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Super Rugby Aotearoa: Crusaders player ratings vs Highlanders
Knowing the title was within their grasp with a victory this afternoon, Crusaders coach Scott Robertson selected a match day 23 bristling with All Black experience and youth looking to push for such selection.
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Befittingly, the Crusaders who have dominated Super Rugby over the decades ,were the inaugural Super Rugby Aotearoa champions taking the match 32-22.
The Highlanders, though, made them work for it and for the majority of the match appeared the better team, but like the champions they are, the Crusaders found another gear and took the game away from Highlanders in the final 20 minutes to secure yet another trophy in the cabinet that holds many.
How RugbyPass rated the Crusaders.
15. Will Jordan – 7.5/10
No tries for the electrifying Jordan today but he had his hand in plenty. Looked threatening in the earlier stages but was well marked up on, yet as soon as there was space early in the second half, he exploited it and worked unselfishly with George Bridge to break Highlanders hearts.
14. Sevu Reece – 7.5/10
Was threatening throughout. He kept his depth and width when required but also knew when to come in closer to secure possession or support the play. Quality performance.
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13. Braydon Ennor – 7/10
Made a few mistakes and appeared lost in the first half, but found his way into the match with some quality involvements and was rewarded with a try for his efforts at the death.
12. Jack Goodhue – 8/10
Heart and soul of that Crusaders backline. Whilst there were errors, in context to how much work he did both on and off the ball, these errors are absolutely excusable. Is there a harder working 12 in the game?
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11. George Bridge – 8/10
Mr Consistency delivers again, and again. Not much gets past him, but he gets past many. Scored two tries as a result of work done for him but he needed to be there and he was. A winger anyone would want in their side.
10. Richie Mo’unga – 8.5/10
Hard to leave out of the All Blacks as a starting 10 with yet another dominant performance. If he wasn’t taking on the line, he was guiding his team around and keeping them in the match with his option taking. Got a good look at Shannon Frizzell’s elbow when he was ‘speed bumped’ late in the second half but there is no disgrace in that.
Amazing piece of defence from Highlanders' wing Josh McKay. #CRUvHIG #SuperRugbyAotearoa https://t.co/II760cnOiG
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 9, 2020
9. Bryn Hall – 6.5/10
A hero and a villain. His service was crisp and threatening that set up the Crusaders’ first try by passing across the face down the short side to an unmarked Sevu Reece. A pass of beauty. And like all quality half-backs he backed up on the inside to assist. Yet, when doing exactly that later in the match with the try line in sight, poor ball security allowed the late finishing Josh McKay to chop the ball out of his grasp, bombing a certain five-pointer.
8. Whetukamokamo Douglas – 7/10
Big game in defence and in the tight. Probably doesn’t get the plaudits he deserves for the unspectacular work he does. But that work is so vital for his team.
7. Tom Christie – 7/10
One of the Crusaders’ best early in the match when they were under serious pressure. After being down 0-7 and the Highlanders threatening deep on the attack, Christie secured a turnover that surely prevented his side going to 0-14. Worked himself and was guilty of some unintelligent play later in the match but has future All Black written all over him.
6. Tom Sanders – 6/10
Not the Colonel’s best day out. To his credit he brought intent, yet slippery fingers contributed to some handling errors, in particular a knock on when on the attack in the Highlanders 22. A Court-Martialling offence.
5. Quinten Strange – 6/10
Plenty to both like and dislike in his performance. Caused the Highlanders some issues in the lineout and had some quality involvements in possession and pinched a turnover but was guilty of missing a few tackles.
4. Sam Whitelock – 7/10
Got caught out in defence early in the match that lead to the Highlanders’ first try. Gave away a few silly errors but like the legend he is was instrumental in just getting his side back to some basic rugby and worked himself for the cause despite a poor pass that lead to a Highlanders intercept. He’s still got it.
3. Michael Alaalatoa – 6/10
Bit quite today ‘Big Mike’. Did his bit in the set piece and came off the line well but wasn’t his best performance today, but it was enough.
2. Codie Taylor – 7.5/10
A warrior performance. Despite some uncharacteristic errors, his efforts be it a turnover, a bullocking run or a dominant tackle, kept the Crusaders in the match when his side were in trouble. Quality shift.
1. Joe Moody – 6/10
Only 15 minutes for ‘Big Joe’ yet during that time he made several uncharacteristic mistakes be it ball handling or discipline yet he worked himself hard in that short performance prior to sustaining a neck injury.
Replacements:
16. Andrew Makalio – 6 /10
Was guilty of an over throw deep on the attack which is blot in his page but had some impact when his side needed it.
17. George Bower – 6.5/10
Played more than he would have expected and handled it well. Just did his job as required and didn’t look out of place with more minutes at this level.
18. Oliver Jager – N/A
Was poleaxed by Sio Tomkinson and left the field on a stretcher but everyone’s favourite Irishman gave the thumbs up as he was carried off.
19. Luke Romano – 7.5/10
What a finish by the veteran. Brought the impact, knowledge and calmness required to close out this match.
20. Sione Havili – 7.5/10
Best performance this season. Was a real handful when he came on with several damaging runs into the heart of the Highlanders.
21. Mitchell Drummond – 6.5/10
Did his job and gave his back line some good service.
22. Brett Cameron – N/A
23. Leicester Fainga’anuku – N/A
Comments on RugbyPass
Super rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
8 Go to commentsAbsolutely..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.
8 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.
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