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'He belongs at Super Rugby level': Young Crusaders hooker shines in front row injury crisis

Ioane Moananu of the Crusaders charges forward during the round one Super Rugby Pacific match between Crusaders and Hurricanes at Apollo Projects Stadium, on February 14, 2025, in Christchurch, New Zealand. (Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)

There wasn’t much to smile about for Rob Penney in round two of the Super Rugby Pacific competition, as his team was completely dismantled in the second half by the Chiefs in Hamilton.

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Despite their severe front-row injury crisis, Penney has had young 24-year-old hooker Ioane Moananu step up to the plate after George Bell picked up a serious injury in his foot.

The small fracture in Bell’s foot will keep him out for the whole Super Rugby Pacific campaign, giving more opportunities to Moananu and New Zealand U20 player Manumaua Letiu.

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Moananu made his debut for the Crusaders in 2023 against the Fijian Drua in Lautoka, scoring a try on debut in a historic victory for the Drua.

Moananu has impressed in the first two games of the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific campaign, getting two starts for the Crusaders and playing over 70 minutes against both the Hurricanes and the Chiefs.

Penney admits that it’s been a long road for the 24-year-old, but he’s proud of the way Moananu has worked at his game.

“He’s been working away in the last couple of years in the wider training group, and hasn’t had a lot of access,” Penney said to media after the game at FMG Stadium Waikato.

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“Now all of a sudden, he’s started. Played brilliant last week for us against the Hurricanes and played well again tonight.”

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Penney says that the way in which Moananu has been able to take his chance in the No.2 jersey, is a massive credit to the young hooker.

“It’s just amazing, it’s great credit to him.

“He (Moananu) belongs at Super level, and he’s earned the right to wear that jersey for the Crusaders.”

Moananu made six carries and eight tackles against the Chiefs on Friday night, backing up his standout performance last week where he made 11 tackles and eight carries.

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Match Summary

2
Penalty Goals
1
7
Tries
3
4
Conversions
3
0
Drop Goals
0
128
Carries
146
10
Line Breaks
7
14
Turnovers Lost
17
7
Turnovers Won
6

Penney doesn’t think that the Crusaders will get some players back from injury during the bye period, but won’t be sure of that until later on in bye week.

“Don’t think so for the Reds, maybe the week after for the Western Force, or maybe the next.”

The Crusaders are one win and one loss from two games, leading into the bye this weekend in round three, before taking on the Reds at home in round four.

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Comments

2 Comments
G
GP 31 days ago

Good on Ioane Moananu . He has had to bide his time at the Crusaders. Played great rugby for his province Counties-Manakau.He has been outstanding at hooker for the Crusaders in the first 2 games. Mananuau Letiu has done a great job coming off the bench. He is fresh out of CHCH Boys High and has not yet played for Canterbury.

C
Cantab 30 days ago

It seems the Crusaders are going to have 4 quality hookers once their perennial injury problems resolve

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reginaldgarcia 1 hour ago
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JW 2 hours ago
Kyren Taumoefolau All Blacks stance splits opinions on eligibility

MP are a NZ side through and through, NZ is even having to pay for it.

Yes they caved to public demand, I bet it accomplished a lot of internal goals. They could have left it to the other groups, but I’m of the belief that they weren’t showing the capability to make it work as being a good reason for NZR to jump in and do it. I think it’s actually funded 50/50 between NZR and WR though.

(when nothing was stopping a pi player playing for any side in Super Rugby)

Neither is that fact true. Only 3 non NZ players are allowed in each squad.


I see you also need to learn what the term poach means - take or acquire in an unfair or clandestine way. - Moana have more slots for non eligible players (and you have seen many return to an NZ franchise) so players are largely making their own choice without any outside coercion ala Julian Savea.

Not one of these Kiwis and Aussies would go live in the Islands to satisfy any criteria, and I’d say most of them have hardly ever set foot in the islands, outside of a holiday.

Another inaccurate statement. Take Mo’unga’s nephew Armstrong-Ravula, if he is not eligible via ancestry in a couple of generations time, he will be eligible because he plays his rugby there (even if he’s only their for rugby and not living there), that is a recent change made by World Rugby to better reflect examples like Fabian Holland and Fakatava.

It’s becoming the jump-ship/zero loyalty joke that international League is.

Look I understand you’re reason to cry and make an example at any opportunity, but you don’t really need to anymore, other recent changes made by WR are basically going to stop the Ireland situation, and time (perhaps no more than a decade) will fix the rest.

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