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'He wasn't even in the 23': Backline merchants impressing for Moana Pasifika
Moana Pasifika came within a hair’s breadth of scoring a second Super Rugby Pacific victory on Saturday night when they were narrowly defeated by the Waratahs at Mt Smart Stadium.
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Despite building a 17-0 lead to kick-start the match, Moana Pasifika weren’t able to deal the fell blow and the Waratahs fought their way into the match, eventually triumphing 26-20.
While Aaron Mauger was unsurprisingly disappointed with the end result, the Moana Pasifika head coach was impressed with the general quality of play his team delivered on the afternoon and two of the best performers in the match were backs Levi Aumua and Will Havili.
Aumua – who has previously played for the Chiefs and Blues in the past – has been a key contributor for Moana Pasifika throughout the season and has been a reliable generator of go-forward ball for the new Super Rugby Pacific franchise.
In Saturday’s clash, Aumua finished the match 34 crucial metres to his name as well as three beaten defenders. Importantly, it was Aumua who crashed over from close range to keep the score ticking over early in the second quarter and take Moana Pasifika out to a 14-point lead.
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Mauger was pleased with Aumua’s efforts on the day but also credited the work of the centre’s teammates, who have become accustomed to setting up a platform from which Aumua can do the most damage.
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“He’s obviously a strong guy,” Mauger said of Aumua following the game. “He’s a guy we look to to get us over the gain line, especially from our strikes and he’s doing a good job.
“But he’s well supported by the guys around him. There’s people creating those one-on-ones for him, putting him in the space. We’re a team and he’s benefitting from all the good work going on around him.”
While Aumua came into the season with a bit of a reputation thanks to his performances for Tasman in the NPC over the past few years, another Mako in the squad, Havili, hasn’t had quite the same level of experience to call upon this year.
23-year-old Havili – the younger brother of All Black David – has been a relatively constant selection in the fullback jersey for Moana Pasifika this year, despite having mustered just five appearances for Tasman in two seasons with the province.
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It was fair to say that Havili looked somewhat out of his depth at the beginning of the season and struggled with the pace and intensity of Super Rugby. Although he certainly wasn’t the only player to make unforced errors at inopportune times, he was perhaps the biggest culprit in the Pacific Islanders’ ranks.
But with time in the saddle, Havili has grown into one of Moana Pasifika’s most consistent performers. 50/22 kicks have become a crucial part of the young outside back’s repertoire while his short passing game has been useful for exploiting gaps in opposition defences.
Having mustered six starts for Moana Pasifika before Saturday’s skirmish, Havili was originally given the week off and wasn’t set to feature against the Waratahs – but he ended up being one of the franchise’s best performers on the day.
“He’s been really impressive,” Mauger said of Havili’s performances to date. “Obviously he wasn’t down to start, he wasn’t even in the 23 for the game. He found out that he was going to be on the bench yesterday and then we had another withdrawal this morning so Willy stepped up and I thought he actually played his best game today, Willy.
“He’s striking the ball really well. We dominated the territory battle tonight and he was a big part of that. We’re really pleased.
“He’s a really engaged learner. He hasn’t played a lot of NPC rugby. He’s actually stepped up into this level and I thought he was really dominant, we’re really pleased for him.”
Despite fierce competition in the backs from the likes of Solomone Kata, Danny Toala and Lolagi Visinia, Aumu and Havili have likely entrenched themselves as some of the first names on Mauger’s teamsheet at the start of each week.
Moana Pasifika are next set to take on the Fijian Drua in Sydney next Saturday afternoon. At present, both sides are chasing a second victory.
Comments on RugbyPass
I’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
7 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
72 Go to commentsPot Kettle, the English and French teams have done it for years.
19 Go to commentsHas virtually played every minute of previous games. Back row of Li Lo Willie , Grace and Blackadder would be the 1. Crusaders issue is a very average 1st 5 who cannot run. Kicking in general play is also below par They need to put Yong Kemara in. He must have so.e talent for them to bring him down from Waikato. Hoehepa would struggle to play in so.e club sided
7 Go to commentsI hope this a good thing making all these changes!
2 Go to commentsThe Hurricanes are good, especially with a decent coach now. However, let’s be real, the Crusaders and Chiefs are clearly a good degree weaker without the players they’ve lost overseas now. The Canes lost one player. It’s also why the aussie teams ‘seem’ to be stronger.
9 Go to commentsOr you could develop your own players instead of constantly taking from the SH competition and weakening it in the process? With all the player and financial resources these unions have compared to SH countries you’d think they could manage that, or is weakening the SH comps and their national sides an added bonus? Probably.
3 Go to commentsNot so fast Aaron, we might need you in black yet lol. God knows he’d be a lot less nerve-racking than hot and (very) cold players like Perofeta. It’s really a shame Reuben Love isn’t playing 10, we’ve got enough 15 options.
4 Go to commentsAnd those from the NH still seem to be puzzled (and delighted) why NZ’s depth isn’t what it once was. Over 600 NZ players overseas, that’s insane. This sort of deal is why Super Rugby coaches have admitted they struggle now to find enough quality to fill out their squads.
6 Go to commentsArticle intéressant ! La question devrait régulièrement se poser pour les jeunes français originaires de Nouvelle-Calédonie, Wallis-et-Futuna et de Polynésie entre la Nouvelle-Zélande et la Métropole… Difficile pour la fédération française de rugby de se positionner : soit le choix est fait de dénicher les jeunes talents et de les faire venir très tôt en Métropole, au risque de les déraciner, soit on prend le risque de se les faire “piller” par les All Blacks qui, telle une araignée, essaye de récupérer tous les talents des îles du Pacifique… À la France de se défendre en développant l’aura du XV de France et des clubs français dans ses collectivités d’Outre-mer !
