Moana Pasifika player ratings vs Hurricanes | Super Rugby Pacific
Moana Pasifika travelled to Wellington to play the Hurricanes on Tuesday night for Super Rugby Pacific, in what was Moana Pasifika’s second game in four days in their gruelling catch-up schedule.
Veteran playmaker Christian Leali’ifano was named as captain of Moana Pasifika in the absence of injured Sekope Kepu in a side that featured a raft of changes due to injuries and squad rotation.
The Hurricanes started strong out of the gates in the first half, scoring three tries. Moana Pasifika managed a try of their own but it was evident that the visiting side lacked urgency and energy. The trend continued in the second half, as Moana Pasifika were forced to defend for long periods of the match and struggled to get their hands on the ball. Despite another try for Moana Pasifika in the second half, the Hurricanes continued to score at will utilising the rolling maul and ran out 53-12 victors.
Discipline continues to be an issue for Moana Pasifika and the mission only gets harder for them with a game against the Chiefs scheduled for Saturday.
Here’s how Moana Pasifika rated:
1. Abraham Pole – 4.5/10
Pole has earned a few starts now since transferring to Moana Pasifika. He went close to scoring in the first half. There was a lot of scrum resets in the game as Moana Pasifika struggled to keep the scrum stable.
2. Samiuela Moli – 4
Had a number of poor lineout throws in the first half which were easy turnovers for the Hurricanes. Was physical in defence, dishing out some big hits.
3. Joe ‘Apikotoa – 5
Had to do a lot of defending in the first half making 11 tackles. Still finding his feet at Super Rugby level. Was replaced shortly after halftime.
4. Mahonri Ngakuru – 4
Earned his first start at lock. He nabbed a lineout win but missed three tackles of his seven tackles attempted. Replaced early in the second half.
5. Samuel Slade – 4.5
Was subbed off for running repairs to a nasty gash early in the match. Returned for the second half, making 10 tackles and acting as his side’s main target at lineout time. He continued to struggle with the strapping around his head leaking blood throughout the game.
6. Alex McRobbie – 5.5
Worked hard around the park all night and played out the full 80 minutes. Won four lineouts for his team and scored an important try to open the scoring in the second half which kept his team in touch.
7. Alamanda Motuga – 6
Played the game with plenty of energy, which is remarkable in itself given his workload over the past few weeks. The opposition would have definitely felt the impact of all his carries in close quarters and provided a bright spark in an otherwise dismal performance from the forwards.
8. Henry Time-Stowers – 7
Returned to pack down at the back of the scrum and quickly picked up where he left off, enforcing his physicality on the game. Topped the team’s tackle count yet again with 16 tackles, only missing one. Also won a crucial turnover against the run of play. He is fast becoming a key man in Moana Pasifika’s line-up.
9. Jonathan Taumateine – 5
Was able to recycle the ball quickly and organise his forwards in tight. Provide good distribution from the base of the ruck but never presented much of an attacking threat.
10. Christian Leali’ifano – 4.5
It was a special match for Christian, taking over captaincy duties for the game. Unfortunately, he wasn’t afforded any space to create chances for his outside backs and struggled to build any momentum for his team.
11. Neria Foma’i – 4
Wasn’t sighted with the ball very often. Even when the ball got to him, needless kicks and poor handling gave possession straight back to the opposition.
12. Danny Toala – 4
Found spaces in the wide channels and tried to use his strength the break open the defence on a number of occasions, but not many opportunities were presented to him. Made some poor kicking decisions with ball in hand.
13. Levi Aumua – 6
Was well contained for most of the game and didn’t get a chance to showcase his ball-carrying ability and thundering runs until late in the piece. Still managed to break four tackles and offload the ball twice.
14. Tima Fainga’anuku – 4
Hard to think of times when he got the ball with any time and space to do anything with it. Still managed to run for 24 metres and beat two defenders.
15. Lolagi Visinia – 5.5
Looked comfortable in his first start at the back. He came into the attacking line to inject some go forward but often came against some staunch Hurricanes defence.
Reserves:
16. Ray Niuia – 5
Came on early in the second half and Moana Pasifika’s lineout seemed to improve.
17. Ezekiel Lindenmuth – N/A
On in the 50th minute.
18. Taukiha’amea Koloamatangi – N/A
On in the 50th minute.
19. Michael Curry – 6.5
Entered the action in the 17th minute as a blood-bin replacement for Slade. Nabbed a lineout and scored Moana Pasifika’s first try of the game. Replaced Ngakuru in the second half.
20. Penitoa Finau – 5.5
When he made it on the field he brought some much-needed energy to proceedings which allowed his fellow forwards to get a roll-on.
21. Manu Paea – N/A
Entered the game briefly as a blood-bin replacement for Taumateine. Came on again to finish out the game.
22. Lincoln McClutchie – 5
On in the 56th minute and tried to spark his backline into action. Looked good with the ball in hand but those moments were few and far between.
23. Henry Taefu – N/A
Replaced Toala in the 49th minute and carried hard through the middle.
Comments on RugbyPass
Wasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
3 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
3 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
3 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
30 Go to comments