Rugby: Who's been good value for the Highlanders - and who hasn't

ODT Online rugby correspondent Jeff Cheshire casts an eye over the Highlanders and looks at which players are proving good value this season - and which ones are not.

Good value

Ben Smith: He has hardly put a foot wrong all season, continuing in the same form that last year saw him fill the role of utility back in the All Blacks. On attack he has looked lively, seemingly spotting gaps in defences and getting through them in a way no one else seems to.

Defensively he has been very good too, tackling well and reading the opposition. His hands have been outstanding, as has his ability to clear the ball. On form he is probably the best fullback in the competition and will almost certainly find himself in an All Black jersey once more come June.

Hosea Gear: Another player in career best form, Hosea Gear has been devastating in the first six games for the Highlanders. He is such a handful with ball in hand, big, strong and fast, able to break tackles and commit defenders.

What makes him stand out from the others though is his work rate. Not only is he a devastating runner, but he makes sure the team gets the most out of him by getting his hands on the ball a lot to make him a constant threat. Defensively he has been very good too, either putting in big hits or hanging off on overlaps to allow the cover defence to get across.

Kade Poki: He has been sidelined for the past two games with injury, but up until then Poki was amongst the best for the Highlanders this season. His main draw card is his ability to run at a small gap and be strong enough to shrug off the covering defender. 

This year he has done this particularly well and has looked dangerous every time he has touched the ball. Against the Cheetahs he touched down for three tries which was a bright spot in an otherwise forgettable game, while many of his other runs have been the catalyst for tries.

Buxton Popoalii: The fourth outside back mentioned here, which shows you where the team has been performing this year. Unfortunately it also shows where the game is won and it is not in the back three. Popoalii has been as good as anyone in the time he has gotten this year, absolutely lethal with the ball in hand and running rings around the opposition.

He has flair in abundance but has also shown himself to possess a reasonable kicking game where needed and has done his job on defence.  Unfortunately he had to be carted off after a hit from George Moala that was a case of bad luck as much as anything. Let us hope he has a speedy recovery and is back on the field as soon as possible.

Chris King: Sometimes you realise the true value of a player when he is not there. That was certainly the case with Chris King this year, who made a huge difference after being brought back into the starting line up after not starting early in the season. He is strong at scrum time and the line out seems to operate better while he is on the park too.

These are his core jobs and he does them well. But he does so much more than this, making plenty of tackles around the field and getting involved. While he may not be the most glamorous player around, he gives an honest effort every game and does the hard work, epitomising what it means to be a Highlander.

Honourable Mentions

Jason Emery: A 19 year old thrown in to the starting team to cover a few injuries but has barely put a foot wrong and will continue to get better should he stick around.

Phil Burleigh: Incisive on attack, while also doing a lot of work to tidy up messy ball. He should find himself in the starting line up sooner rather than later.

Jamie Mackintosh: Has played just one game but made a big difference upon his return. Another player that bleeds blue, gold and maroon and epitomises what being a Highlander stands for.

Not good value

Ma'a Nonu: On his day Ma'a Nonu is the best No. 12 in the world - a strong runner, who is rock solid on defence and is constantly a threat. But this is not the player that has turned out for the Highlanders this year. What we have seen so far is a player who has carted the ball up, made a few tackles, but done everything at half-pace and failed to make an impact. His shoulder charge against the Blues was perhaps his lowest ebb and was inexcusable.

While a dropped ball or a missed tackle can just be a bad moment, this shoulder charge was clearly intentional and there was only one result that was going to come from it. Knowing that you are most likely going to receive a card, why would you then proceed to take your man this way rather than making a proper tackle? It is making him a liability and sums up his contribution. Phil Burleigh is playing well and should take over the No. 12 jersey as Nonu has done little to justify selection and needs to earn his jersey back.

Tony Woodcock: Woodcock was another All Black signing, and he's another player who has done very little. Many herald him as the best loosehead prop in the world, but for a few years now it has felt as though he may have been living on reputation. He seems to spend as much time injured as he does fit these days and that has proven to be the case again this year. When he has made it onto the field he has been somewhat anonymous, struggling in the scrum and not making the impact he would like to in general play.

Andrew Hore: After such a good season in 2012 it has been disappointing to see Andrew Hore's form fall in 2013. But that is what has happened, and like Woodcock he has been anonymous at times, not getting around like he used to and playing like a fourth looseforward. His discipline has been poor and there seems to have been a lack of leadership at times.

While he has improved his lineout throwing, to be the starting hooker of a professional rugby team you have to be able to do more than throw the ball into the lineout. Perhaps age is catching up to him - after all, Hore is now 34 years old and not getting any younger.

Aaron Smith: It is hard to know where to start with Aaron Smith. His game has certainly gone backwards from 2012, but this may not be entirely his fault. We have certainly seen the value of a forward pack that is providing their halfback with good ball, as it was this that allowed him to provide such good service last year.

But he has not had this in 2013 and consequently his service has been much slower. There seems to be a lack of communication somewhere and that has no doubt been the cause for much of this. Too often he is busy looking around while the ball is unprotected in the ruck, or he is running across the field before delivering the pass.

It then comes down to a communication breakdown one way or the other. Is he not getting calls from the first five-eighth or from his forward runners? Or is he simply hesitating? Either way it is affecting his game and has been a big problem for the team which needs to be fixed if they are to start winning games.