi – 5.5
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Was penalised twice and was overshadowed and out-passioned by his opposites, especially Regan. Decent tackle count and good accuracy on defence. Off at 62.
6. Samipeni Finau – 7.5
Was a great surprise package and is definitely one for the future. Good couple of runs and some strong defence and with every good 6, he has the ability to pop up at the right place at the right time. Right up Jacobson’s bum to tandem him over for try and got back in cover in the 52 minute to snuff out a Highlanders attack. Took the most of his opportunity.
7. Sam Cane – 6.5
Got the perfect start to do the limpet and win the first penalty and 3 points. Top tackler in the match, most of them venomous. He will however be spewing that he missed Nareki with Vaa’i in the lead up to Frizell’s try. Penalised at the 68th minute in the scrum and you could tell in the postmatch interview he took the loss badly.
8. Luke Jacobson – 6.5
Not the best start as he was penalised after 3 minutes after not supporting his body weight. Had a golden period at the end of the first quarter as he smashed over for a try from a few metres out in 23rd and then four minutes later got another storming carry. Came off the boil in the 2nd half as the Chiefs wilted, culminating in the 75th minute with a miss on the slippery Nareki.
The Highlanders have bounced back from last week’s season-opening defeat to the Crusaders by overcoming a 14-point deficit to thump the Chiefs 39-23 at FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton. Here’s how they rated. #CHIvHIG #SuperRugbyAotearoa https://t.co/swXnPf69Np
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 5, 2021
9. Brad Weber – 6
Small signs that Weber has returned with some of his 2019 zip at the base. Almost carried for 100 metres and was game, if not wildly successful in defence. Missed four tackles with most of them bump offs but the most glaring was when he got sucked in by his opposite Fakatava for the snipe that closed the gap to 2 points 20-18 early in the second half. Off at 71.
10. Bryn Gatland – 5
Is there for some solidity and he has some good basic skills and a trait for taking good options. Some highlights, a good clearance kick at 16 minutes and came across well to help Dmac in defence in the 17th minute to save a try. Some good support and a crucial clean out but the fluffing of an awful pass from McKenzie on the 55 minute mark may be what fans and selectors remember. Off at 60.
11. Etene Nanai-Seturo – 8
Was the Chiefs best player but couldn’t match the magical Nareki. His footwork combined with power makes him a very tough man to tag. He would have had his heart in his mouth when his shoulder made contact with a leaping Garden-Bachop. Sensible decision by the ref though. Etene’s panther like performance made me think of what we could see when Roger Tuivasa-Sheck gets into a 15s jersey.
12. Anton Lienert-Brown – 6
He’s a classy player when he’s linking into space. A great brutish run in lead up to Jacobson’s try. Then the slick pass when he combined again with his 8 mate to put him into space. Just tried too hard in the last quarter when missed Nareki on his way to his 2nd try and then the knock on from a kick off take.
13. Sean Wainui – 5
Miscalculated a kick off receipt to let it go and put his team under pressure. Needs to work on his distribution skills if he wants to keep the 13 jersey, there was a noticeable improvement when Nankivell came into the midfield.
14. Jonah Lowe – 7
A typical Jonah Lowe performance, he was like a sheep dog chasing all day. Forced Nareki’s only error with a charge down in the 11th minute from a kick off. Good work in the 19th minute with a high ball kick chase. Up on the rush defence to close down Punivai in the 24th minute and then a few minutes later a good chase on Nareki after giving up a six meter start but could not stop the try. Off at 55.
15. Damian McKenzie – 7
Whenever he joins the line on attack there seems to be more opportunities. Great cover tackle to bundle Nareki out in the 17th minute. Skilful collection from behind him to find himself in open space to get his team’s 2nd try. Ended the first half with a brilliant chip and chase and looked reasonably good when he moved up to 10.
?? Etene Nanai-Seturo letting loose with those fancy feet we love to see so much of in the Sevens!
Don’t miss our #AllBlacks7s boys in action this @SuperRugbyNZ season.
WATCH:
?? | @skysportnz
? | @rugbypass or https://t.co/h5f1R6uW1H #SkySuperRugbyAotearoa pic.twitter.com/wzS4xoFW2P— All Blacks Sevens (@AllBlacks7s) March 5, 2021
Reserves:
16. Bradley Slater – 5
On at 58 and seems to have got the off-the-bench lineout yips that his team mate had last year.
17. Ollie Norris – 6.5
On at on 58. Forced a scrum penalty at 63 minutes and is a very good athlete around the paddock.
18. Angus Ta’avao – 5.5
On at 48. Had the scrum penalty at 63 minutes then a couple against them for not scrumming straight. Is obviously a good leader to have come off the bench but failed to make a difference this week.
19. Mitch Brown – 5
On at 62 and penalised for a leading forearm that snuffed out a try chance.
20. Mitch Karpik – 6
On at 55. A little knock on at the 60th minute on attack but some good defence.
21. Xavier Roe – 5.5
On at 71. Couldn’t get the dancing feet going with limited chances.
22. Alex Nankivell – 6
On 55. Has some good vision and took some good options on attack.
23. Shaun Stevenson – NA
On at 60.
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Comments on RugbyPass
The World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
1 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI 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?
3 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
19 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 comments