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Moana Pasifika retain just two players in starting team for Force clash

By Alex McLeod
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Fresh after their loss to the Reds in Brisbane on Friday, Moana Pasifika have made a whopping 13 changes to their starting team ahead of their Super Rugby Pacific clash against the Western Force on Tuesday.

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The rescheduled mid-week fixture is a result of the postponed match between the two sides during Super Round in Melbourne last month after the Force were ravaged by a Covid outbreak within their squad.

As such, both teams will be required to close their Super Rugby Pacific campaigns out with three regular season matches almost within a week of each other.

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The Force remain an outside chance at making the competition’s playoffs, provided they win their final two games (preferably by bonus point margins) and the Highlanders lose to the Rebels in Melbourne this Sunday.

However, playing with nothing to lose, Moana Pasifika would bring an end to the Force’s season with an upset win at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland.

With only a four-day turnaround from their 34-22 defeat at Suncorp Stadium, Moana Pasifika have been forced to dig deep into their playing squad to achieve such a feat.

Only two players, ‘Ikale Tahi blindside flanker Sione Tu’ipulotu and Manu Samoa wing Tomasi Alosio, have been retained from the team that fell short against the Reds.

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The rest of the starting lineup is completely changed, with the side welcoming back star centre Levi Aumua following his disciplinary stand down ahead of Moana Pasifika’s loss to the Fijian Drua in Sydney.

Aumua will be partnered in the midfield by Manu Samoa second-five Henry Taefu in a backline that also features Alosio, halfback Ere Enari, first-five Lincoln McClutchie, Manu Samoa wing Neria Foma’i and fullback Lolagi Visinia.

The team will be captained by Manu Samoa loose forward Jack Lam, who packs down at No 8 in a loose forward trio comprised of Tu’ipulotu and Manu Samoa openside flanker Alamanda Motuga.

Loosehead prop Ezekiel Lindenmuth, hooker Luteru Tolai and tighthead prop Chris Apoua combine to create a brand new front row, while locks Veikoso Poloniati and Mahonri Ngakuru join forces in the second row.

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A further five new faces have been included on the bench, with ‘Ikale Tahi hooker Samiuela Moli, tighthead prop Joe ‘Apikotoa and lock Alex McRobbie the only two players who have kept their places on the pine from the Reds loss.

Joining them in the reserves are Hong Kong international Taukiha’amea Koloamatangi, loose forward Penitoa Finau, halfback Manu Paea, midfielder Fine Inisi and wing Anzelo Tuitavuki.

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

Moana Pasifika team to face Western Force

1. Ezekiel Lindenmuth
2. Luteru Tolai
3. Chris Apoua
4. Veikoso Poloniati
5. Mahonri Ngakuru
6. Sione Tu’ipulotu
7. Alamanda Motuga
8. Jack Lam (c)
9. Ereatara Enari
10. Lincoln McClutchie
11. Neria Foma’i
12. Henry Taefu
13. Levi Aumua
14. Tomasi Alosio
15. Lolagi Visinia

Reserves

16. Samiuela Moli
17. Taukiha’amea Koloamatangi
18. Joe ‘Apikotoa
19. Alex McRobbie
20. Penitoa Finau
21. Manu Paea
22. Fine Inisi
23. Anzelo Tuitavuki

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J
Jon 8 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

This is the problem with conservative mindsets and phycology, and homogenous sports, everybody wants to be the same, use the i-win template. Athlete wise everyone has to have muscles and work at the gym to make themselves more likely to hold on that one tackle. Do those players even wonder if they are now more likely to be tackled by that player as a result of there “work”? Really though, too many questions, Jake. Is it better Jake? Yes, because you still have that rugby of ole that you talk about. Is it at the highest International level anymore? No, but you go to your club or checkout your representative side and still engage with that ‘beautiful game’. Could you also have a bit of that at the top if coaches encouraged there team to play and incentivized players like Damian McKenzie and Ange Capuozzo? Of course we could. Sadly Rugby doesn’t, or didn’t, really know what direction to go when professionalism came. Things like the state of northern pitches didn’t help. Over the last two or three decades I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have all that Jake wants. There was International quality Super Rugby to adore, then the next level below I could watch club mates, pulling 9 to 5s, take on the countries best in representative rugby. Rugby played with flair and not too much riding on the consequences. It was beautiful. That largely still exists today, but with the world of rugby not quite getting things right, the picture is now being painted in NZ that that level of rugby is not required in the “pathway” to Super Rugby or All Black rugby. You might wonder if NZR is right and the pathway shouldn’t include the ‘amateur’, but let me tell you, even though the NPC might be made up of people still having to pull 9-5s, we know these people still have dreams to get out of that, and aren’t likely to give them. They will be lost. That will put a real strain on the concept of whether “visceral thrill, derring-do and joyful abandon” type rugby will remain under the professional level here in NZ. I think at some point that can be eroded as well. If only wanting the best athlete’s at the top level wasn’t enough to lose that, shutting off the next group, or level, or rugby players from easy access to express and showcase themselves certainly will. That all comes back around to the same question of professionalism in rugby and whether it got things right, and rugby is better now. Maybe the answer is turning into a “no”?

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j
john 10 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

40 Go to comments
A
Adrian 12 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

40 Go to comments
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