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Hurricanes player ratings v Brumbies | Super Rugby Pacific
By Jordan King
The Hurricanes suffered the consequences of an error-ridden performance in Canberra this afternoon, falling to the Brumbies 42-25.
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The visitors were their own worst enemy across the 80 minutes, gifting possession back to the eventual victors through poor handling and getting beaten to the punch at the breakdown.
Jason Holland and co will be frustrated with their troops given it’s the same lapses that are costing them chances at scoring, leaking points at the other end and seeing them finish on the wrong side of the ledger.
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Here’s how the Hurricanes rated:
1. Xavier Numia – 5/10
Had a key turnover when his side were down a man and pumped the legs as hard as he could to try to stop Valentini from scoring. Struggled to gain any ascendency when called on to carry though.
2. James O’Reilly – 5
Back in the mix after joining Dane Coles and Asafo Aumua on the sidelines for a couple of weeks. Nailed the bulk of his line-out feeds and was ever present in the wide channels.
3. Tyrel Lomax – 6
Went close to making it three tries in two weeks before fellow Wainuiomata native crashed over. Gave the Hurricanes parity at scrum time and was tireless in all other facets in another 70-minute outing.
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4. James Blackwell – 4
A loose pass in the first half turned into seven points after a dazzling piece of play from Rob Valentini. Went close to matching Gibson’s endeavours on defence, but all in all it was a messy showing from the typically dependable lock.
5. Justin Sangster – 4
A careless hit on Nic White gifted the hosts three points and a numerical advantage for 10 minutes. Failed to make a mark when allowed to return to the fold and unsurprisingly was one of the first few subbed off.
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6. TK Howden – 5
Worked hard on both sides of the ball and left it all on the park before making way for Delany with 15 to go.
7. Blake Gibson – 6
The pick of the forwards this afternoon. Topped the tackle count for visitors and did a decent job in disrupting the Brumbies’ flow.
8. Ardie Savea – 5
Made to look human for the first time this year. Still managed to get about his business, only there wasn’t the same ferocity as we’ve come to expect from the All Black.
9. TJ Perenara – 4
Didn’t control the game as well as he has in recent weeks. Was a little overeager to play the game at pace when his teammates didn’t seem to be on the same page. Chanced his arm at an intercept which allowed the Brumbies an easy run to seven points.
10. Jackson Garden-Bachop – 3
A day to forget for the pivot. Threw a number of passes which didn’t hit the intended target and sent a number of kicks down the centre of the park. Landing a goal-line drop out outside the field of play was the final straw before departing for Morgan.
11. Salesi Rayasi – 6
One of the better performers for the Hurricanes in what was a lacklustre afternoon as a whole. Did well to handle a loose pass before punching through for five points and gave his side a glimmer of hope in the closing stages after bursting down the flank and feeding Proctor with a clear run to the line.
12. Peter Umaga-Jensen – 4
Did well to barge over for the game’s first try, although that was about as good as it got in his 55 minutes. A couple of missed tackles on his part ended in the Brumbies walking away with points.
13. Bailyn Sullivan – 5
A so-so game from midfielder. Looking for ways to get involved continues to be a work on as he only had half a dozen touches despite playing the full 80.
14. Julian Savea – 4
The stat sheet reads well for the older Savea brother with 100 run metres and a couple of beaten defenders, but unfortunately for the wing the tape doesn’t match the numbers. There were a number of times when he would have been better finding grass than pushing for extra yards near the touch line.
15. Jordie Barrett – 5
Yet to find his groove after spending time in the midfield. Like Ardie Savea, he was unable to provide a cool head amidst the disarray. Something else to keep an eye on is his goal kicking which has dipped in recent weeks.
Reserves
16. Leni Apisai – N/A
17. Pasilio Tosi – N/A
18. Tevita Mafileo – N/A
19. Isaia Walker-Leawere – N/A
20. Caleb Delany – N/A
21. Jamie Booth – 4 – Called on earlier than usual for Perenara, but things were just as helter-skelter when he was pulling the strings.
22. Aidan Morgan – 5 – Thrown into the fire following a poor showing from Garden-Bachop, but wasn’t able to get anything going.
23. Billy Proctor – 5 – Showed great effort to get a second touch on the counter and finish off the Hurricanes’ last score.
