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Hurricanes player ratings vs Blues | Super Rugby Pacific

(Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)

The Hurricanes faced the Blues in their second match of the Super Rugby Pacific competition in Dunedin on Saturday.

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To finally get their season underway, the Blues came out firing early and looked in control for most of the match. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck looked at home in the midfield for his first professional game of rugby and Caleb Clarke was strong in his return to fifteens. 

After trailing the Blues 32-14 with 10 minutes to go, the Hurricanes made a comeback thanks to the injection of Ruben Love and Peter Umaga-Jensen.

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An incredible try from captain and talismanic figure Ardie Savea in the 80th minute clinched the 33-32 victory for the Canes. 

Here’s how the Hurricanes rated:

1. Pouri Rakete-Stones – 5.5

Made an important stop close to the line to prevent a blues try. Was solid if not spectacular at scrum time. Was replaced shortly after the second half began.

2. Asafo Aumua – 6

Managed the lineout well and was industrious across the park. Got a couple of touches ball-hawking out on the wing. Got back in the game following a head knock to Devery.

3. Tyrel Lomax – 6

Was a rock in the scrum and got involved in the forward play. Dropped a difficult pass at his ankles a metre from the try line that proved costly.

4. James Blackwell – 5

Struggled to win his own lineout ball and was often out-muscled by the opposition. Played the full game and was still able to contribute to the Canes momentum shift late in the second half.

5. Justin Sangster – 6.5

In just his second game, the young lock had an important turnover in the first half and made metres in the carry to create momentum for the Canes. Was second in the Canes tackle count with 12.

6. Reed Prinsep – 6

Was a lineout option a number of times during the game and worked hard all game to provide support for the forwards to truck it up the field. Had five carries and six tackles.

7. Blake Gibson – 5.5

His blonde mop could be seen all over the park. Had some strong carries

8. Ardie Savea – 8

Made some astute captaincy decisions to keep the Canes within touch of the blues. Once again carried the team on his back with his characteristic hard carries and was rewarded by winning the game with the final try in the 80th minute.

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9. Jamie Booth – 5.5

Was under pressure at times at the ruck and his communication with his forwards broke down when the defence came up on them. Provided good ball whenever the Canes managed to get a roll-on.

10. Jackson Garden-Bachop – 5

Couldn’t get the backline firing. Didn’t provide much direction with the ball and simply acted as their main distributor. Some of his kicking options were not very effective. 

11. Salesi Rayasi – 7

The flying winger got off to a fast start, nabbing an intercept to open the scoring for the Canes. Finished strong by finishing off a pass from Love for his second try and got a hattrick with an amazing finish in the corner.

12. Julian Savea – 6.5

Was impressive in his first start in the twelve jersey. Stood his ground in defence and had some strong carries through the middle for 66 metres. However, questions still remain as to whether it is his best position going forward.

13. Bailyn Sullivan – 7

A good outing for Sullivan considering it was his first start at outside centre for the Canes. When the Canes needed it most he put in a clever grubber for Wes Goosen to stay in touch with the Blues. Capped it off by setting up Ardie Savea for the match-winning try.

14. Wes Goosen – 6

Got the Canes back in the game by gathering a grubber to score in the first half. Show his trademark elusive a number of times during the match to get on the outside of the Blues wingers.

15. Jordie Barrett – 6

He is looking more and more comfortable at the back, choosing his moments to inject himself in the backline. Won a crucial turnover early but later failed to find touch with a penalty kick that killed off an attacking opportunity and resulted in a Blues try. 

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Reserves

16. Jacob Devery – N/A

Came on the field at the sixtieth minute to replace Amua. Picked up a knock in a heavy collision with Mark Telea and had to go off for a HIA.

17. Xavier Numia – 5

Came on for the second half replacing Rakete-Stones.

18. Ben May – 6

The oldest player in Super Rugby was subbed on to add some starch to the Canes scrum.

19. Devan Flanders – N/A

Came off the bench and contributed to the Canes getting back in the game.

20. Brayden Iose – 7

One to watch this year. Was impressive off the bench with some hard carries and shifted Savea to number seven.

21. Richard Judd – 6

Got on the field with and combined with Love to ramp up the tempo.

22. Ruben Love – 7

Injected some energy into the Canes when he joined the game in the sixtieth minute. Delivered the ball on a platter for Rayasi to score his second. Orchestrated the Canes comeback.

23. Peter Umaga-Jensen – 7

Added impact off the bench with some direct running in the midfield. Made a crucial tackle on a rampaging Marcel Renata. Was influential in getting the Canes plenty of go-forward ball.

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Comments

1 Comment
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William 981 days ago

You wouldn't have thought this team won judging by the rating given by this correspondent. One person opinion and not that flash.

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ England need to face a few home truths if they are to relearn that winning habit England need to face a few home truths if they are to relearn that winning habit
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