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Super Rugby Aotearoa: Highlanders player ratings vs Chiefs

By RugbyPass
Marino Mikaele Tu'u.(Photo by MARTY MELVILLE/AFP via Getty Images)

There was plenty of anticipation leading into the inaugural match of Super Rugby Aotearoa, played under the roof of Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, and the fast-paced derby between the Highlanders and the Chiefs did not disappoint – though there were a few too many penalties for most people’s liking.

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With both sides known for their attacking games, it’s no surprise that the two teams kept the ball in hand and minimised kicking – chalking up plenty of running metres in the process. Both sides struggled for continuity, however, due to the decreased leniency at the breakdown, which prevented any momentum from really being built.

The home side, who entered the match as outside favourites, started strongly and took a 6-point lead into the break – and held the same lead entering the final 10 minutes of the match. A flurry of drop goals in the final minutes ultimately gave the Highlanders a narrow two-point win.

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Jonah Lomu plays for Wesley College during the final of the 1993 New Zealand Secondary Schools Condor rugby Sevens tournament in Auckland.

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Jonah Lomu plays for Wesley College during the final of the 1993 New Zealand Secondary Schools Condor rugby Sevens tournament in Auckland.

1. Ayden Johnstone – 7/10

Safe in the scrums and on defence, beavered around the park and may well have enjoyed the stop/start nature of the game. Off in 52nd minute.

2. Ash Dixon – 8

Safe as houses – more than justified his selection ahead of Liam Coltman. At the back of an excellently constructed maul for the Highlanders’ first try. Off in 56th minute. (1 try, 17th min)

3. Siate Tokolahi – 6

Not called upon much to carry but was reliable on defence. One of many Highlanders to fall victim to the ref’s whistle. Off in 52nd minute.

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4. Pari Pari Parkinson – 7.5

A strong showing in return from injury – a pest in the lineouts. Copped a few penalties related to the new law interpretations and adjustments but it’s a bit tough moving such a sizeable body out of the dark spaces. Off in 73rd minute.

5. Josh Dickson – 7

Reliable in the lineouts. Big presence that probably helped put the Chiefs’ lineout throwers off their games.

6. Shannon Frizell – 7

Menacing presence on kick-offs and ranged wide on attack. Struggled with the new breakdown clampdown but who didn’t?

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7. Dillon Hunt – 8

Big effort on defence, making 15 tackles – almost twice the number of the next busiest Highlander. Made a good steal in the 57th minute to shut down some quick Chiefs ball.

8. Marino Mikaele-Tu’u – 8

Deceptively elusive. Forced a good penalty in the 38rd minute which ultimately paved the way for the Highlanders to take back the lead before halftime.

9. Aaron Smith – 8

Slick passing all night, including (and especially) for the Highlanders’ second try. Was hampered a little bit by the slow pace of the game and probably made the mistake of trying to speed up via a quick tap. Made a perfectly timed tackle on Brad Weber (at least according to the man in the middle) to prevent a certain try.

10. Mitch Hunt – 6.5

Found good distance with his kicks but made a bad error immediately after Vilimoni Koroi’s yellow card, sending the kick-off out on the full. Never really threatened at first receiver then shifted to fullback when Bryn Gatland joined the fray. Kicked his goals, missing just one conversion. (2 penalties, 2 conversions, 4/5 goal kicks)

11. Jona Nareki – 5.5

Great cover tackle to keep Shaun Stevenson out early. Looked like he could cause some problems for the Chiefs but needed to get more ball. Carelessly barged into Damian McKenzie in the air and rightfully received a yellow card.

12. Patelesio Tomkinson – 6.5

Nice support line off Rob Thompson’s shoulder to score in the 22nd minute. Called upon to make a huge number of hit-ups in the midfield. Not quite as safe as needed to be on defence but wasn’t made to pay. Off in 73rd minute.

13. Rob Thompson – 6

Gave the final ball for Tomkinson to score the Highlanders’ second try after running an excellent angled line. Made a poor call to cut in on defence which handed the Chiefs a numbers advantage and gifted them their first try.

14. Sam Gilbert – 5.5

Covered kicks well, monstered by Pita Gus Sowakula at one point. Tidy debut.

15. Vilimoni Koroi – 5

Dangerous – but probably not in the way Highlanders fans would have hoped. Not the best debut but certainly showed a few signs of promise. Off in 60th minute.

Reserves:

16. Liam Coltman – 7

On in 56th minute. Continued Dixon’s accurate work at the lineout, hitting targets at all distances.

17. Dan Lienert-Brown – 7

On in 52nd minute. Carried on good work of starters – strong in the breakdowns.

18. Jeff Thwaites – 6

On in 52nd minute.

19. Manaaki Selby-Rickit -N/A

On in 73rd minute.

20. Teariki Ben-Nicholas – N/A

Did not play.

21. Kayne Hammington – N/A

Did not play.

22. Teihorangi Walden – N/A

On in 73rd minute.

23. Bryn Gatland – 11/10

On in 60th minute. Absolutely clutch drop goal – not a high quantity of involvements, but the quality was sublime.

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J
Jon 2 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

This is the problem with conservative mindsets and phycology, and homogenous sports, everybody wants to be the same, use the i-win template. Athlete wise everyone has to have muscles and work at the gym to make themselves more likely to hold on that one tackle. Do those players even wonder if they are now more likely to be tackled by that player as a result of there “work”? Really though, too many questions, Jake. Is it better Jake? Yes, because you still have that rugby of ole that you talk about. Is it at the highest International level anymore? No, but you go to your club or checkout your representative side and still engage with that ‘beautiful game’. Could you also have a bit of that at the top if coaches encouraged there team to play and incentivized players like Damian McKenzie and Ange Capuozzo? Of course we could. Sadly Rugby doesn’t, or didn’t, really know what direction to go when professionalism came. Things like the state of northern pitches didn’t help. Over the last two or three decades I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have all that Jake wants. There was International quality Super Rugby to adore, then the next level below I could watch club mates, pulling 9 to 5s, take on the countries best in representative rugby. Rugby played with flair and not too much riding on the consequences. It was beautiful. That largely still exists today, but with the world of rugby not quite getting things right, the picture is now being painted in NZ that that level of rugby is not required in the “pathway” to Super Rugby or All Black rugby. You might wonder if NZR is right and the pathway shouldn’t include the ‘amateur’, but let me tell you, even though the NPC might be made up of people still having to pull 9-5s, we know these people still have dreams to get out of that, and aren’t likely to give them. They will be lost. That will put a real strain on the concept of whether “visceral thrill, derring-do and joyful abandon” type rugby will remain under the professional level here in NZ. I think at some point that can be eroded as well. If only wanting the best athlete’s at the top level wasn’t enough to lose that, shutting off the next group, or level, or rugby players from easy access to express and showcase themselves certainly will. That all comes back around to the same question of professionalism in rugby and whether it got things right, and rugby is better now. Maybe the answer is turning into a “no”?

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j
john 5 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

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A
Adrian 7 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

21 Go to comments
T
Trevor 10 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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