Rugby: Season's ratings for the Highlanders

Aaron Smith had a standout season for the men in blue.
Aaron Smith had a standout season for the men in blue.
ODT Online rugby writer Jeff Cheshire rates the Super 15-winning Highlanders  on their performances over the 2015 season.

Ben Smith 9/10: Outstanding all season in so many ways. Capable of cutting teams to bits with his running game both on the counter and coming into the line, kicked well, had a safe pair of hands and was a huge difference maker on defence.

Waisake Naholo 8.5/10: Was in sparkling form all year, finding his way to the line 13 times, including four times in the playoffs. Has pace, strength and possibly the most explosive left-foot step in the world. Chased kicks hard, was good under the high ball and improved on defence, looking after Julian Savea well in the final.

Patrick Osborne 8/10: Another who just never stopped threatening with ball in hand. Was dangerous coming into the line, but was equally capable of finishing out wide, even when he had plenty of work to do, scoring eight tries himself. Has improved out of sight on defence and in taking high kicks, while also offering great effort on his kick chases.

Kurt Baker (No Rating): Played two games and was pretty solid in both. Came on and made a good impact in the second loss to the Hurricanes, providing spark and making a couple of breaks.

Ryan Tongia (No Rating): Also only played two games, but was pretty dangerous on attack in both. Scored three tries, although got a bit lost on defence.

Waisake Naholo found his way to the try-line 13 times this season.
Waisake Naholo found his way to the try-line 13 times this season.
Trent Renata (No Rating): Only had two outings and did not really get a chance to impress. Although was involved in the semi-final win over the Waratahs and did not put a foot wrong there.

Malakai Fekitoa 8.5/10: Ran hard with the ball and always attracted multiple defenders, opening up lots of space for Naholo, Osborne and co. Showed his real value on defence, working hard to get into positions to make tackles and playing the extremely difficult rush and recover role in the midfield nearly to perfection. Was outstanding in support play at the breakdown too.

Jason Emery 6/10: Pretty solid and provided great midfield cover. Did not make too many mistakes and was generally safe on defence.

Richard Buckman 8/10: Proved to be so good that they just had to find a place for him. Played most of his games at second five-eighth where he was rock-solid on defence and was an underrated threat with ball in hand. Provided composure to the backline and hardly took a wrong option all season.

Shaun Treeby 6.5/10: Distributed well, was good in support play and did not make many mistakes. Was strong taking the ball into contact and tackled well. Was the rock in the middle of a lethal backline for the first half of the season.

Lima Sopoaga 8/10: In general was very good, kicking well both at goal and in general play, while also adding spark as a ball runner and playmaker. Showed good composure throughout the playoffs and had a huge game in the final.

Malakai Fekitoa showed strong form throughout the year.
Malakai Fekitoa showed strong form throughout the year.
Marty Banks 6.5/10: Was solid, if not spectacular, all season in his role as back-up to Sopoaga, then came on in the final and had one of the great cameo performances. Nearly set up a try, recovered from being under pressure a second time, then kicked the drop goal to clinch the game the third time. Also kicked the goal to beat the Chiefs early in the year, which was worth a home playoff game.

Hayden Parker (No Rating): Did not see much rugby, having to undergo surgery early in the season. Had a good game against the Reds, coming on and looking good taking the ball to the line and creating for those outside him.

Aaron Smith 9/10: Literally did everything you could have asked of him and more. Sprinted around the field to get to every ruck quickly, passed well, sniped dangerously, brought bundles of energy, organised the defence around the ruck, made a ton of tackles throughout the latter stages of the season and has an ever-improving kicking game. And that does not even cover it. Simply brilliant.

Fumiaki Tanaka 6/10: Was tidy coming off the bench to close out games and did well in that role, although struggled a bit as a starter.

Josh Renton (No Rating): Did not get enough of a chance to impress, playing just the one game, against the Brumbies. The experience would have been good for him though, as he is very much a player for the future.

Scott Eade (No Rating): Similar to Renton in that he came on in a game where the opposition, this time the Hurricanes, were rampant and was on a hiding to nothing. Another youngster who will have benefited from the experience.

Elliot Dixon scored one of the great tries in the defining moment of the final.
Elliot Dixon scored one of the great tries in the defining moment of the final.
Nasi Manu 8.5/10: Had another huge year, providing go-forward with ball in hand, made a ton of tackles and just kept on getting around the park in support play. Physical at the breakdown and typified the levels of desperation in this team. An absolute beast who will be sorely missed.

Dan Pryor 8/10: Outstanding all year, capable of playing a physical tight game and a ranging loose game. Was strong on defence and in contact, showing great levels of urgency to make tackles and get to breakdowns, but was equally good running in the open and showing his athleticism.

