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Dalton Papali'i responds to Tana Umaga's 'they don't want us here' claim
By Henry Lee at Eden Park, Auckland
Departing Blues captain Dalton Papali’i has responded to Moana Pasifika’s head coach Tana Umaga’s comments during the week, claiming that the powers at Blues HQ “don’t want us here”.
Papali’i, who spoke to reporters in Auckland post-match, said that as a playing group, they respect Moana Pasifika ,and the recent news is none of the players’ concerns.
“Yeah Tana was a Blues man once helping us during the seasons when I first came in, so a lot of respect for them and their players, the Blues captain said.
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“But whatever happens up in the offices and with the board, and that’s none of my concern. Respect to these players and the coaches and we go to war against them, and they’ve earned my respect.
“But whatever the decisions happen with all the board and that’s none of my concern.”
Blues head coach Vern Cotter said that it’s just outside noise, and that the playing group has a lot of respect for Umaga’s side.
“Like I said, that’s outside, today was just a game and it was about the players on the paddock and everybody that’s involved in the people that came watched it,” Cotter told media in Auckland.
“So they played well, and they had us very close at halftime. They had two tries ruled out, and so we have a massive amount of respect for them as a team, and we play them again.
“So we’ll take this one and we’ll just move forward and see what happens next.”
Umaga told media during the lead up to the round five clash that throughout discussions with the club over their venue change for their game against the Chiefs, which was scheduled to be in Tonga, were made difficult by the Blues.
“I don’t know if they realise there’s two professional rugby teams in this city, but we do know they don’t want us here,” Umaga told reporters ahead of Sunday’s clash between Moana Pasifika and the Blues.
“We’ve got nothing against the playing group, nothing against the staff, because I’ve worked in there, but the people that make decisions have made it very hard for us to survive over here. That’s why they probably are our greatest rivals, because they want to see us not do well and not thrive. And I struggle with that.
“When rugby is in a place where we’re at, I struggle with the narrative that comes out of there last year that they believe they’re representing the Pacific. Well, a Pacific team is here, but they’re not willing to assist us or embrace us for the betterment of rugby. I do struggle with that.
“That’s why this game does mean a lot to us.”
When asked about whether the Moana Pasifika head-honcho regrets anything he said, Umaga is quick to explain that he was just stating the facts.
“Nah, I don’t know why we would not stand by those when it’s what’s actually happening. So you know what happened from those? And you know, I thought we started well, and maybe because we lost but it still doesn’t detract from the fact that that’s the facts.”
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