Hurricanes player ratings vs Moana Pasifika | Super Rugby Pacific

The Hurricanes are the real deal. Without some of their key All Blacks, including the likes of Jordie Barrett and Tyrel Lomax, the Canes have demolished Moana Pasifika 59-nil in Auckland.

Halves duo Cam Roigard and Brett Cameron were among the standouts for the visitors, as the pair both crossed for one of the Canes’ nines tries on the night.

After beating the Waratahs in Wellington last Friday, the Hurricanes made another statement at Mt Smart Stadium. Here’s how they rated.

15. Josh Moorby – 8/10

Fullback Josh Moorby had himself a game on Saturday night. Tries are the first stat rugby fans look at, and the utility showed up in that area of the contest. Kini Naholo received a cut-out pass inside the first 10 minutes, but popped the ball off to Moorby who crossed for the opener with ease.

As the game went on, Moorby continued to play a key role in a number of highlight plays. The fullback finished with 56 running metres from nine carries.

14. Kini Naholo – 8.5

The Hurricanes have unearthed a genuine superstar this season. Now, that sentence could be applied to a number of players, but let’s start with the winger. Moving to the right edge this week, Naholo continued backed up his impressive debut with another standout display on Saturday.

Naholo had a try assist inside the opening 10 minutes, and also crossed for his own later in the contest. In total, the winger ran the ball seven times for more than 40 metres – and also made seven tackles.

13. Bailyn Sullivan – 7

Midfielder Bailyn Sullivan had some dangerous carries during the match, and also made some powerful stops in defence. Sullivan almost had a try assist during the first half before the TMO ruled it out for obstruction.

12. Billy Proctor – 8.5

Billy Proctor had some big shoes to fill this week, with All Blacks star Jordie Barrett having been rested due to the national teams policy. But Proctor made the most of his opportunity at No. 12. Proctor tends to fly under the radar sometimes – his work can go unnoticed. The midfielder doesn’t always make the highlight play, but his work is equally as important.

Proctor ran the ball 10 times, but also led the Hurricanes’ backs on the defensive side of the game with 10 tackles. The Canes wouldn’t be the same team without him.

11. Salesi Rayasi – 9

I’ll start with this: Ian Foster, are you watching? Why Salesi Rayasi hasn’t been mentioned in the All Blacks’ battle for selection is beyond me. Rayasi has been incredible for the Canes so far this season, and his purple patch continued into Round Five with another player of the match display.

The winger added a brace to his impressive try-scoring tally for the year, ran for more than 100 metres from 13 carries, and beat 10 defenders on the night. To put it simply, you couldn’t ask for much more than that.

10. Brett Cameron – 8.5

Playmaker Brett Cameron has found himself a home in the Hurricanes’ No. 10 jersey. Since returning from injury in Round Three against the Blues, the flyhalf has proven himself to be the go-to man for this team – and he will be for years to come.

Cameron led the team around the park with grace, skill and poise on Saturday night. It didn’t matter what Moana Pasifika threw at the Hurricanes, Cameron had an answer.

The flyhalf crossed for his first try in Super Rugby Pacific midway through the first term, having spotted a gap. Cameron backed himself to the line and got there with ease.

9. Cam Roigard – 8.5

Hurricanes halfback Cam Roigard has continued to state his case as a potential All Blacks bolter for this year’s Rugby World Cup. The 22-year-old was everywhere on Saturday night – working tirelessly in both attack and defence.

Roigard was part of a three-player try-saving tackle in the 17^th minute, which saw Moana Pasifika winger Fainga’anuku taken into touch. But what’s really impressive about this effort was Roigard’s work rate off the ball. In a wide-shot reply a couple of minutes later, viewers could see Roigard tracking across the field in anticipation from near the goal posts.

On the other side of the ball, Roigard added a try to his season tally with an impressive effort just before the 30 minute mark. The halfback only needed half a gap of space to punish the Moana Pasifika defence, as he split two defenders en route to the tryline.

