Moana Pasifika vs Highlanders takes: Super Rugby's most compelling X-factor

It was a bizarre night of rugby on Auckland’s North Shore on Friday night, with a 32-0 Highlanders lead after 40 minutes making way for a 19-7 Moana Pasifika run all before the game was stopped momentarily due to a power outage.

Prior to the game stopping in the 60th minute, one of the main lights at North Harbour Stadium had gone out, leaving one corner of the field dimly lit. When play resumed, the broadcast was down, and the match could only be watched on Moana Pasifika’s Instagram page via someone standing on the sideline livestreaming it on their phone.

It was an unusual evening of action, but you can’t say Super Rugby doesn’t have a bit of everything.

Here are some takeaways from the match.

Super Rugby’s most compelling X-factor

Caleb Tangitau has been in unbelievable form all season, and you can see his confidence is through the roof right now. With every touch, the winger is expecting to break the line, and his ability to explode through contact is turning those expectations into reality.

The 23-year-old was back in his hometown for just the second time in his Super Rugby career on Friday night, and he broke the game open with the first try of the evening. It was in the sixth minute when Tangitau was hovering in behind the ruck 15 meters from the right touchline, sprinted left to catch the ball in centrefield, and broke the defensive line to score.

The former All Blacks Sevens flyer would have had a second were it not for a handling error over the line in the right corner. He made up for the mistake when he powered straight through William Havili in the 27th minute, showing he can finish in multiple ways. Tangitau ran straight past the breakdown that led to his second try, entirely uninterested in competing, knowing his role is to finish.

This kid’s X-factor is the most compelling in Super Rugby.

Points Flow Chart

Highlanders win +20

Time in lead

0

Mins in lead

74

0%

% Of Game In Lead

93%

22%

Possession Last 10 min

78%

0

Points Last 10 min

0

Moana lifeless

Moana Pasifika failed to fire any kind of shot in the first half on Friday night. Playing at home in what is essentially a must-win game, the hosts were run off the park.

The team just had no answer in the first half, and let the game get far out of reach before mustering some momentum late.

The full statistical picture is incomplete due to the power outage, but what we do have doesn’t make for pretty reading: The team conceded 13 penalties to the Highlanders’ two, made just 79 per cent of their tackles, and followed up their first try of the game in the 43rd minute with back-to-back yellow cards in the space of five minutes.

Debutant prop Paula Latu was the man to inspire a momentum swing off the bench, and without that swing, this would have ended as one of the more lifeless performances in recent Super Rugby memory.

A starring debut

Nic Shearer enjoyed a superb start to his Super Rugby career on the North Shore, becoming the latest young Highlander to inspire confidence in the club’s future.

The 22-year-old’s passes were on the money, and he took the opportunities on offer to take a few steps around the ruck, challenge the defence and draw attention, always looking to set his players up.

Running off the back of lineout moves in a playmaker role, Shearer delivered the ball to the right man in the face of big Moana Pasifika defenders.

The youngster emerged from the contest with a try on debut and seven well-considered carries, never trying to do too much, showing great composure for a rookie.

The Highlanders’ halfback stocks are looking supremely healthy moving forward, with Folau Fakatava the established talent and Dylan Pledger the much-hyped prospect coming through the ranks. Now with Shearer and the versatile Adam Lennox, Jamie Joseph’s talent identification and development continues to steer the club into the playoff picture.