Highlanders v Chiefs: Player ratings and All Blacks watch, midfield clash could decide selection
Rating the players’ performances in last night’s match between the Highlanders and the Chiefs in Dunedin. The Chiefs won the match 26-23.
Chiefs
15. Etene Nanai-Seturo – 5
Fullback showed lively footwork without ever really threatening to open things up.
14. Kyren Taumoefolau – 5
Lovely dart in the 17th minute was another forlorn reminder of how magic this bloke was in the Moana Pasifika jersey last year. Was at fault defensively when Highlander Jona Nareki scored the opener.
13. Daniel Rona – 5
A sound defensive outing in a midfield where two solid All Blacks contenders (in the No 12 jerseys) dominated the show.
12. Quinn Tupaea – 8
Backing up from a superb showing last weekend against the Blues, the most authentic No 12 in New Zealand was again lethal in Dunedin. Just before halftime, his smart work sparked a break, turning a Highlanders half-chance into a seven-pointer at the other end. Subbed off at the 58th-minute mark, just when fans were loving the clash with Timoci Tavatavanawai.
11. Leroy Carter – 7
Fastest man in last year’s All Blacks framework benefited from Tupaea’s quick thinking for a smart early try. He got involved plenty, but had some loose hands mixed in with the dash-and-dart. The best wingers find a way to push on, developing through their sophomore season. Will Carter get that? Like Highlander Tavatavanawai, Carter spoke sweetly, earnestly and with clear aroha for Angus Ta’avao, whose son died earlier in the week, at the end of the match.
10. Josh Jacomb – 5
Dunedin-bound first five-eighths was slick when he was on the ball, but found himself at second receiver more often than might seem sensible for a bloke in a No 10 jersey. Lucky to escape a yellow for an intentional knock-on inside his own 22. Jacomb looked good when tidying up at the back. But a title-winning team needs a No 10 who shines on the line (like the quietly looming Damian McKenzie), not 20 metres behind it.
9. Xavier Roe – 5
A mixed bag on a night of toil and dab for the Chiefs No 9. Seems uncertain of his options when the heat is on.
8. Luke Jacobson – 7
Skipper would be proud of the efforts on Saturday night and boosted by the confidence they will bring going forward in a campaign of genuine title ambition.
7. Jahrome Brown – n/a
Clocked out early after a head injury assessment (HIA).
6. Kaylum Boshier – 6
Close-range try was just reward for another on a Chief-ish night of effort for a player shining, grunting and sweating at what is likely his perfect level.
5. Tupou Vaa’i – 8
The Chiefs lock has established such a phenomenal high point against which we measure his performance (case in point: his ridiculous showing last week against the Blues) that it’s easy to lose sight of how low-key effective he is in a seemingly 9-to-5 performance.
4. Josh Lord – 7
Found himself isolated when grappling for close-quarter yards, but the big Chiefs unit has the chance to show national selectors he can be a solid, brawny foil for Tupou Vaa’i. The big lock knows when to hit the gas – his terrific break in the 50th minute led directly to Jono Nareki’s yellow card. He’s an attractive selection because of his brute force, but Lord showed similar awareness with a clever dash against Scotland last year.
3. George Dyer – 6
Faced off with All Blacks big man Ethan de Groot and came away in the positive ledger.
2. Samisoni Taukei’aho – 7
Tough man to stop short of the line, and when you put him in a pack with a lineout like this one (hat-tip Vaa’i and Lord) a five-pointer looks inevitable. His second came from a Highlanders lineout meltdown (again, hat-tip Vaa’i and Lord). The dude is a short-range missile, but hard-wired analysts would also be looking at the lineout throws, where he must stay sharp.
1. Jared Proffit – 6
A key worker in the post-lineout shoving. Tough night for big guys, where scrambling and covering seemed more important than shove and grunt.
Reserves:
16. Tyrone Thompson – 5
Held the fort when the Chiefs powerful frontline front-rowers rolled off the bench.
17. Benet Kumeroa – 5
A third-quarter dash during which the Chiefs asserted themselves.
18. Reuben O’Neill – 5
Out there in the 58th minute and taking a hike in the 78th when he picked a lottery yellow card.
19. Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi – 6
The matai was out there toiling in the final crucial stages – tough job ahead in the weeks to come hounding the coaches to get a starting spot in the Chiefs’ stacked locking ranks.
