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Super Rugby Aotearoa - Hurricanes player ratings vs Chiefs

Billy Proctor and TJ Perenara (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

Hurricanes player ratings: The Hurricanes have kept their slim Super Rugby Aotearoa title hopes alive with a hard-fought 31-18 win over the Chiefs at Sky Stadium in Wellington. They needed a bonus-point victory before the match to hold onto any chance of staying in the title fight, and after surviving a rallying effort from a Chiefs team looking to avoid a winless season, managed to leave with what they were after.

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The hosts looked like the team to beat from the opening whistle, with a fast tempo but overall control of the match setting the tone for a strong first-half.

A double to outside centre Peter Umaga-Jensen helped his side to a 12-3 half-time lead, but a strong start to the second helped the Chiefs bring the scores to within four of drawing the scores level just after the break.

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But the playmaking duo of Jackson Garden-Bachop and Jordie Barrett helped the Hurricanes regain momentum, as well as guiding their side to three second half tries that secured the much-needed bonus point.

While they weren’t at their best, the Hurricanes did what they needed to do on Saturday night and will look to other results to stay in the fight, starting with the Crusaders versus the Highlanders tomorrow. Here’s RugbyPass’ Hurricanes player ratings:

Ben May – 6.5/10
May only carried the ball twice and made five tackles in his 62-minutes on the park. He did however hold his own at the breakdown and contributed to the Hurricanes stable scrum.

Dane Coles – 7.5
The All Blacks hooker didn’t have his best match for the Hurricanes on Saturday night, but Coles was still vital for his side, handling the pressure of a close match well. Coles was near perfect from the lineout, with just one throw missing its target. The co-captain also crossed over for a pivotal try in the 49th minute that helped his side regain the games momentum.

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Tyrel Lomax – -6.5/10
Lomax scrummed well, but could’ve been more effective around the field having only made four tackles and running the ball three times.

James Blackwell – 7.5/10
Blackwell just doesn’t seem to ever run out of energy. He was active at the lineout, and looked to get involved around the breakdown. He’s a workhorse, and the Canes wouldn’t be the same team without his energy.

Scott Scrafton – 8/10
Another impressive performance from the 27-year-old, who continues to get his hands dirty in and around the breakdown for his side. Scrafton held his own in defence as well, making six and not missing one.

Reed Prinsep – 7/10
Did his job for his team tonight as one of the primary options at the lineout, and made his mark around the park in both attack and defence.

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Du’Plessis Kirifi – 7.5/10
Every time Kirifi runs the ball, he looks dangerous. He ran with plenty of power and passion in each of his five runs tonight, an impressed in defence with a team-high of eight tackles.

Ardie Savea – 7.5/10
Savea’s work-rate was once again to the elite standard that has earned him so much praise over the years. He finished with six carries and seven tackles, and showed his strength at the breakdown as well. Great energy and impact.

TJ Perenara – 7.5/10
Perenara was patient, accurate with his passing, and overall controlled the tempo of the Hurricanes attack very well. He ran the ball effectively and needed to as well, but his leadership and experience made the most difference.

Jackson Garden-Bachop – 7.5/10
Garden-Bachop plays his role to a very high standard every week, and his showing against the Chiefs was no different. The 25-year-old guided the Hurricanes around the park really well, but he didn’t overplay his hand. He set up both Dane Coles and Jacobus Van Wyk for pivotal tries with nice showings of skills.

Wes Goosen – 7.5/10
In his 50th match for the Hurricanes, Goosen was near his electric best despite getting limited opportunities with the ball. Finished the match with 35 run metres off five carries, and made seven tackles – also won a penalty at the breakdown 10 minutes into the match. He nearly celebrated the milestone with a try, but laid the ball off brilliantly for Umaga-Jensen who crossed over the Hurricanes’ second.

Vince Aso – 7/10
Vince Aso got busy tonight, and complimented the players around him very well. Finished an equal team high of nine carries, proving to be a perfect replacement for Ngani Laumape.

Peter Umaga-Jensen – 8.5/10
Fresh off announcing a contract extension until 2022, the Hurricanes outside centre showed everyone once again by he’s one of the most exciting prospects in New Zealand rugby. He crossed over for two tries again this week, with his world-class line running contributing to both. He can’t be overlooked for higher honours for long if this purple patch of form continues.

Jacobus Van Wyk – 6.5/10
Van Wyk wasn’t at his best tonight. He had limited opportunities in space with the ball-in-hand, finishing with five carries for 23 metres. Was yellow carded just before half-time for a tip tackle on Brad Weber, but made amends later in the match when he crossed over for a potentially season-defining try for the Canes, reeling in a cross-field kick unmarked out wide.

Jordie Barrett – 8.5/10
Arguably the man-of-the-match performance from Barrett, who has well and truly made the Hurricanes his own throughout the Aotearoa campaign. He was comfortable under the high ball, and his general playmaking laid the platform for the win. His moment of the game was arguably a tackle on Kaleb Trask in the third minute, sending the Chiefs flyhalf into orbit with a great, textbook tackle. His leadership around the park led to both the Hurricanes opening try, and to Dane Coles’ five-pointer with a great ball to Vince Aso creating the line break.

Replacements:
Asafo Aumua – 6.5/10
Tevita Mafileo – 5.5/10
Pouri Rakete-Stones – 5.5/10
Kane Le’aupepe – 5.5/10
Devan Flanders – N/A
Jamie Booth – 7/10
Considering he only came on with 12 minutes to play, Jamie Booth was one of the standouts. He had a great run and offload to set up Billy Proctor for a try late. But his general energy was electric, and helped get the Canes over the line.
Billy Proctor – 6.5/10
Crossed over for a try with eight minutes to go.
Jonah Lowe – 5.5/10

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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
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