Elliot Dixon 8.5/10: Ranged down the right wing a lot and did that job well. Tackled like a demon all year, ran well with the ball and was a good option in the lineout too. Stepped up and played out of his skin in the final, scoring one of the great tries in the defining moment of the match.

Gareth Evans 7.5/10: Would have been a consistent starter for most other teams. Ranged a lot down the right wing too, with Dixon moving in when both were on the field. Ran well in the loose, made plenty of tackles, showed great speed off the ground in the lineout and was fast getting around the field, both in support at the breakdown and in chasing kicks.

John Hardie 7/10: Had another injury interrupted season, but did well when he got his chances, tackled well and got around the park quickly.

Shane Christie 8/10: Only played 70 minutes all year due to injury, but came back and was huge in the second half of both the final and semi-final, which is what his rating is based on. Tackled well, was fast around the park and made a crucial run to get the Highlanders back on the front foot after Naholo's try against the Waratahs.

Co-captain Nasi Manu typified the levels of desperation in the team.
Co-captain Nasi Manu typified the levels of desperation in the team.
James Lentjes 7.5/10: Another who just kept making tackles and was fast to the breakdown. Was called upon mid-season and showed his worth, then came back for the final two games and slotted straight in. Should receive a full contract for next year's competition.

Jackson Hemopo (No Rating): Came into the team during the locking crisis, but ended up making his one appearance off the bench as a flanker. Played well and is another youngster who will benefit hugely from the experience.

Tom Franklin 7.5/10: Missed the end of the season with injury, but was valuable prior to that. Like all of the tight forwards he was a hard worker who brought physicality, but also added a handy skill set in the open. Provided a good target further back in the lineout too.

Joe Wheeler 7.5/10: Made tackles, got to a lot of rucks, brought physicality and was solid in the lineout. Was a first-choice lock until he got injured, but came back and did extremely well as a reserve in the playoffs after having had such little rugby.

Mark Reddish 8/10: Got better and better as the season went on. Probably the most reliable lineout jumper, got around the field at a fantastic speed and was effective when he got to where he was going, whether it be in hitting rucks or making tackles.

Alex Ainley 8/10: Took a long time to get his first run, but was so good you simply could not drop him, even when other locks came back. Similar to Reddish in that he got around the field at speed, working hard in the tight, but also making a handful of good tackles on dangerous backs in the open, something you do not see every day from a tight forward. Had a huge performance in the final.

Joe Latta 7/10: Proved to be an excellent cover option when the locking stocks got low. Got stuck in, hitting rucks, making tackles and carrying the ball strongly. Probably good enough to have a full-contract, although will have a tough time beating out the other four options.

Dan Pryor performed equally well playing tight or ranging in the loose.
Dan Pryor performed equally well playing tight or ranging in the loose.
Josh Hohneck 8/10: Outstanding right throughout. One of the hardest working props in the country and did not give an inch at set-piece either. Got around the field at a great pace, was physical in tackling, provided good support at the breakdown and most notably, was always fast to get back to his feet and get back into the action after doing something.

Brendon Edmonds 8/10: Equally outstanding, playing so well that he forced his way into being a regular starter. A mobile prop who worked hard, he was another who was quick to the breakdown, made plenty of tackles and was capable of making an impact in contact. Did well at the scrum and similarly to Hohneck, perhaps his key feature was his ability to get up and back into the action so quickly.

Ross Geldenhuys 6.5/10: A strong ball carrier, who ran well in the open and always made a handful of tackles. Solid in the scrum and made a key play, coming around and making a key tackle in the final after the Highlanders did not engage in a maul with the Hurricanes.

Dan Lienert-Brown 6.5/10: Got better and better as the season went on and had his best game in the final. Came on and got around the field well, made his tackles in the tight and importantly remained strong at scrum time.

Pingi Tala'apitaga 6/10: Primarily used off the bench, coming on, bringing energy and going looking for tackles to make. Often would make three or four tackles in under a quarter of the game.

Ma'afu Fia (No Rating): Looked keen when he played, but picked up a season-ending injury in a cruel blow which saw the prop play just 41 minutes all year.

Kane Hames (No Rating): Was good when he played, but was another who was unlucky after receiving a harsh suspension in the first game of the season and then picking up a season-ending injury after returning.

Liam Coltman 8/10: Typically direct, strong and hard-working around the field. Tackled well, hit rucks, was strong carrying the ball and so often led the chase line. Has obviously worked hard at his lineout throwing too, as that was pin-point accurate to the front, middle and back. It is hard to fathom that he did not make the All Blacks squad.

Ash Dixon 7.5/10: Usually came on for Coltman for the final 20-30 minutes and carried on his great work. Brought intensity, physicality and just got stuck in at the breakdown and making tackles.

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