Crusaders player ratings: Departing stars spur Scott Robertson’s men to another title

Jared Wright
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Following the Crusaders' 20-25 victory to win over the Chiefs to claim their seventh straight Super Rugby Pacific title, here are our player ratings.

Following the Crusaders’ 25-20 victory over the Chiefs to claim their seventh straight Super Rugby Pacific title, here are our player ratings from the final. 

Crusaders player ratings

15 Will Jordan: Classy touches all over the pitch after a slow start. He ran some immaculate lines off the ball, and while he couldn’t hold onto the ball every time, he still influenced the game positively. A lapse or two defensively but overall, a good game from the star full-back. 7

14 Dallas McLeod: The All Blacks bolter was forced off the pitch after just 15 minutes after he failed his HIA. He had a few good touches during his short stint, but unfortunately, he wasn’t on long enough to warrant a higher rating. 5  

13 Braydon Ennor: Caught out defensively occasionally, including the Chiefs‘ early second-half try. While he did have some good moments with ball in hand, he was wasteful too. He will need to improve if he is to press for a start for the All Blacks. 5

All Blacks step up

12 Jack Goodhue: The glue in the Crusaders‘ backline for most of the match. The Chiefs got little purchase down his channel on attack, while Goodhue’s ball-carrying was a handful for the Chiefs. 7

11 Leicester Fainga’anuku: A match-winning shift from the outstanding Crusaders winger who secured a breakdown penalty to seal the result after winning two in quick succession not too long before. He was abrasive on attack and defence and made good decisions when he got the ball out wide. He may have fallen down the pecking order last year with the All Blacks, but his form this year should see him start their first Test. Simply outstanding. 9 

10 Richie Mo’unga: Flashes of brilliance throughout the game, including a well-created and taken try before half-time to put the Crusaders ahead. He did miss his first kick at goal horribly but was accurate with his later shots. His kicking out of hand was sharp, but Damian McKenzie may have got the slight edge over him in that department. A strong end to an incredible career at the Canterbury Super Rugby side. 8

9 Mitch Drummond: Kept the tempo of the Crusaders’ attack well and played a crucial role in Mo’unga’s first-half try. His kicking game wasn’t quite as accurate as Scott Robertson would have liked, and Willi Heinz replaced him shortly after half-time. 5

Harding working back-row

8 Christian Lio-Willie: Few would have predicted that Lio-Willie would be starting the final for the Crusaders at the start of the season, but the back-rower did not look out of place. He carried superbly, making the most metres by a ‘Saders forward and fronted up defensively. 7

7 Tom Christie: The form Crusaders back-rower did not have nearly as much success at the breakdown as he did last week but still pestered the Chiefs’ attack with every opportunity he had. 7

6 Sione Havili: A solid outing from the blindside who did his job well without setting the final alight. He made his tackles, put in some good carries and cleared rucks well out wide. Dom Gardiner replaced him before the hour mark. 6

Sensational second-rows

5 Sam Whitelock: The veteran passed a late fitness test to play his final game for the side. He produced one final big performance for the team, leading the way at the set-pieces and picking off a Chiefs’ throw or two. 7

4 Scott Barrett: A true captain’s innings from the second-rower whose unwavering work rate snuffed out some threatening attacks from the Chiefs. He was also key to the Crusaders’ success in the driving maul and won a crucial lineout steal in the 47th minute. He was also the Crusaders’ top tackler making 18 in total. 8

Front-rowers dig deep

3 Oli Jager: A real lack of scrums in this game meant that the two front-rows went deeper into the match than usual. Jager held his own in the set-piece and got through a ton of work in defence, lending his weight in the attacking rucks well too. 7

2 Codie Taylor: The hooker had two lineout wobbles in the second half, which could have undone the Crusaders’ efforts, but he bounced back to score his second try of the game when the Crusaders needed it. He was excellent around the park on both sides of the ball and came up in the clutch for his side. His first try got the Crusaders back in the game, and his second secured a seventh straight title. 8

1 Tamaiti Williams: The kind of performance that he has produced all season to earn a spot in the All Blacks squad. Tireless work rate around the park, contesting breakdowns, landing big hits and passing and carrying well. 8

Replacements: Not all the players managed to get off the bench, but the ones that did played a crucial role in the result. Heinz controlled the game wonderfully in the closing stages and kept the Crusaders in the right part of the pitch. Chay Fihaki stepped up to the plate after McLeod’s injury, while Gardiner was superb. 7

 READ MORE: Crusaders claim seventh straight Super Rugby title as Chiefs edged in Hamilton

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