Chiefs player ratings: The fulcrum Dave Rennie has to build the All Blacks around

How the Chiefs rated in their 42-22 win over the Fijian Drua at Christchurch’s One NZ Stadium.

1. Jared Profitt - 7

Fortunate to be awarded his first career try in calamitous circumstances, but they all count.

One third of the Chiefs’ scrum that gave the Drua’s pack trouble all afternoon. Made seven tackles from eight attempts.

2. Brodie McAlister - 6

Scored the opening try from the back of a lineout drive, but gave away a penalty for collapsing a Drua maul not long afterwards. Threw four successful lineouts out of four attempts. Four tackles attempted, three made.

Subbed off before the half hour for a calf injury.

3. George Dyer - 6

Another front rower who didn’t lose a scrum on the day. Made five tackles, missed one.

Conceded a penalty, but otherwise a solid outing for Dyer as part of a unit that didn’t lose a scrum.

4. Josh Lord - 6

Made the most carries (seven) of any of the Chiefs’ forwards, even if he gave away a penalty for not releasing.

Only Sititi had more carries among the Chiefs’ pack than Lord after playing 17 more minutes.

5. Tupou Vaa’i - 8

Remains the standout of the Chiefs’ tight five after another 80 minute display. At a time where the All Blacks’ second row stocks appear healthier than ever, Vaa’i continues to shine, and should claim a starting spot once test season rolls around.

Made 11 tackles, and won a team-high four lineouts, even if he conceded a turnover.

Added points for captaining in Luke Jacobson’s absence as well.

6. Simon Parker - 6

After a world-class showing against the Hurricanes, Parker didn’t quite hit the same heights under the roof at Te Kaha

A knock-on in the build-up wiped the Chiefs’ first try, and missed four tackles to go with his 10 made. Two turnovers, even if he conceded one in reply to go with two lineout wins. .

As a player who seems to revel in doing the dirty work, Parker is never a player you’ll see on a highlight reel,

7. Jahrome Brown - 6

Subbed off after 23 mins with injury. Led the tackle count with six out of six at the time of his exit.

8. Wallace Sititi - 8

A decent showing for his first start after a long injury layoff.

A week on from being the matchwinner in the top-of-the-table clash against the Hurricanes, Sititi continues to show why he’s arguably the most exciting young forward in the world game.

Ran for 44 metres and made eight carries, the most for a forward, and broke the line to put Ratima through. Made 15 tackles, second only to Tupaea, but did miss 10 on the other side of the coin.

Proved more than handy at lineout time, and won a turnover for good measure. Still plenty to come this year, as the race for All Blacks loose forward spots heats up.

9. Cortez Ratima - 7

Continues to stay in the fight to be Cam Roigard’s deputy. Showed good awareness with his running game, broke the line but couldn’t put Sititi away to score, but managed a try of his own by staying with Carter.

Excellent awareness to use the blindside for McKenzie to send Sinkinson over.

Gave away a penalty for not releasing in the first half, and threw an intercept that nearly led to the Drua’s second.

Subbed after 70 minutes.

10. Damian McKenzie - 8

Solid if unspectacular night for McKenzie.

While he was flawless with the boot, kicking six conversions out of six, only 25 metres run with ball in hand is a quiet return from one of the most dangerous attackers in the game.

Still, showed another string to his bow by controlling the tempo with his passing game, evidenced by his assist for Sinkinson’s try.

A try-saving tackle at the death did its bit in helping the Chiefs to a bonus point for their troubles.

11. Leroy Carter - 7

Gave away the advantage that led to the Drua’s opening try, but immaculate after that.

Involved in the lineout drive that saw the Chiefs score, and then set up another with a linebreak and pass to send Ratima over. Ran for 61 metres with ball in hand, the game’s equal most at the time of his exit.

Looks more at home on the wing than he does at centre, but limped out with a hamstring concern before the hour mark.

12. Quinn Tupaea - 9

It’s hard to remember the last time Tupaea had a bad game for his club or country.

As and when the first All Blacks team is picked, Tupaea has to feature - now unquestionably one of New Zealand’s two premier midfielders alongside Jordie Barrett.

As specialist 12s, fitting them both into the same XV might be a problem for Dave Rennie, but Tupaea showed against the Wallabies last year – and against the Hurricanes last week – that he’s more than up to shifting across to centre.

Was excellent on both sides of the ball – ran for 61 metres and scored a try, to go with topping the tackle count with 16.

Hard to imagine what he could have done if he’d not missed a year thanks to that horrible knee injury.

13. Kyle Brown - 6

A mixed bag. Intercepted a wayward pass that wasn’t capitalised on by Sinkinson, and was wrongfooted for the Drua’s second try.

Made five tackles, missed two, ran for 49 metres with ball in hand and made a team-leading two offloads. Replaced on the hour mark.

14. Daniel Sinkinson - 7

A solid display on the wing, but you get the feeling that Sinkinson would be suited to wearing No 15 more than any other jersey.

A great finish early was scrubbed for Parker’s knock-on, as Sinkinson answered by setting up Tupaea after he broke the line.

Probably lacks the out-and-out pace of a winger, and points off for a botched assist in the final minutes with a flick pass back infield, perhaps unaware he was under less defensive pressure than he might have thought.

Still managed a game-high 79 run metres, and three linebreaks, to go with a turnover and six tackles.

15. Isaac Hutchinson - 8

Great debut on his Canterbury home ground.

At 22, Hutchinson will hope to join the likes of Brodie Retallick and Anton Lienert-Brown in finding Chiefs success after leaving Canterbury, and gave every indication he could do just that.

A try-saving tackle on Frank Lomani after his intercept was vital in the Chiefs securing a bonus point, to go with a team-high 12 carries with ball in hand, for 52 metres.

Did concede a turnover, but otherwise a game to remember on Super Rugby debut.

Reserves

16. Tyrone Thompson - 6

Forced to do more than he’d have bargained for after McAlister’s early exit.

Still managed seven lineout throws out of seven, to go with six tackles too.

17. Ollie Norris - 7

An eye-catching cameo from the fringe All Black, and one that could earn him a start next week.

Played 31 minutes for nine tackles made, the most for a Chiefs reserve.

18. Benet Kumeroa - 5

Managed to get 24 minutes at the end, and made four tackles.

19. Naitoa Ah Kuoi - 5

With his future now being linked to an overseas move, Ah Kuoi got just 17 minutes off the bench for four tackles and a lineout win.

20. Michael Loft - 6

Another to have gotten more minutes than he might have expected on his debut after Brown’s early exit.

Seven tackles made, four missed and did concede a turnover, but otherwise looked comfortable at Super Rugby level.

21. Xavier Roe - 5

Also linked with a move abroad, Roe got 10 minutes at the end after Ratima made way.

Didn’t get the chance to run with ball in hand at a tiring defence, but completed a perfect six tackles from six attempts.

22. Tepaea Cook-Savage - 7

A very impressive cameo off the bench for the 25-year-old. In just 24 minutes, Cook-Savage managed 72 metres run, only seven fewer than Sinkinson - who had the whole game.

Scored a well – taken try to push the result further away from an unlikely Drua fightback.

Throw in a tackle for good measure, and you can see the Chiefs are more than well stocked in their young backline.

23. Lalakai Foketi - 5

Just 21 minutes for the Australian international, who replaced Brown to partner Tupaea.

One run for 23 metres probably indicates the Chiefs need to give Foketi more service with ball in hand.

Alex Powell is a sports journalist for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016.