Maori All Blacks score four tries to defeat Moana Pasifika in historic clash
As the M?ori All Blacks and Moana Pasifika laid down their challenges ahead of their clash in Hamilton, the passion that would be on display was clear to see.
An exhibition match with some of the country’s top talent on display, the match lived up to its billing as the M?ori All Blacks claimed a 28-21 win.
Both teams displayed their strength and speed, with some brilliant passages of running rugby, though for the most part execution was lacking in the more vital areas – as is often the case for teams that have had about a week together.
Moana Pasifika’s lineout was easy pickings for the M?ori All Blacks in the first half, with lock Maanaki Selby-Rickit having plenty of success disrupting the throw, while both sides were having their problems with handling and turnovers at the breakdown.
But despite possession often changing hands, both sides hand their chances to strike. For Moana Pasifika, their first opportunity came just moments after the opening kick-off.
After a short kick-off from first five-eighth Josh Ioane was gathered in by No 8 Pita-Gus Sowakula, jumping high above opposition midfielder Quinn Tupaea to collect it, he was taken to ground and Moana Pasifika were awarded a penalty at the ensuing breakdown. Ioane kicked the penalty goal and ensured a 3-0 lead within a minute.
While it might not have been what the fans expected to see in an exhibition match, Moana Pasifika were content to score in threes when they couldn’t break through, soon taking a 6-0 lead.
The M?ori All Blacks took a different approach, turning down penalties well in kicking range in favour for attacking the tryline through lineout drives.
Veteran flanker Liam Messam almost got the M?ori All Blacks on the board with a charge from close range, but was deemed to have made a second movement to get the ball down. They didn’t have to wait too much longer for their first points, however, with fullback Kaleb Trask cutting straight through the Moana Pasifika defensive line from about 30m out, converting his own try to give his side a 7-6 lead.
But after another Ioane penalty, Moana Pasifika held a slim 9-7 lead at the break.
The first-ever clash between the Maori All Blacks and Moana Pasifika promised fireworks from the kick-off, but the pre-match challenges have set the tone for the match ahead. #MABvMPA #MaoriAllBlacks #MoanaPasifika https://t.co/7h0afipuKq
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 5, 2020
The lead lasted just a couple of minutes after play got back underway, with M?ori All Blacks hooker Ash Dixon scoring a try from a lineout drive. It ended up being the spark the M?ori All Blacks needed, with the attack flourishing in the second half.
Midfielder Billy Proctor scored on the back of a terrific kick-and-collect play from Tupaea, and reserve flanker Mitchell Karpik added another late in the piece.
The two were broken up by a try to Moana Pasifika openside Alamanda Motuga, and a late try to Dwayne Polataivao gave the side a chance of trying to secure a draw, but the M?ori All Blacks held on for a deserved seven-point win.
Maori All Blacks 28 (Tries to Kaleb Trask, Ash Dixon, Billy Proctor and Mitchell Karpik; 4 conversions to Trask)
Moana Pasifika 21 (Tries to Alamanda Motunga and Dwayne Polataivao; conversion and 3 penalties to Josh Ioane)
Comments on RugbyPass
smith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
36 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
36 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
36 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
36 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
36 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
36 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
36 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
36 Go to comments