'It's got success written all over it': Calls grow for rugby's 'State of Origin-style' clash to be made an annual event
As anticipation grows for the maiden clash between Moana Pasifika and the Maori All Blacks next week, players and pundits have called for the one-off match to become an annual fixture on the New Zealand Rugby [NZR] calendar.
The first-ever Moana Pasifika squad was unveiled for next Saturday’s match against the Maori All Blacks by head coach Tana Umaga on Tuesday, with the 26-man side boasting a plethora of talent across the board.
One-cap All Blacks first-five Josh Ioane headlines the squad which also features Samoan internationals Michael Alaalatoa, Alamanda Motunga, Jordan Lay and Dwayne Polataivao, Tongan representatives Nasi Manu, Fetuli Paea and Zane Kapeli, as well as Flying Fijians star Asaeli Tikoroituma.
A host of standouts from New Zealand’s Mitre 10 Cup, such as Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, Folau Fakatava, Leicester Fainga’anuku and All Blacks Sevens duo Salesi Rayasi and Etene Nanai-Seturo, have also been included.
While those named in the squad will only be involved for this one-off encounter, excitement is brimming within New Zealand and Pacific rugby circles over the future of Moana Pasifika, with the team set to join Super Rugby in 2022.
Despite the franchise’s expected involvement in the new-look competition featuring the fives sides each from New Zealand and Australia, as well as a Fijian team, there remains an eagerness for Moana Pasifika to face the Maori All Blacks on a yearly basis.
Speaking on the Aotearoa Rugby Pod, host Ross Karl proposed the concept to panellists James Parsons and Bryn Hall.
“This looks like a game, to me, that should become a yearly thing,” Karl told the Blues hooker and Crusaders halfback.
“It’s got success written all over it. A State of Origin-style, maybe not a three-game [series], but once a year we have this game, because that game is so appealing. It’s a cracker.”
Hall, a five-cap Maori All Black who could be named in Clayton McMillan’s squad for the upcoming match later on Tuesday, agreed with Karl’s sentiments, highlighting the need for NZR to give back to the Pacific community.
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The *first ever* Moana Pasifika has been namedhttps://t.co/DF7lk4t8Lw
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“Moana Pasifika have given so much to New Zealand Rugby, not just at that level, but at Super Rugby, Mitre 10 Cup and even at international level,” Hall said.
“The Pacific Islanders have given so much to New Zealand Rugby, so to make it a regular fixture where they can be rewarded in New Zealand and play in New Zealand, I think it’s going to be great.”
Parsons went a step further, floating the possibility of a ‘mini Tri-Nations’ series between the Maori All Blacks, Moana Pasifika and the New Zealand Barbarians.
A former member of the New Zealand Barbarians side, the two-test All Black was confident New Zealand’s talent pool is deep enough to make a three-team series an entertaining spectacle.
“We played the Maori from the New Zealand Baabaas point of view a few years ago and that meant a lot to us to represent the New Zealand Baabaas,” Parsons told the Aotearoa Rugby Pod.
“We hear a lot about the world [UK] Baabaas, but you could add a third team into the mix and have the New Zealand Baabaas and have a little mini Tri-Nations.
“I think we’ve got enough talent to create a third team that would really have something worthwhile watching going into next year and beyond.”
How a ‘mini Tri-Nations’ tournament would squeeze into the NZR landscape remains to be seen, especially with hopes of the historic North vs South match becoming an annual event, or even a yearly three-match series, already proving difficult to fulfil.
Moana Pasifika’s imminent transition from a representative, exhibition team to a professional Super Rugby franchise adds complexity to the scenario, but the July test window might act as a suitable playing period should such a series come to fruition.
Karl suggested matches between Moana Pasifika and the Maori All Blacks could take place at the end of each Mitre 10 Cup season, as is the case this year.
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He also added the contest may give the All Blacks selectors extra food for thought.
“It’s a nice stepping stone, isn’t it? You can get a slightly higher level than Mitre 10 Cup, a bit of action at the end of the Cup every year for some players who really would benefit from that, looking ahead to the following seasons.
“Guys like Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, who was sensational for the Highlanders this year, but there’s Hoskins Sotutu and all these guys in front of him. This kind of play could help a guy like that.”
Hall doubled down on those comments, noting that a match with that much talent would almost be of test match quality.
“Because we’ve just got such good stocks in this country, that one test – pretty much a test match, if you think about it – it’s an opportunity for the All Blacks selectors to see at that kind of level, ‘Oh, actually he played really well up to that level’,” he said.
“So, again, this is a great opportunity for a lot of men who will want to stamp their mark coming to higher honours.”
The Moana Pasifika match against the Maori All Blacks is set to take place on December 5 at FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton, with kick-off scheduled for 7:05pm NZT.
Listen to the latest episode of the Aotearoa Rugby Pod below:
Comments on RugbyPass
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to comments