ODT Online rugby contributor Jeff Cheshire rates the Highlanders on their performance in their 38-28 win over the Blues in Dunedin last night.
Trent Renata 6.5/10: Very good playing out of position in his Highlanders debut. Got back and tidied up well on multiple occasions and brought it back well, making some nice runs. Definitely worth another start after the break.
Tamati Ellison 7.5/10: Another who was constantly involved, seemed to have his hands on the ball often and looked incisive when he did. Showed good hands and was very solid on defence too.
Shaun Treeby 6.5/10: Made some good runs on attack, usually gaining momentum and defended well.
Hosea Gear 7/10: Very strong with ball in hand and was used more than he has been in the last three weeks put together. Showed his class with the ease in which he scored his try. Was strong on defence too, making one memorable hit which dislodged the ball from Waisake Naholo.
Colin Slade 8/10: Played with confidence, kicked well, took the ball to the line, was strong in contact and even took a great high ball. Hardly put a foot wrong and was more like the Colin Slade of old, an encouraging sign for Highlanders fans.
Fumiaki Tanaka 8/10: Did it all, passed quickly and well, made a couple of excellent kicks, sniped a couple of times to good effect and scrapped on defence. Was one of the big difference makers and was unlucky to be subbed when he was.
Mose Tuialii 7.5/10: Ran strongly and was particularly prominent late in the first half. Was extremely influential in creating the momentum that allowed the backs to flourish.
John Hardie 7/10: Linked well all night out wide and got into everything. Was always one of the leaders when chasing kicks and effected a couple of turnovers at the breakdown.
Jarrad Hoeata 6.5/10: Very prominent early, used often as a ball runner and to provide direction. Showed he does have a linking game and worked hard getting to rucks in the latter part of the first half.
Josh Bekhuis 7/10: Good in the air, particularly at the kick-offs and strong running the ball. Got around the field well and worked hard in the tight too.
Brad Thorn 7/10: A mountain of strength all night, threw himself into contact and made a handful of barnstorming runs which saw him break tackles.
Ma'afu Fia 6.5/10: Got himself to plenty of breakdowns and was used as a one-off runner often. Was pretty solid at scrum time too in what was a good performance.
Andrew Hore 8/10: Outstanding, definitely back to his best form. Ran strongly all night, breaking tackles and doing so a lot, while also proving very good at the breakdown.
Jamie Mackintosh 7/10: Very strong on defence and ran directly on attack. Scrummed well and was unlucky to be yellow carded for a fairly soft incident in the final minute of the game.
Liam Coltman 6.5/10: Came on and worked hard to close the game out. Made his tackles and was strong at the breakdown.
Bronson Murray 7/10: Tackled and tackled and tackled. Was on at a time where the team was defending for the most part and there was no one more prominent in this than Murray. Dropped one ball close to the line which was fairly costly, but hardly put a foot wrong other than this.
Elliot Dixon 6.5/10: Made a couple of good runs and was strong in the contact. Managed to turnover the ball in the tackle on one occasion late in the game.
TJ Ioane 6.5/10: Got involved on defence and made plenty of tackles to close the game out.
Aaron Smith 7/10: Took off from where Tanaka finished and was very good at the base. Passed well and made one very good snipe down the right hand side. Made some good tackles too, including one try saver in the right hand corner.
Hayden Parker (No Rating): Got the last ten minutes and did not do a lot wrong. Crucially made a wide kick to take the score difference to beyond 14 points.
Ma'a Nonu 6.5/10: Made a couple of strong runs where he gained momentum and showed his class in throwing an outstanding cut out pass which led to a break.
