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Brumbies player ratings vs Chiefs | Super Rugby Pacific

Tom Wright. (Photo by Jeremy Ward/Photosport)

The Brumbies have entered a tough patch of their draw in Super Rugby Pacific. In the next three weeks they have to take on the Blue and  Crusaders while the first step was the Chiefs in Hamilton on Saturday night.

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Judging by the 6-2 split on the bench and the muscularity in the trenches, the Brumbies wanted to physically stamp their mark on this game and led at halftime, 18-14, with some brutal attack and bruising defence.

For all the power exhibited, the Brumbies were well down on territory and possession but they made the most of every opportunity to win 38-28 and keep their second spot on the table. The Aussies will be happy with their efficiency; points materialised with every visit to the attacking 22.

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Are Australian teams catching up to their NZ counterparts?

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Are Australian teams catching up to their NZ counterparts?

It was an interesting template to get right against a Kiwi side and it will be fascinating to see if the strategy will continue to be successful in the next fortnight. The Blues and Crusaders be warned, this is a tough Brumbies squad!

Here’s how the Brumbies rated:

1. James Slipper – 8
A lot to love about the test match centurion. The senior starter in the front row got around like a colt making some good tackles, a team-topping 15 when he left the field, and giving Angus Ta’avao an uncomfortable time in the set-piece. Off at 52.

2. Folau Fainga’a – 8
I was licking my lips at this brawny match up at hooker and the Aussie got the better of his opposite Samisoni Taukei’aho. His only blemish was missing a jumper in the first attacking lineout, but vigorous leg pumping in a lineout maul led to his try in the 18th minute. Every one of his 15 hits was made with venom and even got back for a mark on the run in the 37th minute.

3. Sefo Kautai – 8
A return to old stamping ground for the prop, having played 11 games for Waikato 2016 and being a Chiefs squad member in 2017. He showed a potent mix of power and mobility, the 16th-minute scrum penalty that led to the Fainga’a try was a highlight for him, as well as brave claims for the loose ball on the ground in the 34th and 50th minutes. Off at 52.

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4. Darcy Swain – 7.5
A player who always needs to control his emotions but has matured well in the last year or two. Not the greatest start with an offside charge down attempt in the 1st minute, but some good work at the breakdown, especially a good counter rucking in the 10th minute and joined Jahrome Brown as top tackler after 80.

5. Caderyn Neville – 7
A great beast to have in your engine room. Good source of lineout ball for the Aussies and off at 59 minutes.

 

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6. Rob Valetini – 8
Muffed a try in the 14th minute, beaten by Bryn Gatland and a disobedient ball. Made a brilliant run into a gap in the 72nd minute to seal the deal, setting up Billy Pollard.

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7. Jahrome Brown – 8.5
The Hamilton Boys’ High School old boy looked like he was having a school reunion, getting his hair tousled every time he chopped down one of his many schoolmates in the first few minutes but after half an hour he was proving to be a source of major annoyance to the Chiefs. The signs in the crowd showed the whanau was there and he played for every one of them. An energetic charge set up momentum for Len Ikitau’s try but his best work was on defence. He’s certainly let the Chiefs franchise know that he’s one that got away.

8. Pete Samu – 9
Majestic display from the ex-Crusader. Top metres from either team, top lineout takes and 15 tackles. A full 80-minute display of skill and power. So many things to love with his ball running but my favourites were the athletic collection from the kick-off at 12 minutes and a fearless turnover in the 41st minute.

9. Nic White – 8
The little general was at his best behind a feisty pack. Scored his first try of the season after 7 minutes, spotting a hair’s breadth of space down the blind. Did a lot of work changing the point of attack around the breakdown, keeping the Chiefs guessing. There was a period where the home team looked like they were getting back into the match but he turned the tide wonderfully with a 50-22 kick at 50 minutes. Off at 59.

10. Noah Lolesio – 6
Good cog in the machine who didn’t overplay his hand. Strong placekicking and got buffeted in defence but didn’t shirk.

11. Andy Muirhead – 7.5
One of those quiet achievers who suited the style of play his team choose. Chased box kicks like a crazy dog after a stick at the beach. Some intrepid defence as well. A smart interception in the 6th minute shut down a Chiefs attack and he smashed Narawa in the 64th.

12. Irae Simone – 4.5
Not one of his best games, was one of the few players outplayed by his opposite. Made an unfortunate spill in the 9th minute to give away possession and moments later got his hand in the way of a Quinn Tupaea pop to Nankivell but the try was scored. Missed four tackles and put in some aimless grubber kicks instead of setting up a recycle.

13. Len Ikitau – 7
Like many of his backline mates, was pretty anonymous in the first half. I love the way he snaps into action when he gets the ball in hand though. Secured a great finish in the 44th minute and made a brave burst for the line in the 51st.

14. Tom Wright – 7.5
The competition’s leading try-scorer couldn’t add to his tally of seven but more importantly, he set up two for his team. He added some thrust in midfield after some lateral movement that led to White’s try with a good pass to the left flank. Then, in the 44th minute, he committed two defenders to give Ikitau a run in. Great catch off the touchline at 60 to deny the Chiefs an attacking lineout.

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15. Tom Banks – 6.5
One of those players who always ends up with more metres than you’d pick, grabbing 66 mainly from just running kicks back. Like Muirhead, he spent a lot of time chasing kicks, especially in the 45th and 50th minutes. There’s always a suspicion that his kicking from hand is a little wonky; he muffed an up and under at 60 minutes.

