Player ratings: Highlanders v Bulls

ODT Online rugby contributor Jeff Cheshire rates the Highlanders after their 35-18 loss to the Bulls. 

Ben Smith 6.5/10: Ran aggressively and looked the most dangerous of the backs. Stronger running into contact this week, rather than cutting through gaps as he has done thus far this season.

Tino Nemani 5.5/10: Loses a mark for a yellow card in what was otherwise not a bad performance. Popped up and got his hands on the ball and made a few nice runs.

Tamati Ellison 6.5/10: Very tidy, defended well and never stopped trying on attack. Was rewarded with a late try, where he did well and got himself into excellent position to help add some respectability to the score.

Shaun Treeby 5/10: Virtually non-existent for the 40 minutes he was on the field for. Did not do a whole lot wrong, but hardly did anything noticeable either other than one run around the 20 minute mark.

Hosea Gear 6/10: Is being marked more closely now and is struggling to be as devastating as a consequence. Still made a couple of breaks but a quiet game by his standards.

Colin Slade 6/10: Made a couple of good runs in open play and was tidy around the field. Perhaps guilty of a few unnecessary grubber kicks in behind, but you could see the idea of using it to stop the defence from rushing up.

Aaron Smith 5.5/10: Had to deal with some sloppy ball as the breakdown was a mess for both teams. Passed well at times though and made a nuisance of himself on defence. Like Slade, was guilty of a couple of unnecessary kicks in good attacking position.

Mose Tuialii 6/10: The most prominent ball runner in the first half, but at times struggled to gain much go-forward as the strong Bulls defence met him physically.

John Hardie 7/10: Was everywhere, tackling well and getting over the ball regularly at the breakdown to disrupt the Bulls ball. Gave away a couple of penalties, but this is always on playing the way he was last night in a messy game.

Joe Wheeler 6/10: Worked hard, making his tackles and showing a good running game that he had shown so far this season.

Jarrad Hoeata 5.5/10: Had a quiet game, tried hard around the field but did not really make a huge impact. Josh Bekhuis was missed in the lineouts, or perhaps they had already conceded this area of the game to the Bulls, given that they did not pick their primary lineout jumper.

Brad Thorn 6/10: Threw himself around, but like Hoeata did not make a huge impact like we know he can do.

Chris King 5.5/10: Held up okay at scrum time but was not as prominent around the field as he would have liked to have been. Loses half a mark for a yellow card which admittedly may have been harsh.

Andrew Hore 6/10: Was good around the field and came up with a couple of good steals at the breakdown. His lineout throwing was still too inaccurate though and was no doubt a factor in the reluctance of the team to kick for touch off penalties.

Jamie Mackintosh 6/10: Worked hard around the field, getting to plenty of rucks to secure ball. Got the better of the opposition at times in the scrum, but was also gotten the better of at times too.

Liam Coltman 6.5/10: Came on at halftime and brought good intensity to the game. Made tackles and was strong in the contact situations.

Tony Woodcock 6/10: Another who came on at halftime and was fairly solid. Made a couple of good runs and got to rucks but fell off a tackle that should have been made that resulted in a Bulls break.

Elliot Dixon 5/10: Had few opportunities to show off his talents as he suits a looser game more free-flowing game. Was not helped by having to spend time on the sideline when Chris King was sin-binned.

TJ Ioane 7/10: Made an immediate impact upon his introduction, easily the strongest ball runner and always looking to get involved. Should find himself back in the starting line up next week.

Fumiaki Tanaka 6/10: Provided good service and chose the right time to snipe close to line to score the Highlanders first try.

Hayden Parker 6/10: Looked to keep ball in hand, taking the ball to the line and was not afraid to go into contact.

Jason Emery 7/10: Was very good, made two good tackles down the sideline while also running incisively.