3 Go to commentsWrong bay. He needs to come to the REAL BAY which is Bay Of Plenty and have a crack at making the Chiefs.
3 Go to commentsIs Barrett going play full back??? They already have all the centers…
15 Go to commentsForgive my ignorance, I might not fully understand so would appreciate clarification: Didn’t the Bulls have to fly with three different carriers, paid for by the South African Rugby Union, whilst Edinburgh got a chartered flight sponsored by EPCR? Also, as far as I understand it South African teams don’t yet share in the revenue from the competition and are not allowed to host Semi-finals or Finals at home. Surely if everyone wants South Africans to “take the competition seriously” then they must make South Africans feel welcome, allow them to share in the revenue, and give them the same levels of access as the teams from the other countries. Just a reminder that South Africa has a large and passionate Rugby audience. Just by virtue of our teams being a part of these competitions means that more of us are likely to watch the knockout games, even if our teams haven’t qualified. It would be silly to alienate such a large audience by making them feel unwelcome.
19 Go to commentsFirst of all. This guy is very much behind the curve. All the bleating, whingeing, whining and moaning took place days ago already. Not adding anything to the topic other than more bleating, whingeing, whining and moaning. 🍼 Second of all, not one mention of the fact that South African teams can’t get home semi finals or finals. The tournament was undermined and devalued by the administrators. 🤡 Thirdly, football teams often have to juggle selections in mid week games, premier games, champions league games etc. and will from time to time prioritize certain titles over others. 🐒 And lastly FEK Neil, and anyone else for that matter, for insisting on telling teams how to manage themselves. If they make what is largely a business decision that suits them and doesn’t suit you - tough shite. 💩 It’s not rocket science as to why the Bulls did what they did. If this guy is too slow to figure it out (and is deliberately not mentioning one of the key reasons why) then he isn’t a journalist. He should join the rest of us pundit plebs in comments section. 🥴
19 Go to commentsSo the first door to knock on Rob is Parliament followed by HMRC. The Irish Revenue deliver a 40% tax relief rebate on the HIGHEST EARNING TEN YEARS of every pro Irish rugby players contract earnings at retirement. That goes a long way to both retaining their best talent and freeing up wages for marquee players. Who knows, if that had been in place in the UK, you might not have been able to poach Hoggy and Jonny Gray from Glasgow…!!!
3 Go to comments1. True, if that “free” ticket means access to all but the prized exhibit - EVIP only. SA cannot host semis, even if they’ve earned it (see Sharks vs ASM Clermont Auvergne at… Twickenham Stoop). 2. Why no selective outrage over Lyon doing the exact same thing a week earlier? Out of all the countries France send the most “B teams”, why nobody talking about “disrespect” and “prioritising domestic leagues” and “kicking them out”? 3. Why no mention of the Sharks fielding all of their Springboks for the second rate Challenge cup QF? No commitment? 4. Why no mention of all the SA teams qualifying for respective euro knock out comps in the two seasons they’ve been in it? How many euro teams have qualified for KO’s in their history? Can’t compete? 5. Why no mention of SA teams beating French and English giants La Rochelle and Saracens? How many euro teams have done that in their history? Add no quality? The fact is that SA teams are only in their second season in europe, with no status and a fraction of the resources. Since joining the URC, SA has seen a repatriation of a number of players, and this will only grow once SA start sharing in the profits of competing in these comps, meaning bigger squads with greater depth and quality, meaning they don’t have to prioritise comps as they have to now - they don’t have imports from Pacifica and South America and everywhere else in between like “European” teams have - also less “Saffas” in Prem and T14, that’s what we want right? 'If the South Africans are in, they need to be all in' True, and we have to ensure we give them the same status and resources as we give everyone else to do just that. A small compromise on scheduling will go a long way in avoiding these situations, but guess what, France and England wont compromise on scheduling because they ironically… prioritise their domestic comps, go figure!
19 Go to commentsthe success of the premiership can be summarized by : only 10 teams. It makes a huge difference with the overcrowded top 14 (let us not talk about Leinster and URC…)
2 Go to commentsGood for him. The ABs were fooling around again with converted fullbacks that had a penetration of a marshmallow. Laumape or as Aki has shown for Ireland, go forward is important in the centres. If it had been DMac - Aki- Aumua - Ioane- Telea- Jordan in France the final result would have been different.
4 Go to commentsDan Carter a apporté son professionnalisme, des méthodes de travail, un esprit qui manquaient à l’USAP. Son influence, même une fois blessé a été énorme. Et pour citer une anecdote, certains soirs il venait de lui-même à l’entraînement des jeunes pour dispenser ses conseils. On ne peut pas compter ce qu’il a apporté au club en heures de jeu sur le terrain. Est-ce que le club en a eu pour son argent ? Avec la publicité sur son nom et le titre, je suppose que oui.
1 Go to commentsThe SA sides are suffering from a bum rap here. There isn’t a side anywhere in the world that would do things differently in their shoes. They’ve been set up to fail in the EPCR comps by vested interests, with last minute intercontinental travel requirements that costs an arm and a leg to book in advance just on the possibility they might be required. And the total nonsense that denies any chance of home venues is entirely biased and absolutely unsporting. Either EPCR, the Top14 & the Gallagher Premiership get it sorted on a fair and equitable sporting basis for ALL participants or expect the ridicule to continue. Right now, these comps are a joke!
19 Go to comments