Reserves:

16. Billy Pollard – 6
On at 65 and made a great run on the jet stream of Valetini to score the try that put the icing on the cake.

17. Scott Sio – 5.5
On at 52 and was solid in defence.

18. Alan Ala’alatoa – 6
On at 52 with his buddy Sio, made 9 tackles in 28 minutes and was solid at scrum time.

19. Nick Frost – 6
On at 59 and conceded a penalty straight away at a maul. Nice save on the line to pivot, spin and get back in the field of play in the 78th minute. Seven tackles in 21 minutes is a fine effort. He’s quite an enigmatic player who may have his best ahead.

20. Rory Scott – 5
On at 65 and showed his speed and tenacity.

21. Tom Hooper – 5
On at 73 and battered away.

22. Ryan Lonergan – 7
On at 59 and kept up the outstanding pressure exerted from scrum-half. He was very accurate and showed some good game management.

23. Ollie Sapsford – 5
On at 73. The visitor from the Hawke’s Bay would have been happy to close the game out for his adopted team.

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J
JW 3 hours ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Ok, managed to read the full article..

... New Zealand’s has only 14 and the professional season is all over within four months. In France, club governance is the responsibility of an independent organisation [the Ligue Nationale de Rugby or LNR] which is entirely separate from the host union [the Fédération Française de Rugby or FFR]. Down south New Zealand Rugby runs the provincial and the national game.

That is the National Provincial Championship, a competition of 14 representative union based teams run through the SH international window and only semi professional (paid only during it's running). It is run by NZR and goes for two and a half months.


Super Rugby is a competition involving 12 fully professional teams, of which 5 are of New Zealand eligibility, and another joint administered team of Pacific Island eligibility, with NZR involvement. It was a 18 week competition this year, so involved (randomly chosen I believe) extra return fixtures (2 or 3 home and away derbys), and is run by Super Rugby Pacific's own independent Board (or organisation). The teams may or may not be independently run and owned (note, this does not necessarily mean what you think of as 'privately owned').


LNR was setup by FFR and the French Government to administer the professional game in France. In New Zealand, the Players Association and Super Rugby franchises agreed last month to not setup their own governance structure for professional rugby and re-aligned themselves with New Zealand Rugby. They had been proposing to do something like the English model, I'm not sure how closely that would have been aligned to the French system but it did not sound like it would have French union executive representation on it like the LNR does.

In the shaky isles the professional pyramid tapers to a point with the almighty All Blacks. In France the feeling for country is no more important than the sense of fierce local identity spawned at myriad clubs concentrated in the southwest. Progress is achieved by a nonchalant shrug and the wide sweep of nuanced negotiation, rather than driven from the top by a single intense focus.

Yes, it is pretty much a 'representative' selection system at every level, but these union's are having to fight for their existence against the regime that is NZR, and are currently going through their own battle, just as France has recently as I understand it. A single focus, ala the French game, might not be the best outcome for rugby as a whole.


For pure theatre, it is a wonderful article so far. I prefer 'Ntamack New Zealand 2022' though.

The young Crusader still struggles to solve the puzzle posed by the shorter, more compact tight-heads at this level but he had no problem at all with Colombe.

It was interesting to listen to Manny during an interview on Maul or Nothing, he citied that after a bit of banter with the All Black's he no longer wanted one of their jersey's after the game. One of those talks was an eye to eye chat with Tamaiti Williams, there appear to be nothing between the lock and prop, just a lot of give and take. I thought TW angled in and caused Taylor to pop a few times, and that NZ were lucky to be rewarded.

f you have a forward of 6ft 8ins and 145kg, and he is not at all disturbed by a dysfunctional set-piece, you are in business.

He talked about the clarity of the leadership that helped alleviate any need for anxiety at the predicaments unfolding before him. The same cannot be said for New Zealand when they had 5 minutes left to retrieve a match winning penalty, I don't believe. Did the team in black have much of a plan at any point in the game? I don't really call an autonomous 10 vehicle they had as innovative. I think Razor needs to go back to the dealer and get a new game driver on that one.

Vaa’i is no match for his power on the ground. Even in reverse, Meafou is like a tractor motoring backwards in low gear, trampling all in its path.

Vaa'i actually stops him in his tracks. He gets what could have been a dubious 'tackle' on him?

A high-level offence will often try to identify and exploit big forwards who can be slower to reload, and therefore vulnerable to two quick plays run at them consecutively.

Yes he was just standing on his haunches wasn't he? He mentioned that in the interview, saying that not only did you just get up and back into the line to find the opposition was already set and running at you they also hit harder than anything he'd experienced in the Top 14. He was referring to New Zealands ultra-physical, burst-based Super style of course, which he was more than a bit surprised about. I don't blame him for being caught out.


He still sent the obstruction back to the repair yard though!

What wouldn’t the New Zealand rugby public give to see the likes of Mauvaka and Meafou up front..

Common now Nick, don't go there! Meafou showed his Toulouse shirt and promptly got his citizenship, New Zealand can't have him, surely?!?


As I have said before with these subjects, really enjoy your enthusiasm for their contribution on the field and I'd love to see more of their shapes running out for Vern Cotter and the like styled teams.

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