Super Rugby Aotearoa: Crusaders player ratings vs Chiefs
A fixture all rugby fans, not just those in New Zealand keep an eye out for is whenever the Crusaders and Chiefs do battle as their recent contests have delivered some exceptional rugby. Who could forget that match in Suva in 2019 when the Chiefs found a gear the Crusaders could not match and took the game 40-27? And this was no fluke outcome when earlier this year the Chiefs put the Crusaders to the sword 25-15 in Hamilton.
Travelling to Christchurch and coming away with the chocolates is easier said than done, though. In round two, the hosts were clinical yet ill-disciplined at times against the Hurricanes and will be seeking to rectify accordingly. The Chiefs inexperience up front and poor option taking exposed them against the Blues last week but with the return of new All Blacks skipper Sam Cane to the back row to partner Lachlan Boshier will make them formidable at the breakdown if they adjust to the recent rule changes.
The champions against their recent nemesis didn’t fail to deliver as a spectacle despite the rain affected conditions. It was a gripping affair with the Crusaders edging out the strong finishing Chiefs 18-13.
Let’s see how the Crusaders rated:
1. Joe Moody – 7
Good day out for Joe, especially getting one over fellow All Black Nepo Laulala in the first scrum to give his side a penalty that produced the first points of the match.
2. Codie Taylor (c) – 8
A true captain’s performance. His lineout in trying conditions was near faultless. Coupled with an energetic effort in defence and attack ensured his side maintained the standard required. World class.
3. Michael Alaalatoa – 7.5
Really impressed by his defensive efforts. Came off the line consistently putting the Chiefs runners under pressure. Lost his feet and a few scrums but the conditions no doubt contributed to that. Good day out for the Australian-born Samoan international.
4. Sam Whitelock – 7.5
Played like the leader he is. Stole a lineout, worked hard in the tight in both attack and possession. The veteran looked to be enjoying himself in the thick of it.
5. Mitchell Dunshea – 7
Did his bit in tough conditions. Wanted to be involved, wanted to assert himself on the opposition and did so.
6. Cullen Grace – 8
The Machine! What a superb performance by him. Not only made a mountain of tackles, he was largely dominant in those collisions. Stole a lineout when the Chiefs were on attack and despite the odd missed tackle and infringement Cullen just didn’t like he was going to stop. Best loose forward on the park.
7. Billy Harmon – 7.5
Not the game conditions for Harmon to excel but put in a big shift in Defence which what was absolutely required. Exhausted himself for the cause without fuss.
8. Whetu Douglas – 7
Solid defensive effort and didn’t have much opportunity in attack. Was in the thick of it.
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9. Bryn Hall – 7
A really intelligent performance. His option taking by putting kicks in behind the short side defence were on the money. His passing game was for the most very good, yet perhaps due to the conditions the off ‘Harbour Bridge’ pass appeared putting the receiver under undue pressure outside of that a good day at the office.
10. Richie Mo’unga – 7
Not a definitive Mo’unga performance but he didn’t let his side down either. Took the right option most of the time, but for an All Black fly half I would have liked to see him impose himself further with his running game as he evidently has the class to do so. The wet he got it right yet there were some tired forwards and gaps to exploit than weren’t so.
11. George Bridge – 7.5
Just an intelligent, professional performance. Rarely did his input result in putting his side under pressure. He is the personification of the low mistake percentage player and that is what was exactly required in today’s conditions.
12. Jack Goodhue – 8
Superb in defence. His line-speed, work over the ball and setting up around the ruck to plugs the gaps on defence were his strengths today. The Chiefs looked to attack those edges early in the second half but Goodhue was there to assist in nullifying much of it. His second efforts were evidence of his commitment and class.
13. Braydon Ennor – 6.5
Credible performance but not a stand out one. Worked away in defence with not many opportunities in attack.
14. Sevu Reece – 7
Had some loose carries that put his side under pressure but to his credit was always looking for a way to impose himself on the match and did so when chasing a cross field kick to regather and put Will Jordan away for a wonderful try.
15. Will Jordan – 8
In the wet conditions you can assess a full backs value as to what they defuse as opposed to what the create in attack. Jordan did all that and more. Despite the odd handling error and penalty Jordan was superb for the Crusaders scoring two wonderful tries through support and being in the moment.
Reserves
16. Brodie McAlister – NA
17. Isi Tu’ungafasi – 7
Got stuck in in defence and sought to impose himself.
18. George Bower – 6.5
Brought some energy when he came on as required.
19. Luke Romano – 7.5
Worked himself hard when he came on and whilst there were the odd error and infringement, the veteran put on a shot to dislodge an Chiefs player late in the match to relieve the offensive pressure. Did what a good bench forward should.
20. Ethan Blackadder – 7
Worked hard and launched himself off the defensive line. Intelligent player who was using a few of the dark arts to keep Chiefs players either out the attack or out of the defensive line.
21. Mitchell Drummond – 6.5
A fair job coming off the bench but not in Hall’s class today.
22. David Havili – 7
Solid performance with some classy touches in possession and with the boot.
23. Leicester Faingaanuku – 6
Didn’t see much of him but didn’t cause his side any significant concerns.
Comments on RugbyPass
late hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusades , you can keep going.
1 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
4 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
24 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
24 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
24 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
24 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
28 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
24 Go to comments