Super Rugby Aotearoa: Crusaders player ratings vs Highlanders
It was an all-South Island affair for the opening match of round 4 of Super Rugby Aotearoa when the Crusaders made the trip south to Dunedin to take on the Highlanders at Forsyth Barr Stadium. Coming off the back of last weeks hard-fought victory over the Chiefs, the Crusaders were primed to continue their recent dominance over their southern neighbours.
Scott Robertson made a number of changes to his matchday 23 in both the pack and backline. In the backrow Sione Havili came in for Cullen Grace who was deserving of a rest after his epic contribution against the Chiefs in round 3. Havili was joined by Tom Christie who is working towards becoming the 4th All Black produced by Shirley Boys High School.
In the backline, Leicester Fainga’anuku came in for George Bridge with All Black David Havili returning to the fullback role. Fellow All Black Sevu Reece moved to the bench to make way for the impressive Will Jordan on the right wing and Mitch Drummond was in at halfback for Bryn Hall.
The match ended up being one for the ages. It was tough, skilful and exactly the type of game rugby needs to produce more consistently. Despite the Highlanders giving the Crusaders a scare, the class of the Crusaders shone through and they took South Island honours 40-20.
So how did the Crusaders rate?
1. Joe Moody – 7/10
Another damaging performance in the scrum and worked hard in the tight. Looked to impose himself in possession more so than last week. Came off the line well and had a reasonable night in defence. However, as the match went on was guilty of multiple infringements which is not the standard an All Black of his standing should be making in such a struggle.
2. Codie Taylor – 8
After a near faultless performance last week in the lineout in the elements, struggled somewhat with his timings early on. Despite those issues, Taylor applied himself to the task of breaking down the Highlanders and lead the way through the middle and was looking for opportunities at width and showed a clean chase to nearly score off a Will Jordan kick. Worked hard over the ball and as a support player.
3. Michael Alaalatoa – 7.5
Exceptionally strong in the scrum and gave Daniel Leinert-Brown a torrid time of it. Worked hard in defence and, despite falling off the odd tackle, was generally solid. Was stripped by Shannon Frizzell with a loose carry but his stocks continue to rise as a quality tighthead.
4. Samuel Whitelock – 7
Brought all his experience and work ethic when his side was under pressure. Simple forward play executed well. Was in the thick of it.
5. Mitchell Dunshea – 6.5
Worked hard in the tight but didn’t have the greatest night in defence. Enjoyed the intent he wanted to play with and popped up in places one might not expect. A fair effort in a tough, tough match.
6. Sione Havili – 6.5
Didn’t disappoint in defence but wasn’t a factor in attack. Probably due to the fact he was operating in tight as the match required of him. A credible night out.
7. Tom Christie – 8
Has future All Black written all over him. In attack, he worked the wide left channel and was rewarded with two tries for his efforts. Defended tirelessly and worked well over the ball. If there were a criticism it’s that he can tend to be isolated at times in possession but had the class to prevent any turnover.
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8. Whetukamokamo Douglas – 8
Tough all night. It is a tough act to follow Keiran Read but Douglas is bringing his own style and operating closer in and proving to be quite a handful. Was dominant at the back of the line out, stealing one off the Highlanders. Quality performance.
9. Mitchell Drummond – 7
Had a wonderful passing game, but tended to miss gaps close to the breakdown when he darted too laterally. Missed the odd tackle but generally gave All Black Aaron Smith a genuine contest which is no easy thing. Would be good to see him back himself with the ball in hand more often.
10. Richie Mo’unga – 8.5
Another class performance by the All Black flyhalf. He didn’t always make the right choice in attack, but he found a way to get his side through the blitz defence of the Highlanders. On defence, he made a try-saving tackle on his own line to prevent a certain Highlanders score and was also the first man into the clean-out when required. Quality shift.
11. Leicester Faingaanuku – 7.5
Started poorly but it didn’t bother him. Showed impressive mentality to get into the game and wanted to compete in everything and did so with a wonderful chase game, but also came off his wing looking for work not far off the ruck. The Crusaders are developing yet another quality outside back.
12. Jack Goodhue – 8.5
Goes from strength to strength. He played something like an open side flanker-centre hybrid. The most valuable Crusader on the park as he is the mortar for so many of the bricks the Crusaders put down.
13. Braydon Ennor – 7
Did his job and did it well. He looked for more work this week and ran a great inverted angle off Tom Sanders that nearly lead to a try. A big performance from him is not far off – all the signs are there.
