Super Rugby Aoteroa: Chiefs player ratings vs Hurricanes
Pretty much a visit to the last chance saloon for both teams on a Sunday afternoon in Hamilton, the Chiefs (0-3) and the Hurricanes (0-2) both winless, the victor still in with a long shot in Super Rugby Aotearoa, the loser destined to play a spoiling role for the remainder of the games.
The black and golds came off a bye and gave a heart felt welcome back to fullback Jordie Barrett and Peter Umaga-Jenson got a start at centre. The Chiefs looked strong last week against the Crusaders but they were without influential mid-fielder and talisman Anton Lienert-Brown, out with concussion.
The Chiefs went down in flames 25-18 despite a surfeit of possession (56%) and territory (61%). The Hurricanes their slight chances still alive in the competition. Here’re how the Chiefs rated.
1. Aidan Ross – 6.5
Solid scrum and good contribution in the open. Exemplified by a good hit on Laumape in the 36th minute, definitely an improved performance. Off at 56.
2. Bradley Slater – 6
Good tradesman at the line out and scrum.
3. Nepo Laulala – 7
Got his team out of jail in the 23rd with a scrum pen v Ben May on attacking scrum and was a rock for the set piece.
4. Mitchell Brown – 6
Solid line out option and a real bonus with his work rate round the field.
5. Naitoa Ah Kuoi – 5.5
Energy plus curtailed with a nasty injury and off in 34th minute. Locking stocks take another hit.
6. Lachlan Boshier – 6.5
Hasn’t had his mojo at the tackle in the last few weeks, and was outshone at the breakdown by Kirifi and Savea. Has become a good lineout option with 6 takes. Defused a promising Hurricane’s attack with an intercept at 57 minutes. Found himself out wide for the 77th minute try.
7. Sam Cane – 6
Big shots in defence, led valiantly with most Chiefs tackles. Sign that desperation bubbled with a late shoulder clatter into Perenara. Lucky not to be yellow carded, not a good look from the All Black captain.
8. Pita Gus Sowakula – 5.5
Good some good raps from the Sky commentary team as he went off at 74 mins. Certainly had some brave carries (but no real line breaks) but the Chiefs coaching team surely must be concerned at his work on the other side of the ball. Only 2 tackles for the game and an annoying miss on Laumape in lead up to Karifi’s try.
9. Brad Weber – 6.5
Looking more likely this week with some nice snipes but Tahuriorangi’s impressive return will put some pressure on him.
10. Aaron Cruden – 6
Good chips to get behind and turn the rush defence early. Didn’t show the elusiveness that made him a super threat last week, put that down to solid game plan execution from the Wellington team.
11. Etene Nanai-Seturo – 6
One of the best kick off chasers in the game. Needed to get involved more, good to see him come in for some work up the middle that led to penalty goal straight after halftime.
12. Quinn Tupaea – 5.5
Hasn’t shown his tackle busting ability for a couple of weeks and needed to tonight wearing the 12 jersey in place of Anton Lienert-Brown. Missed a tackle on Booth that led to van Wyk’s second 5-pointer. Couldn’t get ball down and desperately held up moments later. Kicking to touch on attack 30 metres out with a one man advantage? Still learning.
13. Tumua Manu – 5
Didn’t make an impression and looked very passive in contact against a physical mid-field. Off at 49.
14. Sean Wainui – 6.5
Quiet first half but played well at centre in the last half hour. Lovely pass to release Boshier for his last stanza try. Reminds me more and more of a big strong Northern Hemisphere outside back like Gareth Thomas or George North.
15. Damian McKenzie – 7
A misread on defence for van Wyk’s first try. Finally came alive and beat some tackles in the second half and gained 79 metres in total but in general well contained by the Hurricanes. Sparked a renaissance with the quick tap penalty try at 64 minutes that red-carded Scrafton.
SUBS
16. Samsoni Tauke’aho – 6.5
On 56 with a good effort up the middle and an improvement at line out time.
17. Reuben O’Neill – N/A
On 56
18. Ross Geldenhuys – 6.5
On at 55. Did his set work well and some lovely soft hands in distribution.
19. Tupou Vaa’i – 5
On at 33mins. His performance highlighted the Chiefs real problems at lock.
20. Dylan Nel – N/A
On at 74
21. Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi – 7
On at 65 and was at the forefront of the Chief’s comeback. Some strong running into space and looks hungry.
22. Orbyn Leger – N/A
23. Solomon Alaimalo – 6.5
On at 49 and straight into it with a brutal carry up the middle. Continued well with some strong surges on the right wing.
Comments on RugbyPass
“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA 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.
2 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…??? 🤑🤑🤑
3 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
3 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.
22 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
22 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 comments