Highlanders outlast Moana Pasifika in historic Tonga contest
It was a powerful moment when the teams took the field in Tonga, under pouring rain with a festive crowd full of voice, they lined up to lay their respective challenges.
The emotion of the occasion could be seen on the face of the Moana team and also the likes of Folou Fakatava and Saula Ma’u of the Highlanders, both men born and raised in Tonga.
The weather inevitably made it difficult to play running rugby but that didn’t stop either team from playing with some ambition. In the end, the Highlanders player to the conditions a little better and triumphed for it.
Play stopped shortly into the contest as Jonathan Taumateine was helped from the field after a heavy collision with Timoci Tavatavanawai.
The opening scrum of the game was won in dominant fashion by the home team, who went on to also dominate the collision area with the ball in hand.
Tongan-born prop Abraham Pole followed up on that effort with a powerful leg drive to get over the line, with Moana benefitting from a powerful carry from Lotu Inisi among others.
The ensuing kickoff was dropped by Ere Enari, leading to a Highlanders scrum deep in Moana’s 22. The visitors went to their big boys for some strong carries before unleashing a wide attack which was finished by Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens.
Handling was tough in the sodden conditions and both sides were eager to play in the right end of the field.
Another strong scrum from Moana gave William Havili another shot at the posts, which the fullback converted and to make the score 10-5 in his team’s favour.
An indiscretion when contesting the lineout cost Moana field position soon after play resumed, and it didn’t take long for the Highlanders to find an overlap down the blindside, with Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens drawing and passing to set Connor Garden-Bachop over the line. A superb conversion from the sideline by Cam Millar handed the Highlanders the lead.
The Inisi brothers were next to spark some magic, with Fine taking the offload from Havili as the fullback was been driven backwards, with the winger making up that lost ground in an instant before finding No. 8 Lotu who put a kick ahead for his team to chase and regather.
It was Havili moments later who found a gap big enough for him to squeeze through and just reach the line. Converting his own try saw Havili make the lead five for his team a few minutes shy of the half-hour mark.
Highlanders lock Mitch Dunshea was causing havoc for the Moana Pasifika lineout, helping make up for the scrum troubles.
Another knock-on from Moana handed the Highlanders a scrum in a promising attacking position. The visitors opted for a cross-field kick on the play and Garden-Bachop again connected with Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, this time setting the fullback up to finish his second try of the game by winning the race to another chip and chase.
The score would remain 17-19 at halftime thanks to a second breakdown steal by Timoci Tavatavanawai putting an end to another energetic Moana attack.
An offside call five minutes into the second half handed the Highlanders a chance to extend their lead to five.
The Moana scrum continued to prove too strong even after some replacements took the field for the Highlanders.
Cam Millar’s tactical kicking game also continued to impress, with perfectly weighted short kicks landing in range of his chasers and sparking dangerous attacks.
The Highlanders set up camp in Moana’s half for much of the third quarter of the contest, with multiple driving maul attempts being defused – legally and illegally – by Moana before the visitors finally opted to realize their gain by taking a penalty shot. That saw the hour mark roll around with a scoreline of 17-25 to the Highlanders.
With the game in the balance, three key handling errors from Moana Pasifika relieved any pressure the team were able to apply, the last of which led to a Highlanders try which was disallowed for a knock-on by the visitors.
Moana Pasifika were running out of time and needed two scores to make up their 11-point deficit, but the Highlanders’ defence and game management proved composed and efficient, seeing them close out the game for a 28-17 win.
Comments on RugbyPass
I’ve put on 4/5 kilos since the beginning of the season too. Not good kilos. Bad kilos.
1 Go to commentsSurely there’s a ‘no knobheads’ policy ?
2 Go to commentsWallaroos have no chance of beating the Black Ferns unless Canada upsets them in Christchurch tomorrow but I doubt that as well!
1 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Could the victim do a course to reverse the long term CTE damage from the cheapshot?
