Super Rugby Aotearoa: Hurricanes player ratings vs Highlanders
Returning home after their enthralling victory over the Chiefs in Hamilton last weekend, the Hurricanes were seeking to string two wins together when they took on the hard-working Highlanders at Sky Stadium in Wellington on Sunday.
Hurricanes head coach Jason Holland made a number of changes to his starting XV with Asafo Aumua coming in for Dane Coles who has sustained a calf injury. The inexhaustible Reed Prinsep earned a rest allowing Devan Flanders to start in the back row while Murphy Taramai came onto the bench.
In the backline, former Highlander Fletcher Smith start at fly-half with the powerful Vince Aso also coming in for Peter Umaga-Jensen, who was value for money against the Chiefs last week.
The Hurricanes played some wonderful phases and did enough to earn the win 17-11 but left a few points out there through unforced errors. They are not yet playing with the clarity and consistency to challenge the Blues and Crusaders, but a win is a win.
How the Hurricanes rated:
1. Ben May – 7
Impressed with his line-speed and his nous around the breakdown but was caught drifting in the defensive line and was exploited similar to last week, except the Highlanders could not turn that error into points. Had some strong runs in attack and overall put in a good shift this afternoon.
2. Asafo Aumua – 7.5
Did what he does well – hit hard in defence. Had the odd defensive error but was a player the Highlanders weren’t keen on running at. This bloke should get finders fees for Dunedin chiropractor’s appointments next week. Had some commanding runs but would like to see him increase his second efforts if he is going to take his game to the next level.
3. Tyrel Lomax – 6.5
Put in a mixed performance making errors in interpreting the offside law at the ruck and was under some pressure in the scrum. Yet he kept at it and cleaned out Highlanders skipper Ash Dixon to open the door for TJ Perenara to run into allowing the scrum half to score.
4. James Blackwell – 7
Doesn’t know how to have a bad game and did what he always does. Worked hard. Could he be an absolute ‘smokey’ for the All Blacks squad?
5. Scott Scrafton – 6.5
An industrious performance and featured when stealing a Highlanders lineout off a penalty.
6. Devan Flanders – 6
Has got some game about him and scored a try to finish off some hard work done by his teammates. I don’t like his single-handed passing and it cost the Hurricanes a certain try when one went to the feet of Van Wyk, who was good enough to catch but his pass to Barrett was poor. The genesis of this bombed try was Flanders lacklustre pass.
7. Du’Plessis Kirifi – 6/10
A mixed performance by him. Hard on the ball, hard with the ball. Gave away a few penalties that he must curb if he is going to take his game to the next level. Had a tendency to fall off a tackle but exhausted himself for the cause.
8. Ardie Savea – 6.5/10
Ran far too laterally today. Whilst looked for involvement his match wasn’t lacking in intent, but more so intelligence and execution. He can play much better.
9. TJ Perenara [C] – 7/10
Outplayed Aaron Smith today and led his team around the park well. Missed the odd tackle but was effective in attack.
10. Fletcher Smith – 6/10
Had some nice moments and appears to read the game well but his defence isn’t what it needs to be if he is going to be a Super Rugby player based on todays effort.
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11 Ben Lam – 6.5/10
One his better performances today. Looked threatening with the ball in hand and looked less anxious and appeared to have a little more clarity about how he was applying himself. If the Canes are to make a run towards the end of the season, Lam needs to deliver.
12. Ngani Laumape – 7.5/10
Made some wonderful metres up the middle but still had the odd run where he must have asked himself what the heck he was doing as he was all over the place. Plays his best rugby hitting space and hitting it straight, and shouldn’t look beyond that. Fronted up in defence and was up for it today.
13. Vince Aso – 7/10
A credible return and secured his side a couple of turnovers. Worked well with his centre partner and was clearly the dominant centre on the park.
14. Kobus van Wyk – 7/10
Scored a nice try but I was impressed with his lateral vision to identify space on the inside and isn’t conned when shown the sideline by the defence. Needs to work on his body height when over the ball but he is a competitor and put in a descent shift this afternoon.
15. Jordie Barrett – 7/10
The most dangerous player in the Hurricanes’ arsenal but needs to start showing that more intelligently and more consistently. His punch into the attack line off a Scott Scrafton off load that led to a try was sublime. Later he ran a beautiful line to nearly offload to Fletcher Smith. He knows what to do and where to be, but needs to do it more often.
Replacements:
16. Ricky Riccitelli – 5/10
On in the 68th minute. Did his job.
17. Pouri Rakete-Stones – 5.5/10
On in the 65th minute and looked to impose himself in defence. Brought some energy.
18. Alex Fidow – 5/10
On in the 68th minute. Did his job.
19. Vaea Fifita – 5.5/10
On in the 53rd minute. Looked to play more directly and looked to be physical but his execution wasn’t up to standard.
20. Murphy Taramai – 6/10
On in the 75th minute and had a wonderful mid field charge. Good signs.
21. Jamie Booth – 5/10
On in the 65th minute. Did his job, was little scrappy at the base.
22. Billy Proctor – 5/10
On in the 73rd minute. Did his job.
23. Wes Goosen – 6/10
On in the 68th minute and made a crucial tackle on Tu’u about 10 meters out.
Comments on RugbyPass
Wasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
3 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
3 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
3 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
30 Go to comments