Following a 36-32 defeat to the Crusaders in the Super Rugby Pacific clash at One NZ Stadium on Friday, here are the player ratings for the Chiefs.
15 Isaac Hutchinson: In for Damian McKenzie, who suffered a head injury last weekend, Hutchinson was very lively with ball in hand throughout the 80 minutes and also did some fine work without it, preventing a try with a stunning cover tackle on Noah Hotham. 8
14 Liam Coombes-Fabling: A really smart footballer whose skills are excellent, including some good work in the air, but once again Coombes-Fabling didn’t get the chances he would like in attack. 5
13 Kyle Brown: Another young Chiefs player who has plenty of talent and that was evident early on where the centre was prominent with a couple of scything runs. Was quieter after that as the Crusaders came back into the contest and then made a mistake for Johnny McNicholl’s try. 6
12 Quinn Tupaea: Did some good work without the ball by making his tackles in the midfield but was quiet in attack, despite taking a lovely line off a set-piece for his try. Did come into the game in the second half with that score and a big turnover, but they needed more from their star centre. 6
11 Kyren Taumoefolau: Lit the game up early on with a fantastic finish but wasn’t in the game much after that with the forwards doing the damage for the Chiefs when they got into the danger zone. 6
Disasterclass
10 Josh Jacomb: Just far too many errors in the second half that arguably cost them the game. It was going well enough for the first 50 minutes or so, but the fly-half capitulated in the latter stages. Didn’t cover the backfield well enough for David Havili’s 50/22 and then dropped the ball when they turned it over from the resultant lineout. The Crusaders would go on to score from that next attack. The Chiefs didn’t miss McKenzie at full-back but they did at fly-half as Jacomb failed to get his side over the line. 4
9 Cortez Ratima: The All Black has not started much this season and, in truth, you could see why on this evidence. While it was a solid effort, some of his skills, especially of a kicking variety, were not quite on the money. 5
8 Wallace Sititi: Is just doing everything right at the moment. Even when he’s not making the huge breaks or highlight reel off-loads, Sititi is impacting matters on both sides of the ball. He was once again fantastic in attack and defence. 8
7 Luke Jacobson (c): Has been overshadowed by the number eight over recent games, but this was better from Jacobson. Some good work in the lineout while he was excellent around the ruck as he used his power and body much more effectively at close quarters. 7
Embarrassing antics
6 Samipeni Finau: The talented back-rower has reminded people over the past few games that he shouldn’t be discounted from the All Blacks equation just yet. Rennie talks about repeat efforts, which Finau probably isn’t doing enough of currently, but there were some big moments in this clash with a lineout turnover and try-saving tackle following a huge hit on Antonio Shalfoon. His antics after that, as he pushed Shalfoon’s head into the ground, were rather uncalled for, however, and looks a bit stupid in the aftermath of this loss. 7
5 Tupou Vaa’i: Speaking of unnecessary antics, Vaa’i has reduced the amount of times he baits the opposition, but he couldn’t resist taking a dig in the first half. It was an opening period where he did a number of excellent things, while his tight work was solid after the break. 7
4 Josh Lord: Continues to have an impressive season. Scored his first-ever professional try and it summed up a good all-round display from the in-form lock. 7
3 Sione Ahio: Had one big scrum at the start of the second half, while he did his work around the field, but Super Rugby Pacific is proving to be a difficult competition for props to truly excel in. 5
2 Samisoni Taukei’aho: Impressive in all facets with Taukei’aho accurate in the lineout and prominent in the carry, providing them with plenty of front-foot ball. 7
1 Ollie Norris: Was producing a decent effort around the field when he was forced to go off before the interval due to injury. 5
Replacements: It wasn’t a bad effort from the bench but they could not quite get the Chiefs over the line. The props built on the work of the starters while Naitoa Ah Kuoi had some nice touches and Xavier Roe was lively at the base, despite the odd error, but it was not enough. 6