Super Rugby AU Final: Brumbies Player Ratings
The ACT Brumbies have done it! They were the form team all season, but their 28-23 victory against the Queensland Reds on Saturday night saw them finally claim some silverware.
The hosts started the better of the two sides, controlling the tempo and dominating the play. Folau Fainga’a scored yet another try at GIO Stadium from a driving maul, before Andy Muirhead crossed over 10 minutes later with a fantastic showing of individual brilliance.
But the Reds managed to claw their way back from 15-3 down, with the Brumbies only leading by two the break.
The Brumbies took back control early in the second, with Tom Banks scoring before Filipo Daugunu was yellow carded. Despite a late fightback from the Queenslanders, the Brumbies, led by 20-year-old flyhalf Noah Lolesio, were rightful champions.
Here’s how RugbyPass rated the 2020 Super Rugby AU Champions, the Brumbies.
- Scott Sio – 6.5/10
Sio was dominated by Taniela Tupou at the scrum, conceding a few scrum penalties throughout the opening forty. He did run with intent when he got his chance, but the scrum is the cornerstone of his position, and he struggled there.
- Folau Fainga’a – 8
One of the best on ground. Was nearly perfect throwing into the lineout, and was effective roaming around the park. It can’t not be mentioned: he scored another try, from another driving maul. He generally had a great work rate.
- Allan Alaalatoa – 7
The captain led by example all night. Running with purpose, or by putting his body on the line, the Brumbies looked to Alaalatoa and he delivered.
- Murray Douglas – 7
Put his head in some pretty dark places on Saturday. Great running when he got the chance, but it was in the more traditional areas for a second-rower where he made his mark.
- Cadeyrn Neville – 7.5
Another workhorse for the Brumbies who made his mark on the game, especially early on when the hosts had plenty of front-foot ball. Had the equal second-most tackles of any Brumbies player with 11, but also pressured the Reds lineout all night. The Reds were so poor at lineout largely because the Brumbies and Neville were so effective.
- Lachlan McCaffrey – 8
McCaffrey was one of the best players on the park. His work rate was very impressive; he was everywhere both in attack, be that running the ball or in support, and in defence. The flanker had a game-high 12 carries, and also had eight tackles. But what makes those stats especially impressive: he was subbed off with 30 minutes to play. Wow.
- Will Miller – 7
Miller made a team high 14 tackles, and also secured one turnover. Another underrated player who hasn’t done the Brumbies wrong throughout this Super Rugby AU campaign.
- Pete Samu – 7
Did his job in both attack and defence, with some strong runs particularly impressing. Samu also applied plenty of pressure onto the Reds lineout which went a long way to delivering the trophy to Canberra.
- Joe Powell – 7
Powell controlled the Brumbies tempo very well, using his pace to match the speed that his side were trying to play at – especially early.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CFEaxn1Av3v/
- Noah Lolesio – 8.5
Man of the Match. Any controversy about naming a 20-year-old at flyhalf for your first final since 2014, let alone a player who had been injured for most of the Super Rugby AU season. He controlled the match with maturity well beyond his years. He sucked in four defenders that allowed Andy Muirhead to cross for his try mid-way during the first-half, and also kicked well, scoring 13 points off the boot including a drop goal. The battle for the Wallabies number 10 jersey takes another twist! He’s certainly presented a case.
- Tom Wright – 7
Was a quiet night by Wright’s standards, not much ball seemed to come his way. Had six carries for 27 metres.
- Irae Simone – 7
Simone struggled to control the game as he normally does, but still impressed. The 25-year-old held the ball up just enough to draw in Liam Wright, which created a wide gap for Tom Banks to run through for his try – albeit still with plenty of work to do. Also had 11 tackles which was the most of any Brumbies back.
- Tevita Kuridrani – 7
Kuridrani was a shock omission from Dave Rennie’s Wallabies plans, but he responded in fine fashion in Saturday’s Final. Every time he ran the ball he looked dangerous, and was a consistent tackler as well.
- Andy Muirhead – 7.5
Muirhead is one of the most underrated wingers in Australian rugby. Another Queenslander playing for the Brumbies, the winger scored a try in the 26th minute with a fantastic showing of his individual brilliance. He beat four defenders on his way to the chalk, including Taniela Tupou.
- Tom Banks – 7.5
Cometh the hour, cometh the man – this might’ve just been Tom Banks best match in a Brumbies jumper throughout Super Rugby AU. Banks was a leader both in attack and structurally around the part, kicking effectively, comfortable under the high ball but also at his elusive best when taking the Reds on. The Brisbane-born fullback crossed for a try just after halftime, showing plenty of pace and fast feet to evade the few Reds jerseys that were crowding him. Is there a better fullback in Australia?
Replacements:
- Connal McInerney – 6.5
- James Slipper – 6.5
- Tom Ross – N/A
- Nick Frost – 5.5
- Rob Valentini – 6
- Nic White – 7
Not a bad one-two punch for the Brumbies, replacing a Wallaby halfback with another. Came on and controlled the tempo, also exited well when his team needed him to late.
- Bayley Kuenzle – N/A
- Solomone Kata – 5.5
Comments on RugbyPass
An 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
1 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 Crusades , you can keep going.
1 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!😭😭😭 !!!
24 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
24 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.
24 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.
24 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
11 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
11 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to comments