20. Simon Parker – 6
Got on the field earlier than expected and covering for an opensider to boot. But the hitman of Scott Robertson’s final All Blacks selections showed he has plenty of the muscle Kiwi fans know he can bring.
21. Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi – 6
The Taranaki halfback got a brief run, bringing calm to proceedings as the Chiefs pack tidied things up.
22. Tepaea Cook-Savage – 4
Kid held his line on a short, late dash.
23. Emoni Narawa – 6
This guy is a proper weapon and his bench spot is mystifying – use him or leave him in the ice bath, surely. Oh that’s right, wingers need to be rested because they run, like, 100m a fortnight ...
Highlanders
1. Ethan de Groot – 6
Giant front-rower has grown into a key leadership role with the Highlanders – and on Saturday night there was plenty of meaningful shouting at teammates. Perhaps the new All Blacks coach – whoever they might be – will be impressed. Could be there are changes coming to the leadership structure within the tight five.
2. Jack Taylor – 6
Got through plenty of short-haul work grabbing ground – Taylor finished with the most carries and the most metres of anyone in the Highlanders pack. Threw himself into defensive work, too.
3. Rohan Wingham – 6
With not many scrums on offer, Wingham found few other avenues to apply himself in a pretty fast-moving affair.
4. Oliver Haig – 4
Tough night to be a hopeful lock against the All Blacks’ alpha males in Chiefs No 4 and 5 jerseys.
5. Mitch Dunshea – 4
On a really tough night for the Highlanders locks, coach Jamie Joseph might have been pondering what he could do with Lord and Vaa’i at his command. If say, hypothetically, he had a different job.
6. Te Kamaka Howden – 5
Carried the ball heartily and head down in his limited chances.
7. Sean Withy – 5
A busy night of scrambling to contain Chiefs breaks.
8. Lucas Casey – 5
A slick handler when chances arise. But they were few and far between on Saturday night.
9. Folau Fakatava – 4
Fakatava seems sharper now that he’s not so much in the discussion about All Blacks No 9 contenders. His opening slick delivery to put Casey away was exemplary on a night in which he kept his runners focused and chose options well.
10. Cameron Millar – 6
Better off the kicking tee than last week, but the modern Mehrtens looks a little flustered when big defenders crowd him in. Kicking around the park was ineffective, and in the back of his mind will surely be the imminent arrival of Josh Jacomb as a No 10 contender next year.
11. Jona Nareki – 4
Perhaps unlucky to get a yellow card following Lord’s spectacular break, but when a lock runs 60-plus metres, the defending outside backs should really have a plan. Nicely taken try, though.
12. Timoci Tavatavanawai – 8
Yep, Jordie Barrett is a special athlete, but surely the two blokes wearing No 12 in this clash are the best out-and-out second five-eighths in the country. Tavatavanawai’s early burst set the scene for Nareki’s opening try. Over the match, he displayed fabulous bust-through and breakdown menace with a sharp turn of gas and a snappy pass. Perhaps a new All Blacks coach will lay out a bold midfield vision.
13. Jonah Lowe – 4
A busy night of throwing himself into breakdowns. Be good to see him find his way into space.
14. Caleb Tangitau – 7
Last week’s star bagged a late try to give the Highlanders a sniff of a chance, on a night when his 103m of running was the best of anyone on the park.
15. Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens – 4
Twinkling feet on display bringing the ball back into the defensive line, and at times he bent that line nicely without really threatening to sever it.
Reserves:
16. Henry Bell – 4
His third-quarter run came when the result was up for grabs. See below.
17. Josh Bartlett – 4
Third-quarter bomb squad couldn’t finish the job following total front-row substitution.
18. Sosefo Kautai – 4
See above.
19. Will Stodart – 4
Coach Joseph might have wanted more impact from his bench.
20. Veveni Lasaqa – 5
Cracking turnover to start the second half, then largely unsighted until he bagged the 80th-minute consolation try.
21. Adam Lennox– 5
Held up Taukei’aho when a late try seemed likely. No easy feat.
22. Reesjan Pasitoa – 4
Aussie wunderkind got a 14-minute sniff of Dunedin action. One to watch.
23. Tanielu Tele’a – 4
Big shoes to fill, coming on for Tavatavanawai. Spectators might reasonably have wondered: why would the potential All Blacks coach sub out his profoundly impactful midfielder?