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Hurricanes player ratings vs Brumbies | Super Rugby Trans-Tasman

(Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)

It was a first half arm-wrestle in Canberra as the Brumbies, playing their first match at home for six weeks, gave the Hurricanes a warm, physical welcome. It was a ding dong battle in the contact zone, one try a piece and the Canes had a 10-7 lead at halftime.

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If the visitors wanted to go top of the table by themselves they needed a bonus point victory but the Brumbies were in a miserly mood, keeping the Canes scoreless in the third quarter and taking the lead 12-10.

It looked as though the Hurricanes would get the last minute win but with a disallowed try and two chances missed from the kicking tee by Jordie Barrett, the Brumbies carried the day.

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The Hurricanes go from top of the table to virtually no chance and the Crusaders will be breathing easier.

Here’re the Hurricanes’ ratings.

1. Xavier Numia – 6.5

Scrum was solid and he had the better of Alaalatoa early. For the first Brumbies try he made the decision to attack the ball at an already formed ruck instead of filling the pillar defence position allowing halfback Lonergan to go over. Good runs in the 33rd and 38th minutes but missed Ikitau and let him in for the try. Off at 60.

2. Dane Coles – 7.5

First two line outs were askew but third time lucky with a pretty simple maul try at 17 minutes. Always up for a fight, top metres for a forward in the game, 13 tackles and 2 turnovers. Off at 64.

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3. Tyrel Lomax – 6.5

Good runs down right tram lines and great line speed at 20 to hit Hansen behind gain line. The scrum was awesome early but things changed when Hooper came on for Swain and packed behind Alaalatoa. Off at 60.

4. James Blackwell – 5.5

Lineout was atrocious but he managed to get a steal back in the 38th minute. Also poor execution at 71 minutes where he couldn’t control line out ball which led to a Brumbies penalty. His tackling was potent, 17 of them and a boomer on Kata in the 46th minute that closed down an attack.

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5. Scott Scrafton – 6

Offside at 7 minutes after some Brumbies front foot. Got a nasty cut under the eye but kept on going. Took 3 takes in the line out under a lot of pressure being the “tall” man. Off at 52.

6. Devan Flanders – 6.5

I’ve been impressed with Flanders, he’s made giant strides in the last year or two. He’s gone from cherubic school boy to fully jacked pro rugby player. 14 tackles and a couple of line out takes, a good shift in the tight/loose, until he crocked his ankle and off at 55.

7. Du PLessis Kirifi – 4.5

He’s got to fix his indiscipline. From his inability to monitor whether he’s being held or not, his tackling technique (where he was unlucky that Swain dropped) but then pushing the camera away as he sat down for ten minutes. It’s becoming a huge problem and the management will have to assess whether the team can handle the mercurial behaviour in exchange for his full-on aggression. Off at 60.

8. Ardie Savea – 7.5

Ardie stepped up to meet Valetini in the second minute to extract a knock on in contact and put the big runner in his place. Loved his Party trick turnover in the 23rd minute. Certainly gutsy but still coming back from injury and will get even better. Missed a tackle on Ikitau on his way to the line.

9. Luke Campbell – 6.5

Looked comfortable and was helped by the Canes’ scrum ascendency. Off at 60.

10. Ruben Love – 5.5

Didn’t get the chance to express himself with ball in hand and started to kick more at the start of the second period as the need for territory must have been discussed at halftime. Couldn’t get his team to a win. Off at 68.

11. Salesi Rayasi – 5.5

Loved the run at 14 minutes where he waded through 3-4 defenders. Penalised a couple of times in the tackle and ghosting behind one of his teammates and got sloppier as the scoreboard pressure built.

12. Ngani Laumape – 5.5

Powerful player and looked like he was in the mood early but then drifted. Do Canes’ fans get a little annoyed when he starts putting it on the boot when putting the foot down and running hard is an option? Then conceded a crucial penalty at 67 minutes to give the Brumbies a chance for points.

13. Billy Proctor – 6.5

Can be the invisible man on attack but in Canberra he featured with the ball in hand quite often and made a difference, even at first receiver a couple of times. Good defensive pressure at 46 and a good all round game from the centre.

14. Julian Savea – 7.5
Awesome first touches including a blistering 30 metres blast down the right flank and a laser pass to to Laumape, a 10 metre stampede in midfield in the 5th and a big gain in midfield at 48. Didn’t stop trying and was second only to Tom Banks for metres gained.

15. Jordie Barrett – 5

Was a match where the fullback didn’t get the rub of the green. Sumptuous spin and pivot to elude Kata in the 49th minute under some acid in his 22. Under 50% from the kicking tee and couldn’t orchestrate the win from first receiver after Love went off.

Reserves:

16. Ricky Riccitelli – 4

On at 64. Cocked up first line out at a crucial time and had to give up a penalty for holding on after mopping up a messy line out.

17. Pouri Rakete-Stones – 4

On at 60. Free kicked in the first scrum but good round the paddock.

18. Alex Fidow – 6

On at 60. Penalised at scrum time a few times but all would’ve been forgiven as he shimmied to his try and it had been allowed.

19. Isaia Walker-Leawere – 5.5

On at 52. Good turnover at 65.

20. Brayden Iose – 5.5

On at 60. Good run in the 77th to get some go-forward.

21. Gareth Evans – N/A

On at 55. Rolled his sleeves up and did the trench work.

22. Cam Roigard – 6

On at 60. Quick thinking for the quick tap that led to the Fidow disallowed try.

23. Wes Goosen- N/A

On at 68. Nice Houdini act on first touch but no real chance to flourish.

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RedWarrior 1 hour ago
Three-way race to be number one in World Rugby men's rankings

IF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.


As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.


Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).

This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.

If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.

Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.

After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.

Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.


Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)

Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.

Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.


Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.


Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:


Seeding Band 1

IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG

Seeding Band 2

SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: FIJI

1/8 final opponent GEORGIA

Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA

1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND

Prognosis: You know the prognosis


I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?


Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.

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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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