Moana Pasifika hold off Blues in historic local derby victory

The fourth of five Super Rugby Pacific round 14 matches took place on Saturday night at North Harbour Stadium in Albany, where Moana Pasifika hosted the Blues.

A loud and passionate crowd of over twelve thousand was in attendance for the important matchup, where Moana Pasifika beat the Blues, 27-21.

Moana Pasifika were led brilliantly by their captain Ardie Savea, on a night where Kyren Taumoefolau scored a hat trick in the side’s victory.

Moana Pasifika have now won their third game in a row against a New Zealand side in Super Rugby Pacific for the first time in their history, on the same night that was their first ever victory over the Blues.

It was the home side that had the first break in Albany after Moana Pasifika captain Ardie Savea broke through the line. He offloaded it to Miracle Faiilagi, who put a dangerous kick ahead into the Blues’ 22. The Blues eventually managed to clear it, but it was a promising start for Moana Pasifika.

Savea thought he had scored close to the line, but a TMO check ruled that Savea was short of the line. Moana Pasifika continued to put pressure on the Blues, resulting in a penalty right out in front for the home side. Patrick Pellegrini made no mistake, giving Moana Pasifika a 3-0 lead after just over ten minutes.

The next fifteen minutes of play were played in the middle of the park, before Moana Pasifika didn’t roll away at the breakdown. Beauden Barrett was able to get the Blues into striking distance with his touch finder, where they backed their driving maul.

Blues hooker Ricci Riccitelli was the one at the back of the successful maul that went for 15-20 meters, but after another TMO review, the ball was short.

Referee Angus Gardner ruled that one of the Moana Pasifika players had sacked the maul illegally, giving the Blues a penalty try. Tito Tuipulotu was the unfortunate one, spending the next ten minutes in the sin bin.

The game restarted at 7-3 to the Blues, before Pellegrini was successful from another penalty, closing the gap to only one.

The Blues then hit back almost instantly, after multiple pick and go’s threatened the Moana Pasifika line. Patrick Tuipulotu got the ball close to the line, and was too big, too strong, scoring under the posts. Barrett added the extras from out in front, extending the Blues’ lead to 14-6.

In the dying moments of the first half, Moana Pasifika was able to dot down in the corner, off the back of some solid backline momentum. Pellegrini fired a pass to Julian Savea, who smartly passed it to Kyren Taumoefolau to score in the corner. Pellegrini’s conversion from the sideline went wide.

HT: 14-11 to the Blues.

A strong Moana Pasifika scrum on the Blues’ 22 was rewarded by the referee, giving the home side an opportunity from the lineout. The Blues were then caught infringing another two times close to the line, as Moana Pasifika decided the three points from out in front was the best option. Pellegrini added the three points, levelling the scores at 14-14 early in the second half.

Moana Pasifika continued to pile the pressure onto the Blues, deciding to take the three points after the Blues were penalised once again. Pellegrini once again was successful, putting Moana Pasifika into the lead, 17-14.

Millennium Sanerivi found his way over the line after a Lalomilo Lalomilo line break, only for it to be pulled back as the TMO ruled Lalomilo stepped out in the buildup.

Moana Pasifika was finally able to get the try they deserved, as an inch perfect Pellegrini cross kick was batted back by Tevita Ofa, falling into the hands of Taumoefolau to score his second of the evening. Pellegrini couldn’t convert from the sideline, maintaining the home side’s lead at eight, 22-14.

Sanerivi was penalised for a high shot on replacement Blues loose forward Anton Segner, resulting in a yellow card for Moana Pasifika’s hooker.

Another fantastic line break from Ardie Savea put Moana Pasifika in good position, before Taumoefolau put a beautiful kick in for himself, sliding in and scoring in the corner, completing his hat trick. The winger’s try extended the home side’s lead to thirteen with under fifteen minutes to go.

The Blues then hit back with just under ten minutes to go, with Hoskins Sotutu running a great line on the back of a crisp pass from Finlay Christie. Barrett added the extras, putting the Blues within a try’s reach of Moana Pasifika.

The Blues were given a lifeline close to the final whistle, before it was that man again, Ardie Savea, winning the turnover and giving Moana Pasifika a historic victory.

FT: 27-21 to Moana Pasifika.

The Blues now have a week off, before taking on the NSW Waratahs at Eden Park in the final regular season round.

Moana Pasifika will travel to Hamilton next week to play the Chiefs at FMG Stadium Waikato.