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Ex-NRL star one of 11 Moana Pasifika debutants named to play Blues
Fresh off their groundbreaking win over the Hurricanes last weekend, Moana Pasifika have overhauled their team to face the Blues on Tuesday.
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The new expansion franchise picked up their first-ever Super Rugby Pacific victory on Friday, beating the Hurricanes 24-19 in golden point extra-time at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland.
Now the competition newcomers will return to their home ground with a new-look team to host their cross-town rivals in Auckland’s first-ever Super Rugby derby match.
Of those who featured in the starting side that beat the Hurricanes, only one player – Manu Samoa second-five Henry Taefu – has retained his place in the run-on team.
Aside from that, head coach Aaron Mauger has opted for a completely fresh lineup, one that features a whopping 11 debutants, one of whom is a former NRL star.
Moana Pasifika will be captained by veteran Manu Samoa loose forward Jack Lam, who packs down at No 8 and will be supported by vice-captain and halfback Ereatara Enari.
Lam and Enari replace Manu Samoa pair Henry Time-Stowers and Jonathan Taumateine, respectively, in the starting team, with the latter two players rested for Tuesday’s match.
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As a result, Lam is part of an untested back row trio that also features Manu Samoa openside flanker Alamanda Motuga and debutant blindside flanker Penitoa Finau, with the latter two replacing ‘Ikale Tahi duo Sione Tu’ipulotu and Solomone Funaki.
Two further uncapped players, locks Michael Curry and Xavier Cowley-Tuioti, will link up in the second row, replacing Veikoso Poloniati and Manu Samoa representative Sam Slade.
The front row, meanwhile, features another debutant in the form of Abraham Pole, who made his Super Rugby Pacific debut for the Crusaders earlier this year after having been called in as an injury replacement.
Pole, who scored against Moana Pasifika on debut when they faced the Crusaders in round three, will therefore break new ground on Tuesday by playing for two different teams in the same Super Rugby season.
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The loosehead prop takes the place of Ezekiel Lindenmuth and will be joined in the front row by hooker Luteru Tolau and tighthead prop Joe ‘Apikotoa, both of whom replace ‘Ikale Tahi rake Sam Moli and ex-Wallabies star Sekope Kepu, respectively.
In the backline, mercurial youngster Lincoln McClutchie will pair up with provincial teammate Enari in the halves after replacing former Wallabies pivot Christian Leali’ifano.
Outside of McClutchie will be a new midfield combination of Taefu and ‘Ikale Tahi centre Fine Inisi, who replaces the in-form Levi Aumua.
In the back three, Manu Samoa wing Neria Foma’i, Tima Fainga’anuku and William Havili are all replaced a trio of debutants in the form of Anzelo Tuitavuki, Manu Samoa wing Tomasi Alosio and fullback D’Angelo Leuila.
A further four debutants have been named on the bench, including former NRL and Brumbies star Solomone Kata, who dons the No 22 jersey after missing the opening part of the season through injury.
The ‘Ikale Tahi utility back will join props Suetene Asomua and Chris Apoua, as well as ex-Blues and Hurricanes flyer Lolagi Visinia, in making their Moana Pasifika debuts.
Hooker Ray Niuia, lock Alex McRobbie loose forward Josh Kaifa and halfback Manu Paea all keep their places in the reserves from Friday’s win over the Hurricanes.
“This is a great opportunity for our players making their debut to put their hand up. We have a lot of trust in our squad and these men have all been working incredibly hard,” Mauger said in a statement before commenting on the inclusion of Kata.
“Since we have come back from Queenstown, his level of preparation and training intensity has been outstanding, and he is demanding that of those around him. He is in a good space and ready to go.”
Kick-off for Friday’s match is scheduled for 7:05pm.
Moana Pasifika team to play the Blues
1. Abraham Pole
2. Luteru Tolai
3. Joe ‘Apikotoa
4. Michael Curry
5. Xavier Cowley-Tuioti
6. Penitoa Finau
7. Alamanda Motuga
8. Jack Lam (c)
9. Ereatara Enari (vc)
10. Lincoln McClutchie
11. Anzelo Tuitavuki
12. Henry Taefu
13. Fine Inisi
14. Tomasi Alosio
15. D’Angelo Leuila
Reserves
16. Ray Niuia
17. Suetene Asomua
18. Chris Apoua
19. Alex McRobbie
20. Josh Kaifa
21. Manu Paea
22. Solomone Kata
23. Lolagi Visinia
Comments on RugbyPass
Good to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
17 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
7 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
17 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
4 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
4 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
17 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
17 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
4 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
17 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
14 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
17 Go to comments