Rugby: Season's ratings - Highlanders | Otago Daily Times Online News
cloudyDunedin 18 | 10
Sunday, Sun, 15 DecemberDec 2024
Subscribe

Rugby: Season's ratings - Highlanders

Lima Sopoaga was one of the big improvers this season.
Lima Sopoaga was one of the big improvers this season.
ODT Online rugby writer Jeff Cheshire rates the Highlanders on ther performances over the 2014 Super 15 season.

Ben Smith 8/10: Did not quite reach the dizzying heights of 2013, but was still exceptionally good anyway. Was dangerous running, finding gaps in the defence and stepping out of tackles, while also kicking well, being strong defensively and showing a much improved ability under the high ball.

Richard Buckman 7.5/10: Was very tidy for the first half of the season, rock-solid under the high ball and worked hard defensively. Later in the season he showed his speed and flair, making him a real threat with ball in hand.

Patrick Osborne 7/10: Ran dangerously with the ability to break tackles and find space up the sideline. Also gave some outstanding offloads and was good defensively for the most part.

Kurt Baker (No Rating): Looked okay in the games that he played, chasing everything hard and not making too many mistakes. However, a dumb dangerous tackle saw him cop a suspension and was never sighted again.

Trent Renata 6/10: Played the cover-utility back role and did so well. Was tidy on the wing and at fullback, even making the odd nice run and was solid defensively.

Malakai Fekitoa 8/10: Was a revelation this year and got better and better. Ran the ball hard and defences had all sorts of problems containing him, while defensively he was strong and made some good reads.

Jason Emery (No Rating): Struggled to make the line up, more due to the brilliance of Fekitoa than anything he did wrong. Was tidy and covered both in the midfield and on the wing at various stages.

Winston Stanley (No Rating): Only played one game in which he was solid, but hardly set the team alight.

Aaron Smith passed well and showed an improved running game.
Aaron Smith passed well and showed an improved running game.
Shaun Treeby 6.5/10: Did his job in the backline well, ensuring the likes of Fekitoa and Smith got the ball in space. Was tidy on attack and worked hard on defence.

Phil Burleigh 6/10: Mainly used to close games out and did so well. For the most part he was just solid, although occasionally really made an impact such as in the first Crusaders game. Had a few nice weighted kicks in behind and his only real error was his kick in the match against the Reds.

Lima Sopoaga 7.5/10: One of the big improvers. He has become an outstanding goal-kicker and set the backline alight when he took the ball to the line, both running and passing well.

Hayden Parker 6/10: Another who saw limited game time due to the good form of another. Was good when he played though, showing himself to still be a deadly goal-kicker and got the ball through his hands quickly on attack.

Aaron Smith 8/10: Played out of his skin for most of the season, passing exceptionally well, while also showing an improved running game, both in his sniping ability and support play.

Fumiaki Tanaka 6/10: For the most part came on to close games out and did little wrong. Passed well, although did not really look to run or kick.

Nasi Manu 8.5/10: Simply outstanding, having a high work rate and was often the key forward in giving the team go-forward in contact. There were games where he topped the team's count in both tackles and runs, which just goes to show how much work Manu got through.

Shane Christie 7.5/10: Finished with the second-most tackles in the competition which summed up his season. Never stopped on defence and did well at the breakdown too. He showed glimpses of a strong running game too.

John Hardie 6/10: Another who was stuck behind a top performer, while also struggling injury. Was his typical-self when he played, tackling well, following the ball and getting to the breakdown quickly.

Nasi Manu was a key man in the forwards.
Nasi Manu was a key man in the forwards.
Lee Allan (No Rating): Came into the team late and played two games off the bench. Got stuck in, making a few tackles and showing that he certainly will be capable of playing at this level.

Elliot Dixon 6.5/10: A consistent hard-worker who was always highly involved defensively. Also showed his versatility by covering all three loose forward positions at different stages of the season.

Gareth Evans 6.5/10: Similar to Dixon in that he worked hard on defence, although was a bit looser. More prominent on attack though with his ball carrying ability, while also showing he is amongst the best at this level at jumping explosively in the lineout.

TJ Ioane 6.5/10: Was used as an impact player and at times did make a big impact coming on, running hard, tackling well and looking for work.

Jarrad Hoeata 6.5/10: Played both lock and flanker, but looked better at lock. Was particularly prominent defensively and added good physicality in the tackle and at the ruck, occasionally reminiscent of his 2011 form that made him an All Black.

Joe Wheeler 7/10: Possibly the most consistent performer this season, always had a high tackle count and got through a lot of work in cleaning out at the breakdown. Was used as an option at lineout time too and had a few nice touches with the ball.

Tom Franklin 7/10: A hard worker who would tackle, but was also very good in the air and showed his good ball skills. Started the season as the fifth lock in the pecking order, but took his chance and rightfully held his spot in the line up right through till the end.

Josh Bekhuis 6/10: Mainly used as a replacement, closed games out well and made his tackles.

Brad Thorn 6/10: Had his season cut-short by an early injury. Was physical in contact and showed himself still to be a solid player at his age.

Joe Wheeler impressed with his consistency all season.
Joe Wheeler impressed with his consistency all season.
Chris King 7.5/10: Was arguably the best of the New Zealand tight-head props over the course of the season, with a huge work rate both in making tackles and keeping up with play on attack.

Ma'afu Fia 5.5/10: Had a slow start to the season where he was pushed around and did not have a high work rate. Played himself into form though and later in the season began to scrum better and was far more prominent around the field. Unfortunately was taken sick before the Waratahs game, ruling him out of the rest of the season.

Matias Diaz 4.5/10: Still a long way off being a dominant prop at this level, although he is young so he can get there. Was pushed around at scrum time, although did make some tackles.

Kane Hames 7.5/10: One of the big success stories of the season. Worked consistently, tackling well and getting involved at the breakdown. He generally scrummed well, although struggled against the three best packs in the competition in the last three games.

Craig Millar (No Rating): Was injured in his fourth game and did not really get a chance to show his ability, but did not look out of place when he did take the field.

JP Koen (No Rating): Came into the squad late to cover for Ma'afu Fia. Was solid in the scrum and was tidy around the park.

Ged Robinson 7/10: Was the best of the hookers, made plenty of tackles and ran good angles when used as a ball runner to break the line. He was also the best lineout thrower in the team.

Liam Coltman 5.5/10: A hard-worker around the field who is aggressive and will look to go forward all the time. However, his throwing really let him down, as did his consistency around the park at times. Still very much a top prospect though, he just needs to iron out the flaws in his game.

Brayden Mitchell (No Rating): Had a few good moments including the turnover which led to Ben Smith's try against the Chiefs, but was another to struggle with injury which limited his impact.

Sam Anderson-Heather (No Rating): Played one game as a cover player, but was good, getting involved on both attack and defence.

- Otago Daily Times rugby writer Steve Hepburn will give his season's ratings tomorrow. 

Add a Comment

OUTSTREAM