Super Rugby Aotearoa - Hurricanes player ratings vs Blues
The Hurricanes kept their season alive with their third win in a row, defeating rivals Auckland Blues 29-27 in their highly entertaining round 5 match of Super Rugby Aotearoa.
In a see-sawing affair in the wet at Sky Stadium in Wellington, neither team played well enough to win but the Canes took their chances when it mattered and that ultimately proved the difference. The Hurricanes struggled in the first half to combat the Blues driving maul, but oddly dominated at scrum time.
In the backs, the focus before the match was on the battle of the Barrett brothers at fullback and it didn’t disappoint. But it was younger brother Jordie who got the last laugh, slotting a match-winning conversion with just minutes left on the clock.
Ngani Laumape and the Hurricanes backrow were particular standouts, but the overall energy from the team, mainly in attack, set the tone for the match. The impact of the bench was probably the difference as well. Here’s how the Hurricanes rated:
Fraser Armstrong – 7/10
Worked hard all night, in a strong performance from the Hurricanes scrum. Also carried and defended well.
Dane Coles – 7.5/10
Coles was near perfect from the set-piece, in what was a true captain’s knock. The All Blacks hooker handed his side the lead in the 44th, running a strong line to cross from a couple of metres out.
Tyrel Lomax – 7/10
Did his job in the scrum, and also got involved with ball-in-hand. Did what his team him needed him to.
James Blackwell – 6.5/10
Did his job around the field, and was a reliable option at the lineout. Was an honest performance from one of the hardest working guys in the Hurricanes squad.
Scott Scrafton – 7/10
Was a workhorse tonight, putting his head in some pretty dark places to do his job for the team.
Reed Prinsep – 7.5/10
Showed plenty of physicality in both attack and defence, and did his job at the breakdown. His performance was textbook for how a blindside flanker should perform. Was rewarded with a try in the 34th minute off a driving maul.
Du’Plessis Kirifi – 8/10
Was brilliant all night, looking particularly energetic on attack but also did his job both in defence and around the breakdown. Ran a great line through the Blues defence that eventually led to the yellow card for Emoni Narawa. Had a busy night, constantly looked to get involved. He was everywhere!
Ardie Savea – 7.5/10
Another classic performance from the All Blacks backrower, with an abundance of energy proving effective when he got involved. Ran all night with his near trademark powerful leg drive. Moment of the match was his 40-metre burst from a pick and go, catching the Blues defence napping. Otherwise an impressive performance in defence and around the breakdown; was also one of the leading options at the lineout.
TJ Perenara – 7.5/10
Won’t want to watch Beauden Barrett’s try again, with the All Blacks halfback practically jumping out of his way anticipating an intercept. Otherwise controlled the tempo of the match well, playing his classic energetic game. Showed his class once again with a simple yet effective pass setting up Dane Coles for a try.
Jackson Garden-Bachop – 7/10
Took the line on when he needed to, and guided the team around the park with patience. Did drift in and out of the match, but overall the flyhalf did his job. He was unlucky not to have set Jordie Barret up for a try early in the match, with the ball just going forward.
Ben Lam – 6.5/10
Had a quiet first half where the ball didn’t come his way. Got more involved in the second but he didn’t get the chance to really impose himself.
Ngani Laumape – 9/10
Nobody could question who the standout player for the Hurricanes was tonight. In a man-of-the-match performance, Laumape dominated practically from the get-go. Bamboozled 2-time World Player of the Year, Beauden Barrett, in his return to Wellington with a brilliant in and away. After getting away from Barrett, the inside centre did what he does best – running over anyone who stands in his way. Ran over Otere Black for the games first five-pointer. De ja vu minutes later, running right over Beauden Barrett before being stopped just short of the chalk. Capped off a great night with a big hit on Blues replacement Matt Duffie, to give his side the momentum. He wasn’t perfect tonight, but Ngani Laumape got pretty close.
Peter Umaga-Jensen – 8/10
Ran with purpose and intent all night, constantly looking dangerous. Broke through the heart of the Blues defence early with a hard and direct line, in what was a common sight all night.
Kobus Van Wyk – 6/10
The ball didn’t come his way at all tonight. Got the occasional chance but it wasn’t any ball in space.
Jordie Barrett – 8/10
This isn’t anything new, but the Hurricanes are very much Jordie Barrett’s team and the 23-year-old played like it tonight. Even though he wasn’t their best, the fullback was the most important player on the park wearing yellow. Stood up when his team needed him to, especially when kicking for touch. In tough conditions, he kicked to the corner with pinpoint accuracy. Brilliant kick for touch that led to Prinsep’s try. Held his own in the battle against his Brother with his in-field play too, guiding his team around the park alongside Garden-Bachop. Handled the pressure well to slot the winner late.
Reserves:
Asafo Aumua – 7/10
Came on and tried to use his pace and strength to break the brick wall that was the Blues defence at the death. Scored a pivotal try late that allowed Barrett to kick the winning points.
Pouri Rakete-Stones – 5.5/10
Alex Fidow – 6/10
Isaia Walker-Leawere – 6/10
Vaea Fifita – 6/10
Jamie Booth – 6.5/10
Did what he needed to when he came on.
Billy Proctor – N/A
Wes Goosen – 6/10
Comments on RugbyPass
A lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
3 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.
1 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…??? 🤑🤑🤑
2 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
2 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)
3 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?
2 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.
4 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.
21 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
21 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.
3 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
3 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to commentsMake what step up? Manie has a World Cup winner’s medal around his neck and changed the way the Springboks can play. He doesn’t have anything to prove to anyone. The win record of the Boks with him in the team is tremendous. Sacha can be wonderful and I hope he has a very succesful Bok career, but comparing him to Manie in terms of the next Bok flyhalf is very strange. Manie is the incumbent (not the next) and doing pretty incredibly.
4 Go to comments