Super Rugby Aotearoa: Highlanders player ratings vs Blues
The final instalment round eight of Super Rugby Aotearoa was fought out between the hardworking Highlanders and the ambitious Blues at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on Sunday.
Both sides went into the match with winning form and with the Gordon Hunter Trophy on the line.
The second-placed Blues knew that a loss today would seriously impede their title chances against the Crusaders, who sat comfortably ahead of them with an eight-point buffer before the first whistle.
On the back of a dominant forward pack the Blues were simply too much for the Highlanders and took the match 32-21. The Highlanders to a man did not stop trying, yet poor option-taking and skill execution at pivotal times proved costly.
So, how did the Highlanders rate?
15. Mitch Hunt – 6/10
A fair effort without but not a performance that convinced he is a long-term Highlanders fullback.
14. Josh McKay – 7/10
Didn’t get much opportunity in attack yet applied himself admirably today. He is the type of player that could attract ‘cult-status’ akin to Marty Banks or Richard ‘Barracuda’ Buckman.
13. Michael Collins – 6/10
A quiet day for a quality player. Early in the match was guilty of pushing a pass when the Blues were into the Highlanders offensive line that resulted in a turnover. Looked more comfortable at fullback several weeks ago.
12. Sio Tomkinson – 7/10
Had a difficult task today and gave it a fair crack. He was physical in both aspects of play.
11. Scott Gregory – 6.5/10
Looking more and more comfortable on the left wing. Works hard in defence and assisted in holding up the Blues attack when they were over the line. Had several impressive involvements in attack yet he may not have the pace to truly dominate at this level?
10. Josh Ioane – 6.5/10
A fair shift by him considering he was working off a forward pack that was dominated and outplayed. Would like to see him take on the line more in attack. Again, there were defensive frailties.
The Blues have sent a message to the rest of #SuperRugbyAotearoa as they ended the Highlanders' faint title hopes with a hard-fought 32-21 win in Dunedin.https://t.co/F4u7mGvrg7
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 2, 2020
9 Aaron Smith (co-captain) – 7.5/10
Another quality performance by the All Blacks No. 9. Was busy and dangerous all day and appeared to have ‘miked’ a controversial penalty when tripping over Karl Tu’inukuafe, who appeared to have done everything he could to not involved himself in the play. Credit to his cunningness. His try saving ‘boot-under-the-ball’ early in the match was testament to his rugby prowess.
8. Marino Mikaele-Tu’u – 7/10
A definitive performance in attack that confirmed he is an absolute threat in that aspect of the game, yet if he is going to take his game to the next level, he must become more authoritative in defence.
7. Dillon Hunt – 7/10
Appeared to be lost in the fog in the early stages but in the middle of the second half had several exhaustive efforts in possession and was a handful for the Blues. Built small, played big. One of his better performances this season.
6. Shannon Frizell – 8/10
Try saving turnover, dominant tackles, damaging runs and a try all lead to another reason as to why he is a serious contender for the All Blacks No. 6 jersey this season.
5. Jack Whetton – 5.5/10
His highlight was a lineout win at the back and set a stable platform that lead to a Highlanders try off the subsequent driving maul. Needs to find a way to have a greater impact. Gave away a penalty in his own half to rob his side of possession and put them under pressure. Not convinced he is a player of Super Rugby standard.
4. Pari Pari Parkinson – 7/10
Was the main lineout man for the Highlanders and looked to impose himself on the Blues. Whilst guilty of a couple of infringements, he was one of the better Highlanders forwards today.
3. Jeff Thwaites – 5.5/10
Wasn’t his best day out. While there was effort around the park, he was dominated at the set piece that set the tone for the Blues victory.
2. Ash Dixon (co-captain) – 6/10
As always, he was in the thick of it, yet his option taking today wasn’t always his best. Ran himself when deep on attack when he had numbers outside. Has had better matches this year.
1. Ayden Johnstone – 5.5/10
Like Thwaites he was dominated up front, but that didn’t stop him from putting in a fair effort around the park.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CDYCXVJAvag/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Replacements:
16. Liam Coltman – 5.5/10 – on the 58th
Was guilty of a poor throw when his side were deep on attack. Worked hard in tight but overall didn’t bring the impact desired.
17. Ethan de Groot – 5/10 – on in the 68th
Did his job.
18. Siate Tokolahi – 5/10 – on in the 51st
Did his best to secure the set piece but it was not his day.
19. Manaaki Selby-Rickit – 6.5/10 – on in the 51st
Brought some aggression and intent to the Highlanders and may have earned himself a start next week.
20 Jesse Parete – 6/10 – on the 68th
One of his better performances and was a handful at times when operating down the flanks.
21. Folau Fakatava – 5/10 – on in the 72nd
Was busy but his passing is erratic and stifled the attack at times.
22. Bryn Gatland – N/A
23. Jona Nareki 7.5/10 – on in the 57th
Was dangerous from the get-go. Should be starting for the Highlanders.
Comments on RugbyPass
He 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?
1 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
18 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 comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
56 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to comments