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Home / Sport / Rugby / Super Rugby

Player ratings: Highlanders v British and Irish Lions

Andrew Alderson
By Andrew Alderson
Reporter·NZ Herald·
13 Jun, 2017 10:18 AM5 mins to read

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Highlanders captain Luke Whitelock was one of the best performing forwards. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Highlanders captain Luke Whitelock was one of the best performing forwards. Photo / Brett Phibbs

See who shone and who fell flat in the Highlanders' 23-22 victory over the Lions.

Highlanders

15. Richard Buckman - 6
Couldn't stop Joseph try at short range. Might have bruised pectorals from a few fends, but remained persistent.

14. Waisake Naholo - 9
Strong in tackle whether attacking or defending. Looked
involved throughout and worthy recipient of the first try.

13. Malakai Fekitoa - 7
Hell hath no fury like an All Black scorned. Fully involved and twinkle-toes on touchline. Missed Seymour intercept.

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12. Teihorangi Walden - 7
Provided cohesion to Highlanders approach on a dry track. Sound chassis to their game plan on track.

11. Tevita Li - 7
Had a moment dancing up the field in first half. The man you need if Disco Inferno comes on the jukebox.

10. Lima Sopoaga - 6
Rogue cross-field boot resulted in Seymour intercept. Threw a wobbly pass in the 51st minute to see in-goal scramble.

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9. Kayne Hammington - 7
Slick passing channelled the best of Aaron Smith. Has the makings of an excellent backline general with astute decisions.

8. Luke Whitelock - 8
Hunted like he was out tracking wild boar along back country ridges. His beaming pride at the finish was uplifting.

7. Dillon Hunt - 7
Won 23rd minute penalty locking up Stander in the ruck. Loose forward commitment unquestionable.

6. Gareth Evans - 7
Showed initiative with ball in hand and an energy sapping runner for tourists to shut down. Gets a tick for rangy.

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5. Jackson Hemopo - 6
Traipsed about before Warburton try, looking pooped. Scrummaging and tackling looked sound.

4. Alex Ainley - 6
Conceded lineout penalty towards end of first half but produced a couple of solid covering tackles in second half.

3. Siate Tokolahi - 6
Missed a Webb tackle around the edges as if he was candyfloss. Terrific drive position to create Coltman try.

2. Liam Coltman - 7
Try on back of solid drive. Worked well off shoulder of his chums in close support. Best Mel Gibson Braveheart look-a-like.

1. Daniel Lienert-Brown 6
Body position in the tackle struggled at times. More of a sledgehammer than a tomahawk. Scrum work looked resolute.

Reserves

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16. Greg Pleasants-Tate - 7
17. Aki Seiuli - 7
18. Siosuia Halanukonuka - 7
19. Josh Dickson - 7
20. Jimmy Lentjes - 7
21. Josh Renton - N/A
22. Marty Banks - 7
23. Patrick Osborne - 6

Rhys Webb put in a good shift for the Lions. Photo / Brett Phibbs
Rhys Webb put in a good shift for the Lions. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Lions

15. Jared Payne - 5
Hunched shoulders like Quasimodo, reflecting the pressure weighing on him. Dropped Sinckler sitter which blew potential try.

14. Jack Nowell - 6
Showed graft on defence. No need to electrify the touchlines in his presence, but gave little away.

13. Jonathan Joseph - 8
Direct running secured 3rd Lions' try of the tour and had shoulders of steel on defence. Dropped last pass of the game cold.

12. Robbie Henshaw - 6
Positional play solid and couple of useful injections with ball in hand. Looks like he could go to another level.

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11. Tommy Seymour - 7
Dabbed at the line like a rogue paintbrush on occasion, then executed the perfect intercept off Sopoaga's boot.

10. Dan Biggar - 7
Tarzan-like limbs to set up Joseph try. Kicking game was as cool as Dunedin. Kept general composure as pivot, but limped off.

9. Rhys Webb - 7
Passing gaffe prevented try-scoring opportunity early, but improved his game as match advanced with his anticipation.

8. CJ Stander - 5
Penalised a couple of times. Always seemed behind the play but nabbed an outstanding late turnover.

7. Sam Warburton - 7
Accepted the Claymore sword and bagpipes of welcome with aplomb in place of a haka. Busy game. Deserved his try.

6. James Haskell - 5
Late Lions call-up more of a wallflower than Venus flytrap at his former Dunedin home. Plenty of whooping chat.

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5. Iain Henderson - 7
Useful with ball in hand helping create front foot ball for backs. Munched through opposition at rucks like Pacman.

4. Courtney Lawes - 4
Took brutal blow to the head attempting failed try-saving tackle of Naholo. Exited in haste. Will his tour be over?

3. Kyle Sinckler - 7
The Lions' Muhammad Ali in the manner he floats and stings for a man his size. Kiwis will warm to his skills by tour's end.

2. Rory Best - 7
Put in plenty of ruck and maul toil. Looks like he's enjoying immersing himself in the New Zealand game.

1. Joe Marler - 7
Robust in tight and loose. The Lions' Mr T looked like he would have fitted in seamlessly among The Zoo faithful.

Reserves

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16. Ken Owens - N/A
17. Jack McGrath - N/A
18. Dan Cole - 5
19. Alun Wyn Jones - 7
20. Justin Tipuric - N/A
21. Greig Laidlaw - 7
22. Owen Farrell - N/A
23. Elliot Daly - 7

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