Highlanders player ratings: Barnstorming back ‘a must’ for the All Blacks after ‘absolutely incredible’ effort as visitors let down by inaccurate playmakers
Timoci Tavatavanawai and Cam Millar in action for the Highlanders in Super Rugby Pacific.
Following a 15-12 defeat to the Crusaders in the Super Rugby Pacific clash at Apollo Projects Stadium on Friday, here are the player ratings for the Highlanders.
15 Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens: Not as influential as last week but the full-back still showed some fine touches in attack, including a couple of chips over the top which almost paid off. 6
14 Jonah Lowe: After a two-try showing against the Hurricanes, the wing was once again impressive. Lowe never stopped looking for work and was always a threat. 7
13 Tanielu Tele’a: A couple of big carries when one-on-one but Tele’a couldn’t quite get the dominance he was looking for with ball in hand. 6
Test call-up surely beckons
12 Timoci Tavatavanawai (cc): Get this player in the All Blacks squad Scott Robertson. An absolutely incredible performance from a centre who is now surely a must for the national team. Tavatavanawai’s physical attributes are obvious standouts but he is much more than that, given his outstanding skill set, superb decision-making and bruising defence. When you add all that to his work ethic, which was remarkable on Friday, the Fijian-born back simply has to play Test rugby. 9
11 Taniela Filimone: The wing grew into the game and in the second period the Crusaders struggled to deal with the Highlanders flyer. Filimone was a bundle of energy and made inroads into the opposition rearguard. 7
10 Taine Robinson: In open play, the fly-half did some nice things, but you simply have to kick your goals. Robinson had a shocker from the tee and it cost his side hugely. 4
9 Folau Fakatava: Like Robinson, there were some great moments with ball in hand and his delivery from the base was swift, but his kicking game went awry in the second period with Fakatava sending two of them over the dead-ball line. The scrum-half has Test ambitions this year but every little moment is key at that level and repeating the same mistake will not impress Robertson. 4
8 Sean Withy: Big, bruising and a nuisance at the breakdown, Withy was excellent in a standout Highlanders back-row. He certainly put himself about and matched up well to the Crusades loose trio. 7
Great battle with Tom Christie
7 Veveni Lasaqa: Has made huge strides this season and continues to get better every game. Lasaqa was a ubiquitous presence in the contest on both sides of the ball, messing up the Crusaders’ breakdown and also carrying hard in possession. Very impressive. 8
6 TK Howden: Completing a fine loose forward combination was Howden, who also stood up well against their South Island rivals. Some big carries and some equally excellent defensive work enabled the visitors to be in the ascendency for most of the final hour. 7
5 Tai Cribb: A late replacement for Mitch Dunshea and the youngster did his job efficiently enough. An important learning curve for the lock, who was making just his second appearance for the franchise. 5
4 Fabian Holland: Another player that should be in the All Blacks reckoning after a fine shift. Holland is technically excellent but he also has a big work rate and makes significant impacts in the loose. 7
3 Saula Ma’u: Can’t fault his engine as the tighthead went over 70 minutes, but the set-piece started to creak in the second period and it had a significant impact in the end result. 5
2 Jack Taylor: Like Ma’u, plenty of good work in the loose, but the lineout was unreliable while there was a silly penalty in the second half when the Crusaders were under pressure. 5
1 Ethan de Groot (cc): It’s a big season for De Groot after a mixed 2024 but the loosehead remains some way off his best. The prop took responsibility with the ball but he was constantly scythed down on the gain line, while he was sent backwards in the scrum. 5
Replacements: Jamie Joseph was reluctant to make changes early given the inexperience on the bench but those that were trusted generally struggled. Thomas Umaga-Jensen was physical and abrasive but Cam Millar unfortunately had a veritable shocker. Millar’s kicking, both out of hand and off the tee, was dreadful, while there were a couple of other braindead decisions. 4
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