Then, back on the defensive side of the contest, Roigard showed his class and calmness under pressure with a clever effort during the second 40. The rising star tracked the bouncing ball back into his in-goal, before clearing the danger with an enormous kick down field.

1. Xavier Numia – 6.5

The Hurricanes were dominant at the set-piece during the opening 40, and prop Xavier Numia deserves some praise for that. Numia also played his part around the field with a couple of useful tackles and runs.

2. Asafo Aumua – 8

Before last week’s match against the Waratahs, Aumua spoke about the importance of the set-piece on The Platform – and that’s why I’m bringing it up again, it’s his focus, so it should be ours when rating his performance. The hooker missed his first target at the lineout, but was otherwise flawless throughout the remainder of his time out in the middle.

Playing his 50^th game for the Hurricanes, Aumua led the way with a team-high 12 tackles on the defensive side of the ball. But it gets even better.

Aumua rose to stardom earlier with some impressive runs, and there glimpses of that again on Saturday night. While he wasn’t making any 60 metre line breaks or anything like that, the All Black worked hard – carrying the ball an impressive eight times.

3. Owen Franks – 8.5

Take a bow, Owen Franks! The former All Blacks prop returned to the Hurricanes starting side this week and didn’t skip a beat during a destructive 50-minute shift. Franks won two scrum penalties for his side during a stunning first half performance, and he was also awarded a penalty advantage following another effort in the 35^th minute.

Around the park, Franks was busy – to put it simply, it was one of his best games in recent memory. Franks made the second-most tackles out of any Hurricanes player with 10, and also carried the ball quite well.

4. Dominic Bird – 7

Hurricanes second rower Dominic Bird was kept quiet during the opening quarter of the match, while the rest of his team began to run riot against Moana Pasifika. At times, the veteran went missing – but improved as the match went on.

5. Isaia Walker-Leawere – 7

Isaia Walker-Leawere was quite good on Saturday, and we’ll get to that – but let’s start with the bad. The second rower was penalised in just the 16^th minute after being caught offside, but amends with his performance throughout the night.

Walker-Leawere was a general the lineout, and even won one on Moana Pasifika’s throw around the 30 minute mark.

6. Devan Flanders – 7

Flanders has proven himself to be such an important part of this Hurricanes team this season. The flanker was the go-to man for hooker Asafo Aumua at the lineout, and also got stuck in around the field. Flanders finished with four tackles and five runs to his name – carrying the ball for 29 metres and beating two defenders.

7. Peter Lakai – 8

Flanker Peter Lakai is the future. Not only for the Hurricanes, but potentially for the All Blacks as well – he’s just that good. The rising star was a work horse on Saturday night, having made eight tackles and running the ball eight times. Lakai was rewarded for his hard and determination late in the contest, having crossed for a try in the 80^th minute.

8. Ardie Savea (c) – 8.5

Captain Ardie Savea was sensational for the Hurricanes in Auckland. On Friday night, I defined the term ‘work horse’  by using Brodie Retallick’s name – but I think that definition rightfully has a second meaning, and that meaning is Ardie Savea.

Note to self. Give the ball to @ardiesavea pic.twitter.com/27yQnd7hgo

— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) March 25, 2023

Especially early on in the contest, the All Black stood out as a player eager to get stuck in against Moana Pasifika. If you go back and rewatch the opening 10 minutes, you’ll see Savea really was is in the thick of the action. I’m not 100 per cent sure that there wasn’t more than one of him out there – really, he was everywhere.

Savea crossed for a try with just over 10 minutes to play, ran the ball a staggering 14 times, and also got busy on the defensive side of the ball with a 100 per cent tackle completion rate.

Replacements:

16. Hame Faiva – 7 – Scored a try on debut.
17. Tevita Mafileo – 7
18. Pasilio Tosi – 6.5
19. TK Howden – 7
20. Brayden Iose – 7.5
21. Jamie Booth – 7
22. Riley Hohepa – N/A
23. Julian Savea – 6.5