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Hurricanes player ratings vs Highlanders | Super Rugby Pacific

(Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

The Hurricanes made it two wins on the trot after backing up last week’s scintillating win over the Blues with a 21-14 victory over the Highlanders this evening.

The home side were far from perfect in their first outing at the Cake Tin in 2022, but thanks to some timely scores and an equally as scrappy performance from their opposition they now find themselves in the top half of the table.

Here’s how the Hurricanes rated:

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1. Pouri Rakete-Stones – 4

Was sent backwards for most of the night at scrum time and gave away a very kickable three points in the opening quarter. His struggles didn’t do anything to knock his work rate though, and he was rewarded for his efforts with his team’s first try.

2. Siua Maile 4

Shaky with his delivery at the set piece to start the game and failed to wrap on a couple tackle attempts, but grew in confidence as the game wore on.

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3. Tyrel Lomax – 6

The second best forward on the park for the Hurricanes behind the routinely superb Savea. Conceded an early scrum penalty but from then on got the better of his opposite (De Groot) when they locked horns and in general play. Off at the hour mark for Mafileo.

4. James Blackwell – 4

Does a lot of work that goes unappreciated by casual fans and doesn’t shy away from a tough carry despite being on the receiving end more often than not. Still has the odd error in him, take the spilled kick off as an example, although he more than made up for it with a team-high 18 tackles.

5. Caleb Delany – 5

Showed off his stride lengths with a few nice gallops after popping up in support and got stuck into the action on both sides of the ball. He could use a few extra kilos to match it with others in the engine room, but got through a mountain of work to state his claim for another run next week.

6. Reed Prinsep – 5

Another no-nonsense showing from the robust blindside. Provided the rough edge to what is a more dynamic rather than physically imposing loosie trio, and failed to miss a tackle in his 13 attempts.

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7. Du’Plessis Kirifi 5

Back in the action after a week on the side-lines and showed no signs of carrying a niggle. Made himself enough of a nuisance to disrupt the Highlanders fluidity and seems to be picking his moments at the breakdown better than in years past. However, his turnover count is also down from it typically is, so he’ll keep working on finding the right balance.

8. Ardie Savea – 8

It’s hard to put into words what this guy brings to his team in both tangible and intangible sense. The skipper amassed a dozen tackles, a few of which were made as a covering defender, to go along with a number of rampaging carries and a pair of turnovers. It’s also worth mentioning that the timeliness of his second pinch was crucial as the Highlanders were on a roll inside the red zone.

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9. Richard Judd – 4

The stop, start nature of the game made it hard for the journeyman to get into a rhythm and his forward’s lack of accuracy with cleanouts made his job even harder. Late arrivals to the breakdown are on him though, and his side’s attack suffered as a result.

10. Ruben Love – 5

Didn’t get as much front foot ball as he would’ve liked and spent most of the evening directing play. Had a couple of nice touches to set up his team’s first dot through Rakete-Stones try and put Sullivan into a hole in the lead up to Proctor crossing the chalk.

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11. Salesi Rayasi – 5

Had very few touches despite playing the full 80. The Highlanders directed most of the kicking towards Savea’s side of the pitch, which was the smart thing to do with Rayasi looking dangerous whenever he managed to get his hands on the pill.

12. Billy Proctor – 5

Looked to have suffered an injury before bouncing back up with the unenviable task of covering Thomas Umaga-Jensen. Made his tackles and ran a good line close to the sticks to bag a meatie.

13. Bailyn Sullivan – 5

Not as impactful as last week, which was always going to be hard to top, but once again showed flashes of the threat he poses when left with room to move. Fell just short of double digits in tackles.

14. Julian Savea – 5

Had a case of the dropsies in the first 40 after dropping an uncontested box kick and leaving the ball behind him after being hit on the chest off a scrum move. On a positive note, he stopped what should’ve been a try by pulling Coombes-Fabling down just short and carried with vigour when he had two mitts on the seed.

15. Jordie Barrett – 5

An average night by the All Black’s standards. Struck the upright with his first attempt off the tee from a handy position and followed up a lot of his good work with a less than desirable action. Grew in stature after a few solid kick returns and assisted Love with making sure the Canes were playing down the Highlanders’ end.

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Reserves:

16. Raymond Tuputupu – N/A

Subbed off in 74th minute.

17. Xavier Numia – 5

Held up better than the man he replaced in the scrum and was lively with the ball in hand.

18. Tevita Mafileo – 5

Nothing to sing home about, but was rock steady in his core duties.

19. Devan Flanders – 5

Thrown into the action halfway through the final quarter yet still managed to put a Highlander on the ground a handful of times.

20. Brayden Iose – 6

A player that was made for injecting late into proceedings but is putting together a worthy case for more meaningful minutes. A combination of he, Savea and Flanders is mouth-watering.

21. Logan Henry – 6

Subbed on with 15 to go and ran a great support line to pick up a try on debut. His pass also appeared to be crisper than Judd’s service, but bear in mind the Canes’ work at the breakdown was tidier during his cameo.

22. Jackson Garden-Bachop – N/A

On for Love in the 70th minute.

23. Peter Umaga-Jensen – 6

Another notable performance off the pine for the one-cap All Black. Stood up Scott Gregory with a great in and out before firing back on the inside to Henry for the match-sealing score.

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O
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
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LONG READ Mick Cleary: 'Borthwick needs to have faith in Marcus Smith' Mick Cleary: 'Borthwick needs to have faith in Marcus Smith'
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