Crusaders v Blues player ratings: The players who stole the show in crucial Kiwi derby
How the players rated in the Crusaders’ 52-31 win over the Blues in Christchurch.
Crusaders
1. Finlay Brewis – 7
Getting the start with George Bower moving to tighthead as Fletcher Newell is out injured, Brewis quietly went about his work. While he was rarely sighted with ball in hand, he was stoic on defence and worked hard to get around the park.
2. Codie Taylor - 7
Had a couple of issues at the lineout and turned the ball over a couple of times but put in a massive shift in open play with a high tackle count and plenty of carries into contact.
3. George Bower - 7
Terrific in his first start this season at tighthead. Found himself getting a few touches in the attack early, but his best work was done elsewhere with a good scrum and plenty of defensive work.
4. Antonio Shalfoon - 7
Rose up to pinch a Blues lineout in his own 22, got across the park well and hit the ruck with intent, was solid defensively and found himself with a few important touches to help keep the attack ticking along. Reliability personified.
5. Jamie Hannah - 8
Starting to feel more and more like the most likely All Blacks bolter in 2026. He had a mixed night with his offloads but in terms of the things you want to see your lock doing, he was quality. Strong in his clean out work, got stuck in defensively, took some good carries and – bonus – he was the first man on the scene to back up No 10 Taha Kemara after a hint of late contact as Kemara scored.
6. Ethan Blackadder – 8
This is what Crusaders fans grew to know and love about Ethan Blackadder. He’s not going to break the game open with ball in hand, but he is going to try to tackle anyone in a different jersey that comes near him. The kind of player you want in your team at this point of the season.
7. Leicester Fainga’anuku - 9
Got flattened by a high shot from Malachi Wrampling but that didn’t deter him from carrying the ball hard into contact. He was fairly well contained but kept charging at the defensive line and got a few offloads away. Just as busy without ball in hand, Fainga’anuku made plenty on tackles and secured a couple of turnovers. A great showing in a big game.
8. Christian Lio-Willie – 8
The Crusaders got plenty out of their loose trio in this one. Lio-Willie did a bit of everything to help his side; an offload to assist Johnny McNicholl’s first try, provided a good target at the lineout and worked hard across the park.
9. Noah Hotham – 5
Kept the ball moving and put a few kicks in, but didn’t find the opportunity to have more of an impact on the contest in his 52 minutes on the pitch.
10. Taha Kemara - 5
Showed good footwork to cut through for a try and was on target from the kicking tee, but for the most part he played a supporting role as the stars in the team shone.
11. Sevu Reece - 6
Scored the Crusaders’ first try and assisted on another. Didn’t have a huge impact outside of that, but worked hard to keep himself involved in the game.
12. David Havili - 8
Found himself on both sides of the highlight reel in the first half after being bumped off by Caleb Clarke then scoring a good try. But overall continued in his current vein of strong form across the park.
13. Dallas McLeod - 4
Made a strong start but lasted just 18 minutes before being replaced with a suspected injury.
14. Chay Fihaki - 7
Made the most of his only real opportunity to strike, beating four defenders with his footwork to score a try in the first half. He was terrific defensively, though, with double-digit tackles and a turnover to his credit.
15. Johnny McNicholl - 10
Kicked his side out of trouble on more than one occasion and was a consistent part of the attack. He was rewarded for his support play, steaming onto Lio-Willie and Havili offloads to score before strolling through for a hat-trick. Couldn’t have asked for more from the veteran.
Bench
16. Manumaua Letiu - 5
Made his mark with ball in hand and claimed a try from the back of a lineout drive late in the contest.
17. Jack Sexton – 4
Had a stop-start evening after having to leave the field after just 10 minutes on the pitch after a head knock, but returned to finish off the match.
18. Gus Brown - 4
A big stage for a debut, but the 22-year-old was up to the task in a 19-minute stint off the bench.
19. Tahlor Cahill – 6
Got stuck into his work in the contact areas in a physical 27-minute stint.
20. Dominic Gardiner – 5
Entered the contest with about 30 minutes left on the clock and got stuck in with a handful of carries.
21. Kyle Preston – 4
Replaced Hotham in the 52nd minute and had a similar impact. Kept the ball moving but turned it over a couple of times.
