Moana Pasifika name 'strongest team available' for Highlanders clash
Moana Pasifika head coach Aaron Mauger has named “the strongest team available” for his side’s Super Rugby Pacific clash against the Highlanders in Dunedin on Friday.
The bottom-of-the-table encounter comes after Moana Pasifika were forced to weather yet another Covid storm as they played back-to-back matches against the Blues in the space of four days last week.
During that time, the new expansion franchise were without numerous players, as well as Mauger and assistant coach Filo Tiatia, due to Covid protocols, which led to consecutive defeats against their cross-town rivals.
However, Mauger is eager to bounce back from those losses by notching a win against the only winless team in the competition.
“They’ve been playing some really good rugby,” Mauger said of the Highlanders, the team he coached for three seasons before being released by the franchise in 2020, on Wednesday.
“I thought their performance against the Crusaders was really strong. Their set piece has been firing all year. They’ve been really strong in that area, put a lot of pressure on opposition ball.
“The Highlanders, they’re a good team. They played tough, they played tight, and we’re seeing all those things. Just things haven’t quite gone their way to get the results, and they’ll be hungry Friday night. We’re aware of that, but we’re hungry as well.”
In order to satisfy his side’s hunger, Mauger has made seven changes to the starting Moana Pasifika lineup that were beaten 46-16 by the Blues at Eden Park last Saturday.
First-choice midfielders Danny Toala and Levi Aumua are reinstated into the backline at the expense of Solomone Kata and Nigel Ah Wong, while Tomasi Alosio’s concussion protocols have allowed Tima Fainga’anuku to start on the right wing.
In the pack, ex-Blues hooker Luteru Tolai replaces Tongan international Sam Moli at No 2, while lock Sam Slade fills in for Alex McRobbie in the second row.
A rejig in the loose forwards sees ‘Ikale Tahi flanker Solomone Funaki move from openside to blindside in place of international teammate Sione Tu’ipulotu, with Manu Samoa representative Alamanda Motuga coming into the No 7 jersey.
The only other change in the starting team comes at No 8, where Samoan international Henry Time-Stowers is replaced by Penitoa Finau.
Moli and Tu’ipulotu have dropped to the bench, where they are two of three new faces alongside Manu Samoa halfback Jonathan Taumateine, who returns to the match day side in place of Dwayne Polataivao.
Mauger believes the side he has picked to face the Highlanders is the best possible team he could have rolled out against the Dunedin-based franchise as they look for their second-ever win after stunning the Hurricanes a fortnight ago.
“We’ve picked the best team, the strongest team, available to us this week,” Mauger said.
“We believe that we can go and compete with any team in this competition when we get it right. What we are learning is we haven’t quite got it right for long enough periods so far.
“Even the Hurricanes game, which was just an outstanding occasion for us, it could have gone either way, so for us to be serious about getting more outcomes, it’s about being more consistent throughout the 80 minutes.
“If we were to look at our last performance, it’s good that our boys were disappointed. They were gutted with the performance because we didn’t offer our best against the Blues.
“We weren’t patient enough, we weren’t disciplined enough around executing our game – the little things, the basics within our game – for longer periods, but we know that when we do that for long periods, we can put anybody under pressure and ultimately come away with the outcome.
“That’s the challenge and that’s been a big focus for this week, is putting it in for 80 minutes.”
Mauger wouldn’t be drawn into commenting on whether he feels this weekend’s match is something of a grudge match given his unceremonious exit from the Highlanders following an underwhelming campaign two years ago.
Instead, the former All Blacks five-eighth said he was looking forward to returning to his Dunedin-based family after having moved to Auckland to take up his role with Moana Pasifika in January.
“Excited, mate,” Mauger said of the prospect of heading down south on Thursday.
“My family’s there, so get to spend a couple of nights in my bed. Haven’t slept in that bed since January 2, when I left Dunedin, so certainly looking forward to that and waking up having breakfast with my kids and just being a dad at home for a couple of days, obviously between rugby duties.
“I’m excited. I’ll be coming in hot from the game on Friday night.”
Kick-off for Friday’s clash between Moana Pasifika and the Highlanders is scheduled for 7:05pm.
Moana Pasifika team to face Highlanders
1. Ezekiel Lindenmuth
2. Luteru Tolai
3. Sekope Kepu (c)
4. Veikoso Poloniati
5. Sam Slade
6. Solomone Funaki
7. Alamanda Motuga
8. Penitoa Finau
9. Ereatara Enari
10. Christian Leali’ifano
11. Timoci Tavatavanawai
12. Danny Toala
13. Levi Aumua
14. Tima Fainga’anuku
15. William Havili
Reserves
16. Sam Moli
17. Abraham Pole
18. Chris Apoua
19. Mahonri Ngakuru
20. Sione Tu’ipulotu
21. Jonathan Taumateine
22. Lincoln McClutchie
23. Fine Inisi
Comments on RugbyPass
Irish Rugby CEO be texting Andy Farrell “Andy, i found our next Kiwi Irishman”
4 Go to commentsI certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
4 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
3 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to comments