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Moana Pasifika make nine changes to starting team for Hurricanes rematch

(Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images)

Moana Pasifika have made nine changes to their starting team as they eye back-to-back Super Rugby Pacific victories over the Hurricanes in Wellington on Tuesday.

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The new expansion franchise will return to action just four days after their 37-17 defeat to the Highlanders in Dunedin on Friday as they make up for lost ground following the rescheduling of this fixture due to Covid outbreaks earlier in the season.

With such a tight turnaround, head coach Aaron Mauger has made numerous alterations to his last-placed side as he utilises the full depth of his playing squad.

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As such, nine new players will line up for Moana Pasifika in the Kiwi capital, with former Wallabies playmaker Christian Leali’ifano named to captain the side for the first time with regular skipper Sekope Kepu unavailable through injury.

Leali’ifano, one of six players retained in the starting team from the weekend’s loss, will be accompanied by two new vice-captains in the form of Manu Samoa duo Alamanda Motuga and Jonathan Taumateine, who replaces Ereatara Enari at halfback.

The mid-week clash will be a homecoming of sorts for Taumateine, who was part of the Hurricanes set-up for two seasons before joining Moana Pasifika this year.

Together, he and Leali’ifano will direct a backline that features an unchanged midfield combination of Danny Toala, another ex-Hurricane who scored Moana Pasifika’s decisive try in their extra-time win against his old team last month, and Levi Aumua.

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Tima Fainga’anuku has also kept his place on the right wing, but will form one third of a new outside back trio that includes former Hurricanes and Blues speedster Lolagi Visinia and Manu Samoa flyer Neria Foma’i.

Up front, Joe ‘Apikotoa acts as Kepu’s replacement at tighthead prop, while Tongan international Sam Moli replaces the injured Luteru Tolai at hooker.

The front row is rounded out by loosehead prop Abraham Pole, who takes the place of the benched Ezekiel Lindenmuth.

Manu Samoa lock Sam Slade remains in the second row, where he is partnered up with Mahonri Ngakuru, while Motuga is joined in the loose forwards by blindside flanker Alex McRobbie and Manu Samoa No 8 Henry Time-Stowers.

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Lindenmuth is one of seven new faces in the reserves, with young first-five Lincoln McClutchie the only players who has kept his place on the bench from the Highlanders match.

Manu Samoa duo Ray Niuia and Henry Taefu, as well as Hong Kong prop Taukiha’amea Koloamatangi, are all included on the pine, as is lock Michael Curry, loose forward Penitoa Finau and halfback Manu Paea.

In addition to Kepu and Tolai, various other players – ‘Ikale Tahi internationals Don Lolo and Lotu Inisi, prop Isi Tu’ungafasi, Manu Samoa loose forward Jack Lam and lock Mike McKee – were all unavailable for selection because of injury.

Kick-off for Tuesday’s match is scheduled for 7:05pm NZT.

Moana Pasifika team to play Hurricanes

1. Abraham Pole
2. Sam Moli
3. Joe ‘Apikotoa
4. Mahonri Ngakuru
5. Sam Slade
6. Alex McRobbie
7. Alamanda Motuga (vc)
8. Henry Time-Stowers
9. Jonathan Taumateine (vc)
10. Christian Leali’ifano (c)
11. Neria Foma’i
12. Danny Toala
13. Levi Aumua
14. Tima Fainga’anuku
15. Lolagi Visinia

Reserves

16. Ray Niuia
17. Ezekiel Lindenmuth
18. Taukiha’amea Koloamatangi
19. Michael Curry
20. Penitoa Finau
21. Manu Paea
22. Lincoln McClutchie
23. Henry Taefu

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J
JW 1 hour ago
Crusaders outlast fast starting Blues to reach another Super Rugby final

Yeah nar, but that’s kinda the thing, I don’t think the old approach was working either!


You might have it right though, leading up, in all rugby/competitions mean, to the last WC it did feel like there had been better discipline/less than the normal amount of cards. Well, at least a certain demographic of teams improved at least, but not so much NZ ones is my point.


I bet you also think going harsher would be the best way to go reducing head contact and the frequency of concussions?


I would hate to have your theory tested as it requires subjective thinking from the officials but..

AI Overview

In Super Rugby Pacific, a red card means the player is sent off for the rest of the match, but with a 20-minute red card, the team can replace the player after 20 minutes of playing with 14 men. If the foul play is deemed deliberate and with a high degree of danger, a full red card is issued, and the player cannot be replaced. A second yellow card also results in a 20-minute red card with a replacement allowed. 

is there to stop that from happening. The whole subjective thing is why we have 20min cards, and I worry that the same leniency that stopped them from red carding a player who ran 30 meters and still didn’t get his head low enough would stop them straight redn them too.


Back to the real topic though, right after that WC we saw those same angles getting red carded all over the show. So do some players actually have control over their actions enough to avoid head collisions (and didn’t gaf after the WC?), or was it pure luck or an imaginary period of good discipline?


So without a crystal ball to know the truth of it I think you’ll find it an immeasurably better product with 20m red cards, there just does not appear to be any appropriate amount of discipline added to the back end, the suspensions (likely controlled by WR), yet.

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