After their 36-20 defeat in Friday’s Super Rugby Pacific derby against the Crusaders at One NZ Stadium in Christchurch, here’s how the Blues players performed.
Blues player ratings v Crusaders
15 Zarn Sullivan: Impressed with his positional play and was safe under the high ball but could not put his side on the front foot with ball in hand. Replaced by Beauden Barrett after 50 minutes. 5
14 Kade Banks: He made little impact with ball in hand and finished with just 13 metres gained but put in a huge defensive shift as he made 15 tackles while also winning a turnover. 5
13 AJ Lam: The highly rated utility back left his stamp on this match with a superb try and finished with a team-high 79 metres gained but also conceded three turnovers. 6
12 Pita Ahki: The experienced midfielder was on the field for 58 minutes before being replaced by Jack Sexton and Ahki asked some questions of the Crusaders‘ defence with some deft touches on attack. 5
11 Caleb Clarke: Like fellow winger Banks, the All Blacks star made little impact on attack although he showed his class with one barnstorming run in the second half which had the Crusaders’ defence at sixes and sevens. Eventually made 46 metres but also conceded three turnovers. 5
10 Stephen Perofeta: Not a game the All Blacks playmaker will remember fondly as his inability to fire on attack cost the Blues in the grander scheme of things. Battled to unleash his outside backs and timed out for one conversion kick. 4
9 Sam Nock: Although he crossed for a well-taken try, he made some crucial errors which put his team under pressure. Threw a pass to Noah Hotham when the Blues were on the attack deep inside Crusaders territory in the first half and failed to gather a kick from Leicester Fainga’anuku inside his 22 which led to a try for Jamie Hannah. Replaced by Finlay Christie in the 54th minute. 5
The forwards
8 Hoskins Sotutu: Took the fight to the Crusaders with some powerful carries and was rewarded with a try late on while also doing well on defence as he made 14 hits. 6
7 Dalton Papali’i: The Castres-bound flanker was forced off the field after 26 minutes with a jaw injury after a tackle on Fainga’anuku. Up to that point, Papali’i impressed in the execution of his core duties and his departure was a big blow for the visitors. 6
6 Malachi Wrampling: The 22-year-old was a willing ball carrier but made little impact while also doing his bit on defence with tackles made before Laghlan McWhannell replaced him in the 67th minute. 5
5 Sam Darry: Showed why he was selected for the All Blacks in 2024 as he put in a huge defensive effort, completing a match-high 22 hits and also won his fair share of lineout balls. Was a willing ball carrier, gaining 27 metres and won a crucial turnover. 8
4 Patrick Tuipulotu (c): Like his second-row partner and fellow All Blacks lock, the Blues skipper came to the fore with a high work-rate on defence as he made 16 tackles and did well in the lineouts. 6
3 Sam Matenga: Was solid in the scrums and did his bit on defence with seven tackles completions before Flyn Yates replaced him after 50 minutes. 5
2 Bradley Slater: He did brilliantly when he won a turnover inside his half in the build-up to Lam’s try and put his body on the line on defence as he made 10 tackles during a 62-minute stint on the field. 6
1 Ofa Tu’ungafasi: The veteran All Blacks front-row was solid in the execution of his core duties but was forced off the field just before half-time due to an unspecified injury with Mason Tupaea replacing him. 6
Replacements: There were few positives amongst the Blues’ replacements, with most of their changes made when they were chasing the game. Barrett and Anton Segner made the biggest impact but although they toiled manfully, they had little influence on proceedings as the Crusaders had the better of most of the exchanges. 6
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