Moana Pasifika player ratings vs Blues | Super Rugby Pacific
Moana Pasifika played the Blues at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland for the competition’s first cross-town clash on Tuesday night. It was a catch-up game for the two sides and it was only Moana Pasifika’s fourth game for the season.
It was a bruising encounter, particularly in the forwards where there was some heavy contact. Early in the game, the Pasifika team were blown off the park at scrum time but were able to adjust and hung in with the Blues by muscling up in defence.
Moana Pasifika came out in the second half with plenty of energy and the game saw a huge momentum swing in their favour. Eventually, the Blues showed their class and outlasted their opposition to win the game 32-19, despite a courageous fightback from Moana Pasifika.
Here’s how Moana Pasifika rated:
1. Abraham Pole – 5.5
Drafted into the Moana Pasifika side after starting Super Rugby in the Crusaders organisation. He and his fellow prop were outmuscled at scrum time early in the game, with the Blues winning one against the feed to set up their opening try. Scored a try shortly after half time.
2. Luteru Tolai – 6.5
Was used as a human wrecking-ball in attack and it paid dividends, with Tolai crashing over for a try off a rampaging Moana Pasifika maul.
3. Joe ‘Apikotoa – 5
Was dominated by Hodgeman in the scrum and the forward pack had to adjust pretty quickly. Had some strong runs in broken play.
4. Michael Curry – 6.5
Was a regular target in the lineout and worked hard in defence. Showed some athleticism by being able to offload in the tackle.
5. Xavier Cowley-Tuioti – 4.5
Struggled with an injury throughout the game.
6. Penitoa Finau – 6.5
Was a workhorse around the park and had a number of carries that broke the advantage line for Moana Pasifika.
7. Alamanda Motuga – 7
The Samoan international carried hard and led from the front in the forwards. Won some crucial turnovers and was abrasive in attack, adding to a dynamic backrow for Moana Pasifika.
8. Jack Lam – 7.5
Captaining the side for the first time, he brought much-needed experience to the MP forward pack. Copped a head-knock in the opening two minutes and left the field for an HIA but fortunately returned in the 18th minute. From there he worked hard all night and made 13 tackles.
9. Ereatara Enari – 6.5
The Moana Pasifika scrumhalf was able to spark the backline with plenty of energy, delivering crisp ball to McClutchie and his forwards running off the ruck. Put his team in position to score their opening try by peppering the Blues with box-kicks in their territory.
10. Lincoln McClutchie – 7.5
The exciting young flyhalf took on most of the open-field kicking duties, trying to get his team into an attacking position. Controlled the game nicely and showed a silky pair of hands to put his players through holes to break open the Blues defence. Pulled off a fantastic cross-field kick to put in his winger Alosio for an important try late in the game. Forming a nice combination with Enari.
11. Anzelo Tuitavuki – 6
The Hawkes Bay winger took the most of his opportunities on debut and ran for 57 metres. Perhaps was guilty at times of going himself instead of looking for support.
12. Solomone Kata – 7
Made his debut for the side after sustaining a preseason injury, and was back to his destructive best on his return to Mt Smart Stadium. Was unlucky not to score in the second half off a great breakout move. Was just as ferocious in defence and crunched Stephen Perofeta in the midfield.
13. Fine Inisi – 6.5
Showed some explosiveness to get on the outside of his opposition number to make some great runs. Was also impressive in defence, making 16 tackles during the game.
14. Tomasi Alosio – 6
Scored a spectacular try, jumping high to gather in a well-placed cross-field kick from McClutchie. Besides that he was very well contained, and the ball rarely found itself to his wing.
15. D’Angelo Leuila – 6.5
Has big wraps on him, and looked dangerous at times when choose to come up and play flat in the backline. Was lucky not to be given a yellow card for taking out Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens in the air during the first half.
Reserves:
16. Joe Royal – N/A
Got limited minutes but shored up the scrum.
17. Suetene Asomua – N/A
Came on as a replacement late in the game.
18. Chris Apoua – 6
Brought some impact off the bench and used his big frame to bust through the Blues forwards.
19. Alex McRobbie – 6
Came on at around the 50th minute mark and put effort into defence, making 7 tackles.
20. Josh Kaifa – N/A
Came off the bench early for Lam, and was impressive. Returned to the bench 20 minutes later and didn’t get back on until late in the game.
21. Dwayne Polataivao – N/A
The Samoa scrumhalf made it on the field in the 77th minute.
22. Nigel Ah Wong – N/A
Came on with five minutes to go. His first touch was a knock-on.
23. Lolagi Visinia – 6.5
Entered the action in the 56th minute and put his hand up for plenty of hard carries close to the action. Looked powerful with ball in hand.
Comments on RugbyPass
I really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
1 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
56 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 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.
11 Go to comments