22. Rivez Reihana – 5
Had a couple of good runs, assisted on a try and slotted one of two conversion attempts.
23. Braydon Ennor – 6
Probably wasn’t expecting to enter the contest within the opening 20 minutes, but rolled his sleeves up and got to work before ultimately being replaced after 51 minutes.
Blues
1. Ofa Tu’ungafasi - 4
A solid performance in his core roles but was punished for a couple of mistakes; a knock on that was the catalyst for the Crusaders’ first try and missed tackles on Havili and Fihaki in the lead-up to tries.
2. Bradley Slater – 4
Not a great night at the lineout for the Blues with a couple of throws picked off but ran hard and was effective with his clean outs through an energetic 51 minutes.
3. Marcel Renata – 6
A good showing in his core roles, got off the line quickly to make his tackles, secured a turnover and took a few strong carries. He was also one of only a few Blues starters not to miss a tackle. A solid overall outing through 51 minutes.
4. Patrick Tuipulotu - 4
Pinched a Crusaders lineout early on, took plenty of carries, but missed a few tackles in key moments – two on Crusaders captain Havili which ultimately led to tries.
5. Sam Darry - 6
Made plenty of ground after a slick fake hand-off at a lineout deep in his own territory, and also stole a lineout. Led the side’s tackle count.
6. Torian Barnes – 6
Took plenty of tough carries into a strong Crusaders defensive line and was active in the contact areas. Made double-digit tackles and never stopped working.
7. Anton Segner - 7
Ever-present in the attack, Segner went searching for work and showed strength in his carries. Another solid outing from the Blues’ best player this season.
8. Malachi Wrampling - 2
Threw a perfect ball back on the inside to send AJ Lam through the line in the lead-up to the opening try. Saw red after a high shot on Fainga’anuku which ended his night after just 20 minutes.
9. Sam Nock – 4
Made a good start to the contest with an early 50/22 and scoring the first try of the match but was forced off after 22 minutes with an injury.
10. Stephen Perofeta – 5
Tried to keep his team going in the right direction with mixed results, had a couple of lovely offloads and turned the ball over a few times.
11. Caleb Clarke - 5
Was among the Blues most effective players with ball in hand and had a couple of highlights as he bumped off Havili in the first half and had a great finish in the corner late in the second, but ball security was an issue at times.
12. Pita Ahki – 4
A mixed night on both ends, though he did assist on one of his side’s tries.
13. Xavi Taele - 4
Made a great start to the game with a steal at the breakdown in the opening minutes but was largely ineffective as the game went on and missed too many tackles.
14. AJ Lam - 7
Cut through the Crusaders’ defensive line a couple of times to find space to stretch his legs. Made some smart decisions when he found himself under pressure and was involved in plenty of the action.
15. Zarn Sullivan - 4
Had plenty of involvement early on with mixed results, but less impact as the game went on before being replaced in the 60th minute.
Bench
16. Eli Oudenryn – 7
A bright spot in recent weeks, Oudenryn looks every bit the future start his Development Player of the Year honours suggests. Hits the ground running with energy and intent from the moment he steps on the field.
17. Mason Tupaea – 5
Held his ground at the scrum and had a couple of nice passes showing he’s clearly comfortable operating as a link man when he needs to.
18. Flyn Yates – 6
Was solid at the scrum and worked hard for his team in a 30-minute shift.
19. Josh Beehre – 5
Replaced Tuipulotu for the final 20 minutes. Made his tackles and took a few carries.
20. Hoskins Sotutu – 6
Called into the action early after Wrampling’s red card, Sotutu was a constant presence with ball in hand, generally opting to tuck it under his wing and storm into contact.
21. Finlay Christie – 5
Another thrust into the action earlier than he would have expected, Christie provided decent ball from the ruck, had a try assist and did plenty of defensive work with double-digit tackles and a turnover.
22. Cole Forbes - 4
Played the final 10 minutes and had little impact.
23. Payton Spencer – 5
Only got a couple of touches but made them count.
Christopher Reive joined the Herald sports team in 2017, bringing the same versatility to his coverage as he does to his sports viewing habits.