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
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