14. Will Jordan – 9
The most exciting outside back in the competition. He played without fear and restriction and backed himself and was simply a handful for the opposition. This type of performance, built on what he brought last year, is the type of rugby that brings people to the game simply to watch him play. Will demand All Black squad selection.
15. David Havili – 6.5
Had a fair game and some deft touches but sadly left the field with injury.
Replacements:
16. Andrew Makalio – N/A
17. George Bower – 5
Did his bit and maintained the pressure.
18. Oliver Jager – 7
Brought some energy and has some game about him. Who was the last Irishman to make an All Black squad?
19. Quinten Strange – 5
Did his bit in his first Super Rugby match of the year.
20. Tom Sanders – 7.5
The Colonel brought big energy in both attack and defence and would not be surprised if he got a start next week.
21. Ereatara Enari- N/A
22. Fetuli Paea – 5.5
Made his Super Rugby Debut and looks like he has some game about him, but had limited opportunity.
23. Sevu Reece – 8
Brilliant. Scored a wonderful try down the right flank and brought all the energy required at a time when the match was in the balance.
Comments on RugbyPass
Thanks for the write up. Great to see the Rebs winning, I am a little interested in how they will go against the remaining kiwi teams, I think they’ve only played Hurricanes and Highlanders but how great to see these players performing!! I also see Parling has a job beyond June 30! A good move by RA? Also how do you fix the Rebels previously scratchy defence?
81 Go to commentsbe smart - go black
13 Go to commentsNext week the Crusaders hopefully have Scott Barrett back. Will be great to have the captain back. Hopefully he will be the All Black captain as well.
12 Go to commentsExciting place to be for the young fella. I expected he was French Polynesian when I saw him included in the France 6N squad (after seeing him in NZs), and therefor be strong grounds we might loose him to rugby down here. Good, in that he is good enough to warrant such a profile, and from a journalism’s fan interaction aspect, to finally get a back ground story on the fella. Hope he has settled into NZ OK and that at least one rugby country will fit with him to help his development, which, if so, he should surely continue for a few years, and then that he can experience France to it’s fullest with a bit more maturity and less reliance on family than you would have at his current age. A good 3 or 4 years before he would be ready for International duty if he wanted to wait. Of course he already sounds good enough to accept a call up, and to cap himself, in the more immediate future (he’d have to be very very good in the case of the ABs), and he’ll get a great taste of that being with the Canes who have a bunch who are just a few years further into their career and looking likely Internationals themselves.
13 Go to commentsI remember towards the end of the original broadcasting deal for Super rugby with Newscorp that there was talk about the competition expanding to improve negotiations for more money - more content, more cash. Professional rugby was still in its infancy then and I held an opposing view that if Super rugby was a truly valuable competition then it should attract more broadcasters to bid for the rights, thereby increasing the value without needing to add more teams and games. Unfortunately since the game turned professional, the tension between club, talent and country has only grown further. I would argue we’re already at a point in time where the present is the future. The only international competitions that matter are 6N, RC and RWC. The inter-hemisphere tours are only developmental for those competitions. The games that increasingly matter more to fans, sponsors and broadcasters are between the clubs. Particularly for European fans, there are multiple competitions to follow your teams fortunes every week. SA is not Europe but competes in a single continental competition, so the travel component will always be an impediment. It was worse in the bloated days of Super rugby when teams traversed between four continents - Africa, America, Asia and Australia. The percentage of players who represent their country is less than 5% of the professional player base, so the sense of sacrifice isn’t as strong a motivation for the rest who are more focused on playing professional rugby and earning as much from their body as they can. Rugby like cricket created the conundrum it’s constantly fighting a losing battle with.
3 Go to commentsOh wow… “But as La Rochelle proved in winning in Cape Town this season, a cross-continental away assignment need not spell the end of days.” La Rochelle actually proved quite the opposite. After traveling to Cape town and back they (back-to-back and current champs) got mercilessly thumped the next week. If travel is not the reason, why else would a full-strength powerhouse like La Rochelle get dumped on their @r$e$ one week later?
26 Go to commentsYou know he can land a winning conversion after the full time siren is up. (Even if it takes two attempts.)
5 Go to commentsA very insightful article from Jake. I would love to know how South African’s feel about their move to Europe. Do you prefer playing in Europe or want to go back to Super Rugby?
3 Go to commentspure fire
1 Go to commentsA very well thought out summary of all the relevant complications…agree with your ”refer the Cricket Test versus 20/20 comparison”. More also definitely doesn't necessarily mean better!
3 Go to commentsMust be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
13 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
5 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
5 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
5 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
26 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
2 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to comments