2 Go to commentsTruely great player. In social media and opinion pieces he was held up and flogged for the results. People wanted someone to crucify, and he was the captain. He was still an immense presence respected by his peers. His battles with Siya Kolisi belong up with with Collins vs Burger in my opinion. Unlucky to be carded in the final, but I don’t agree that his red card was the defining moment. Not when you look at the dominant performances of the Springboks (PSDT in particular.) I think Cane should be remembered for the spirit and physicality that is special to test rugby.
12 Go to commentsSam was the man until he got injured .
12 Go to comments_Crusaders versus Leinster _at the moment might be a rout! But I would like to see the Blues play Toulouse, the Hurricanes front up against Stade Francais, and the Chiefs go against Toulon.
157 Go to commentsLove it when we overlap! Promise it was not forethought.
18 Go to commentsjfc can this guy plz stay out of the news for one week
2 Go to commentsIf stormers aren’t available. Based on form and likely availability at the time of the wales Test, you’d think Masuku would be a no-brainer to start. But starting Jordan also makes sense having Masuku come off the bench to close out the game.
2 Go to commentsGlad Tom Curry not playing needs time to recover such a great player also his brother Ben how well is he playing now .
1 Go to commentsLet’s examine what might be irking the brainless E: Up until 20 years before this coming Julys tests: 16 games: 14 wins for SA; 1 win for Ire; 1 draw From 20 years until July’ tests Ireland V SA: 13 matches Ireland won 8; SA won 4; 1 draw Points scored Ireland 261; SA 189 Ave Winning Margin: Ireland 11 points; SA 4 points (away 3, home 6) Away win record: Ireland 33.33%; SA 25% Neutral matches 1: Ireland win RWC France 2023. Last SA win June 2016 (8 years ago) They boast 3 World cups in that period (they do boast). The above record is not good, probably not much better than theirs against NZ for same period. That’s why the dopey E is starting fights in his head. He will probably ship a yellow when things don’t go their way in the first test.
127 Go to commentsGoode is like a wet fart on The Rugby Pod and should be shoved aside. Jim knows what he is on about and can get on better without Goode’s nasty little cheap shots.
127 Go to commentsBrumbies will win, crusaders are pretty awful this year
1 Go to commentsThis has the makings of a good match. That’s Leinster’s second team but its a good one (stronger than the teams in SA recently). Ulster are really turning a page. Ryan back is huge, and Keenan too. This could be a cracker.
1 Go to commentsThe Farrells are one of the great father and son combinations. Andy was an RL great, and had he played Union as his first sport, I would be sure he would have been avery significant forcewas in League. And Owen, a Union great, who had he played League, would could have been a great there too i all probability. I feel my attitude to Owen has mellowed as he has aged, and in the post Jones era, evolved and shown his full range of talents. He really is an all round player, and I have wold hope his move to France will be successful. He may even be the piece in the jigsaw that Racing need to rise to challenge Toulouse and LAR. He is ofc now approaching 33 years of age but should still have enough left to make a big contribution in France for at least2/3 years.
45 Go to commentsI reckon it may be Jordan at 10 and Nohamba at 9, both players have played together alot and both have been on the Radar for a long time. After Pollard got injured in 2022 with Elton sidelined on a path of self destruction Erasmus and Nienaber indicated that the other options in the country at the time were thin but that Jordan and Manie were the 2 they were looking at. In the end Frans steyn played flyhalf, Willemse slotted in there on the end of year with Libbok as back up. Jordan was right there in the thinking back then so expect him to take the Jersey either as the starter.
2 Go to commentsHaha did he also* say it in a sarcastic teacher sort of manor or was it the petulant English snob sort of wail?
45 Go to commentsWell said Mils. It is a big boost at last having Fergus Burke back at 10 for the Crusaders. Had a great season last year as the article says. Mils is also right about captain Codie Taylor’s performance in his return to the Crusaders last week. He was all class.
4 Go to commentsLet’s make them both Capt. I think we'd get the best of both of them and it would help alleviate some of the pressures of the role. They'd have to confer over on field decisions which should lead to “ learnings “ for both. They are our two best consistent performers.
16 Go to comments