Rugby: Player ratings - Highlanders vs Force

Patrick Osborne of the Highlanders runs with the ball during match between the Force and the...
Patrick Osborne of the Highlanders runs with the ball during match between the Force and the Highlanders at nib Stadium. Photo Getty Images.
ODT Online rugby writer Jeff Cheshire rates the Highlanders players after their win over the Force in Perth early yesterday morning.

Ben Smith 7.5/10: Kicked well, finding space in behind the Force backline and created pressure through that. Had a few nice touches looking to attack too and was outstanding on defence.

Waisake Naholo 6.5/10: Got his hands on the ball and looked dangerous at times. Did well considering he did not always have a lot of space towork with. 

Malakai Fekitoa 6/10: Pretty solid, had a couple of strong runs and defended well towards the end, but was more tidy than destructive on the whole.

Shaun Treeby 6/10: Another who was tidy, playing well in support and crashing ball in the midfield well.

Patrick Osborne 6/10: Was shut down pretty quickly, but kept running strongly and put a nice attacking grubber kick through into space to pressure the Force.

Lima Sopoaga 6/10: Mostly distributed, but did so early to give his outside backs a chance to create something. Brought a positive attitude to attack where he always looked to pass to attack and kicked well at goal.

Aaron Smith 6.5/10: Supported play well to score his try and sniped dangerously a couple of times. Passed well for the most part and tidied up well under pressure.

Dan Pryor 7.5/10: Ran strongly and had a couple of sublime offloads, while also being in the thick of things defensive, both with his tackling and breakdown work.

John Hardie 6.5/10: Quick to the breakdown in support play and made plenty of tackles too.

Gareth Evans 5.5/10: Played his usual role, ranging out on the right, but did not get quite so many good touches this week. Still made a few good tackles and supported well on his side of the park.

Mark Reddish 7/10: Made a handful of tackles, provided good protection at the breakdown and was physical running into contact.

Alex Ainley 7.5/10: Another outstanding performance in which he tackled well, got to plenty of rucks and was safe in the lineout.

Josh Hohneck 7/10: Tackled well and was particularly prominent in the first half, where the game was played in close and the tight five were forced to defend for long periods.

Liam Coltman 7/10: Was prominent on defence too, tackling both in close and in the open. Threw accurately into the lineout and was always close-by in support play.

Brendon Edmonds 8/10: Just seemed to keep cropping up everywhere. Made more tackles than anyone, but also made them strong hits, while also being highly active in his support play at the ruck.

Ash Dixon 7/10: Carried on from where the starters finished. Was physical in contact and went looking for tackles to make.

Dan Lienert-Brown (No Rating): Came on for the last ten minutes and closed the game out well.

Ross Geldenhuys (No Rating): Similar to Lienert-Brown, coming on at the same time and doing his job in ensuring the Force were not given a sniff at the end.

Tom Franklin 6/10: Made one outstanding run after linking well with an offload from Pryor. Was solid in the tight.

Elliot Dixon 6.5/10: Brought a more direct approach than Hardie, but got through his work well and was possibly unlucky to be denied a try due to the lack of a good view on camera.

Fumiaki Tanaka (No Rating): Played the final five minutes and did what was required.

Richard Buckman 7/10: Was into everything after he came on. Looked the most dangerous of the backs with ball in hand, making some good runs and made his tackles on defence.

Marty Banks 6.5/10: Chased down a high ball and made a brilliant take to set up Aaron Smith's try and then proceeded to kick the conversion.

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