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Chiefs player ratings vs Crusaders | Super Rugby Pacific
By Finn Morton
The Chiefs have started their Super Rugby Pacific campaign with a stunning 31-10 upset win over defending champions the Crusaders at Orangetheory Stadium.
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Historically, Christchurch has become the hardest place to win in New Zealand rugby. Teams don’t win six titles in as many years very often – well, never – but the Chiefs were up for the challenge.
After a tough start to the clash, with saw the hosts race out to an early 10-nil lead, the Chiefs found their groove.
Galvanised by a try to star lock Brodie Retallick, the Chiefs began to play with freedom and belief heading into the second 40 minutes.
The Chiefs scored 24 unanswered points in the second-half, as they charged towards a famous day in the history of the decorated Super Rugby franchise.
It takes practically a perfect performance to beat the Crusaders in Christchurch, but to beat them by 21 on their own track is almost unheard of. Here’s how the Chiefs rated.
- Shaun Stevenson – 9
If there’s going to be a World Cup bolter for the All Blacks this year, then there’s no reason why it shouldn’t be Shaun Stevenson. The fullback started the match, and the season, with a sublime 60 metre kick down field inside the opening minute.
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But generally, Stevenson was brilliant around the field. Every time he got his hands on the ball, the 26-year-old was truly threatening – in fact, to describe his performance as ‘threatening’ might be a disservice, it might not paint the picture. Stevenson was just that good.
Stevenson ran for a match-high 126 metres from 11 carries, beat eight defenders, passed the ball 16 times, and made five tackles as well. Has anyone got Ian Foster’s number?
It was a promising performance from Liam Coombes-Fabling, who made his mark on the right wing. Not only did carry with the ball with purpose every time he got his hands on it, but defensively he was sound.
- Alex Nankivell – 8
When Anton Lienert-Brown went off injured, the Chiefs needed a hero. Up step Alex Nankivell. The 26-year-old stepped up and led by example during the final quarter of the match, as he played a crucial role in the famous result.
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The Maori All Blacks representative ran the ball 14 times for 88 metres, and also made four tackles. But let’s not brush over his try in the 59th minute, which was a defining moment in the clash. The Chiefs were leading, and playing like it, but Nankivell’s try was when fans dared to dream.
- Anton Lienert-Brown – 7.5
Just in case you’d forgotten, Anton Lienert-Brown is one of the best centres in world rugby. At half-time, the 27-year-old had made the most tackles of any back, and carried this form into the second term. The All Black had made nine tackles by the time he went off, and ran the ball six times.
But it wasn’t all smooth sailing.
Early in the second-half, the Chiefs had the ball inside the Crusaders’ 22. Looking to create something, Lienert-Brown attempted to put a ick in behind their defensive line – but it was intercepted almost immediately off the boot. Lienert-Brown went off injured shortly after, having twisted his ankle as he was tackled by Scott Barrett.
- Solomon Alaimalo – 6.5
Winger Solomon Alaimalo didn’t get the chance to shine with the ball-in-hand on Friday. The first 40 minutes was for all you rugby tragics out there – it was tense, thrilling, and often structured. Unfortunately for Alaimalo, that meant he didn’t get the ball as much as he would’ve liked.
- Damian McKenzie – 7
Damian McKenzie is back in Chiefs colours, and he certainly did the jersey justice. Lining up in the No. 10, McKenzie was running frantically the field – with his abundance of energy seeing him in the thick of all the action.
But that’s not to say it was all sunshine and rainbows. Some errors creeped into his game, including missed shots at goal, but it still a performance he can be proud of. The Chiefs wouldn’t have won without him.
- Brad Weber – 8.5
With this year’s Rugby World Cup just around the corner, every player in Super Rugby Pacific has a point to prove this season – but some more than others. Brad Weber has certainly started the season at an All Blacks standard, and ‘long may it continue’, I can hear the people of New Zealand chant.
The star scrumhalf showcased his brilliant rugby IQ throughout his time out in the middle. Probably his best moment came early in the second-half, where he threw a clever ball to try scorer Sam Cane.
Defensively as well, the scrumhalf was sound. As the half-time siren sounded, Weber did just enough to force Sevu Reece into touch, which put an end to a threatening Crusaders attack.
Generally speaking, Weber was sublime. The halfback was quick to the breakdown, accurate with his passing game, and a reliable option with his clearance kicks.
- Aidan Ross – 7
While the set-piece wasn’t exactly going to plan for the Chiefs in the first-half, Aidan Ross was doing everything he could to make his mark elsewhere. At half-time, the prop had made the equal second-most tackles of any Chiefs player.
- Samisoni Taukei’aho – 8.5
At half-time, hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho was arguably the Chiefs’ best player. Leading by example in both attack and defence, the All Black was in the middle of everything – especially attack. The hooker had the equal-most carries out of any player on the park at the break, and was leading the Chiefs for tackles.
By the end of the match, Taukei’aho had run the ball 14 times and made 12 tackles. A great start to the year for the world-class talent.
- George Dyer – 7
Similarly to Ross, George Dyer’s performance can’t be defined by the Chiefs’ set-piece woes. While the visitors struggled at the scrum, the prop did what he could elsewhere – running the ball six times and making seven tackles.
- Brodie Retallick – 9
Chiefs lock Brodie Retallick was simply sublime against the Crusaders. With the end of his Super Rugby career ins sight, Retallick showed no signs of slowing down.
The Chiefs were up against it early on, as the hosts raced out to a 10-nil lead. But Retallick scored a pivotal try in the first half, as he beat thee defenders to cross from close range. Retallick also won a turnover at the breakdown 90 seconds into the second-half.
Retallick made 13 tackles on the night, and ran the ball eight times. Brilliant.
- Tupou Vaa’i – 7.5
In a team full of superstars, Tupou Vaa’i might have flown under the radar in the eyes of some fans. But he was brilliant. Not only did he do a lot in and around the breakdown, but Vaa’i also made some useful breaks through the heart of the Crusaders defence.
Vaa’i was also the go-to player for Taukei’aho at the lineout.
- Pita Gus Sowakula – 7.5
Pita Gus Sowakula was one of the Chiefs’ best players during the first 40 minutes. Simply, during the first-half, the backrower laid the foundations for what ultimately became a famous Chiefs win. The rampaging flanker ran the ball eight times for 41 metres, and also made eight tackles.
- Sam Cane – 8
Oh captain, my captain. It was a game of two halves from All Blacks captain Sam Cane, but in review, it was a performance he can be proud of.
There were early signs of frustration from the flanker, and he was yellow carded shortly after following an offside call. The hosts went on to score with Cane off the field.
But like I said, it was a game of two halves. Cane scored a pivotal try in the second-half, as he made amends from his poor discipline. Cane hit a hole in the Crusaders defence, and put the visitors in the lead for the first time in the contest.
- Luke Jacobson – 7
Jacobson had a solid start to his season, having made 10 tackles and only missing two. In attack, the backrower also ran the ball eight times for 15 metres. Clearly, Jacobson was hungry to get involved.
Replacement
- Bradley Slater – 6
- Ollie Norris – N/A
- John Ryan – 6.5
- Naitoa Ah Kuoi – 6.5
- Samipeni Finau – 7
- Cortez Ratima – 8
Cortez Ratima scored a try late in the contest, and it’s a moment that will be replayed for years to come for Chiefs fans. The replacement scrumhalf showed some brilliant pace and strength to find his way to the line.
- Josh Ioane – 7.6
- Rameka Poihipi – 6.5
