Super Rugby Aotearoa - Hurricanes player ratings vs Chiefs
Hurricanes player ratings: The Hurricanes have kept their slim Super Rugby Aotearoa title hopes alive with a hard-fought 31-18 win over the Chiefs at Sky Stadium in Wellington. They needed a bonus-point victory before the match to hold onto any chance of staying in the title fight, and after surviving a rallying effort from a Chiefs team looking to avoid a winless season, managed to leave with what they were after.
The hosts looked like the team to beat from the opening whistle, with a fast tempo but overall control of the match setting the tone for a strong first-half.
A double to outside centre Peter Umaga-Jensen helped his side to a 12-3 half-time lead, but a strong start to the second helped the Chiefs bring the scores to within four of drawing the scores level just after the break.
But the playmaking duo of Jackson Garden-Bachop and Jordie Barrett helped the Hurricanes regain momentum, as well as guiding their side to three second half tries that secured the much-needed bonus point.
While they weren’t at their best, the Hurricanes did what they needed to do on Saturday night and will look to other results to stay in the fight, starting with the Crusaders versus the Highlanders tomorrow. Here’s RugbyPass’ Hurricanes player ratings:
Ben May – 6.5/10
May only carried the ball twice and made five tackles in his 62-minutes on the park. He did however hold his own at the breakdown and contributed to the Hurricanes stable scrum.
Dane Coles – 7.5
The All Blacks hooker didn’t have his best match for the Hurricanes on Saturday night, but Coles was still vital for his side, handling the pressure of a close match well. Coles was near perfect from the lineout, with just one throw missing its target. The co-captain also crossed over for a pivotal try in the 49th minute that helped his side regain the games momentum.
Tyrel Lomax – -6.5/10
Lomax scrummed well, but could’ve been more effective around the field having only made four tackles and running the ball three times.
James Blackwell – 7.5/10
Blackwell just doesn’t seem to ever run out of energy. He was active at the lineout, and looked to get involved around the breakdown. He’s a workhorse, and the Canes wouldn’t be the same team without his energy.
Scott Scrafton – 8/10
Another impressive performance from the 27-year-old, who continues to get his hands dirty in and around the breakdown for his side. Scrafton held his own in defence as well, making six and not missing one.
Reed Prinsep – 7/10
Did his job for his team tonight as one of the primary options at the lineout, and made his mark around the park in both attack and defence.
Du’Plessis Kirifi – 7.5/10
Every time Kirifi runs the ball, he looks dangerous. He ran with plenty of power and passion in each of his five runs tonight, an impressed in defence with a team-high of eight tackles.
Ardie Savea – 7.5/10
Savea’s work-rate was once again to the elite standard that has earned him so much praise over the years. He finished with six carries and seven tackles, and showed his strength at the breakdown as well. Great energy and impact.
TJ Perenara – 7.5/10
Perenara was patient, accurate with his passing, and overall controlled the tempo of the Hurricanes attack very well. He ran the ball effectively and needed to as well, but his leadership and experience made the most difference.
Jackson Garden-Bachop – 7.5/10
Garden-Bachop plays his role to a very high standard every week, and his showing against the Chiefs was no different. The 25-year-old guided the Hurricanes around the park really well, but he didn’t overplay his hand. He set up both Dane Coles and Jacobus Van Wyk for pivotal tries with nice showings of skills.
Wes Goosen – 7.5/10
In his 50th match for the Hurricanes, Goosen was near his electric best despite getting limited opportunities with the ball. Finished the match with 35 run metres off five carries, and made seven tackles – also won a penalty at the breakdown 10 minutes into the match. He nearly celebrated the milestone with a try, but laid the ball off brilliantly for Umaga-Jensen who crossed over the Hurricanes’ second.
Vince Aso – 7/10
Vince Aso got busy tonight, and complimented the players around him very well. Finished an equal team high of nine carries, proving to be a perfect replacement for Ngani Laumape.
Peter Umaga-Jensen – 8.5/10
Fresh off announcing a contract extension until 2022, the Hurricanes outside centre showed everyone once again by he’s one of the most exciting prospects in New Zealand rugby. He crossed over for two tries again this week, with his world-class line running contributing to both. He can’t be overlooked for higher honours for long if this purple patch of form continues.
Jacobus Van Wyk – 6.5/10
Van Wyk wasn’t at his best tonight. He had limited opportunities in space with the ball-in-hand, finishing with five carries for 23 metres. Was yellow carded just before half-time for a tip tackle on Brad Weber, but made amends later in the match when he crossed over for a potentially season-defining try for the Canes, reeling in a cross-field kick unmarked out wide.
Jordie Barrett – 8.5/10
Arguably the man-of-the-match performance from Barrett, who has well and truly made the Hurricanes his own throughout the Aotearoa campaign. He was comfortable under the high ball, and his general playmaking laid the platform for the win. His moment of the game was arguably a tackle on Kaleb Trask in the third minute, sending the Chiefs flyhalf into orbit with a great, textbook tackle. His leadership around the park led to both the Hurricanes opening try, and to Dane Coles’ five-pointer with a great ball to Vince Aso creating the line break.
Replacements:
Asafo Aumua – 6.5/10
Tevita Mafileo – 5.5/10
Pouri Rakete-Stones – 5.5/10
Kane Le’aupepe – 5.5/10
Devan Flanders – N/A
Jamie Booth – 7/10
Considering he only came on with 12 minutes to play, Jamie Booth was one of the standouts. He had a great run and offload to set up Billy Proctor for a try late. But his general energy was electric, and helped get the Canes over the line.
Billy Proctor – 6.5/10
Crossed over for a try with eight minutes to go.
Jonah Lowe – 5.5/10
Comments on RugbyPass
smith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
36 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
36 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
36 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
36 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
36 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
36 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
36 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
36 Go to comments