Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Hurricanes player ratings vs Reds | Super Rugby Pacific

(Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

The Hurricanes shook off an ugly first half an hour of play to pick up their fifth win of the season, toppling the Reds 30-17 at AAMI Park in Melbourne.

ADVERTISEMENT

After failing to fire a shot in the opening exchanges, the visitors wrestled momentum back in their favour with a try against the run of play and scores right before and after the oranges.

The result wasn’t all down to them though, as the host’s ill discipline and shoddy handling saw numerous opportunities go down the gurgler. The result saw the Hurricanes jump to the top half of the table.

Video Spacer

The hype around the Blues is real | The Breakdown

Video Spacer

The hype around the Blues is real | The Breakdown

Here’s how the Hurricanes rated in Melbourne:

1. Pouri Rakete-Stones – 4/10

Another player to be given his marching orders for not getting his tackle height right. Did his job in the scrums and made all his tackles before departing for Numia with 20 to go.

2. Kianu Kereru-Symes – 4

Overcooked a couple of seeds in the line-out and was skinned by Hunter Pasami in the build up to Reds’ first try. Hard to be too critical of the rake with it only being his third outing.

ADVERTISEMENT

3. Tyrel Lomax – 6

It’s not often you see Lomax chime in with seven touches, although we may see it more often after he bagged his first career brace. Outside of burrowing over for crucial tries before and after the halftime break, the tighthead delivered on his core assignments.

4. James Blackwell – 5

Called the shots in the line-out and got himself into the thick of things on A & D.

5. Isaia Walker-Leawere – 6

ADVERTISEMENT

Not exactly a fearsome one-two punch alongside Blackwell, but partnered well with the toiler in doing the dirty work before being subbed for Sangster in the 60th minute. Also, adds some much-needed size to an otherwise undersized pack.

6. TK Howden – 6

Bumped into a starter’s jersey with the scratching of Reed Prinsep at the eleventh hour. Churned out some hard-fought yards (31 metres) on his six carries and got himself acquainted with the Reds’ ball runners with 19 tackles.

7. Blake Gibson – 6

Another busy evening for the openside. Put his shoulder to work with 19 tackles, 13 of those were made in the first half, and was typically one of the first arriving players to the breakdown following his teammates’ breaks.

8. Ardie Savea – 7

Picked up man of the match honours for what would be the 10th time the season. There wasn’t the same explosiveness as we have seen in recent weeks despite the leg drive staying the same, but you’d be right in guessing he came up with timely turnovers and robust defence.

9. TJ Perenara – 6

Was on track to do more talking than passing before his team finally got their hands on the pill at the back end of the opening 40. Directed the bulk of the Hurricanes’ play from the base and kept the guard dogs honest with the odd snipe.

10. Aidan Morgan – 5

Let the experience around him do their thing while he continues to get a feel for play at this level. Looked lively when given half a chance and had a couple of nice nudges to make the Reds work back.

11. Wes Goosen – 4

Only afforded three carries in his hour of action and was only forced to make one tackle. Went sniffing for chances off his wing, but only ended up as a cleaner at the ensuing breakdown

12. Peter Umaga-Jensen – 6

Responsible for setting the platform from the first phase and did just that. Didn’t try to force things with careless offloading or keeping his feet too long, which allowed those around him to reap the benefits. Would be nice to see his partnership with Sullivan given some more time to develop.

13. Bailyn Sullivan – 6

Found himself in the naughty chair less than 10 minutes into the contest while his team was already under the pump. Returned to the action with a big piece of defence before coming up with a game-changing score off a deflection. Ran for a team-high 84 metres and dotted down for his side’s last share

14. Julian Savea – 5

Limited opportunities for the “Bus” with the ball mostly confined to the middle of the park. Made sure to impose himself with what action came his way by bouncing off defenders, but all in all it was a quiet evening from the outside backs.

15. Jordie Barrett – 5

Not the smoothest return to the 15 jersey for the Hurricanes talisman. Dropped off a few tackles as his side struggled to contain a rolling Reds side, but bounced back to life in the aftermath of the previously mentioned score from Sullivan. Used his boot to plug the corners and run up the scoreboard.

Reserves

16. Leni Apisai – N/A

17. Xavier Numia A couple of nice carries with a turnover to boot.

18. Tevita Mafileo – N/A

19. Justin Sangster – N/A

20. Caleb Delany – N/A

21. Jamie Booth – 5 – Clean service to see the Canes control the outing til the final whistle.

22. Jackson Garden-Bachop – 6 – Provided a nicely-weighted grubber for Sullivan’s second try.

23. Billy Proctor – 5 – On for Goosen in the 57th minute and had a hand in some positive passages.

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

1 Comment
i
isaac 925 days ago

Still waiting for the blues and Drua player ratings

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

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
LONG READ
LONG READ “He’s given Connacht everything” – Bundee Aki’s future, and an exciting tactical innovation “He’s given Connacht everything” – Bundee Aki’s future, and an exciting tactical innovation
Search