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'No one's been spared': MacDonald backs cross-town rivals
Despite knowing full well what Moana Pasifika could bring to the table after seeing the new men of Super Rugby Pacific score a surprise win against the Hurricanes over the weekend, the Blues still struggled to deal with the physicality and never-say-die attitude of their Auckland rivals at Mt Smart Stadium on Tuesday evening.
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At 19-0 after 35 minutes, the Blues looked to be pulling away from the contest and a result not dissimilar to the Chiefs’ 59-12 dismantling of Moana Pasifika didn’t look entirely off the cards. The Pacific Islanders had other ideas, however, and scored tries either side of halftime (and were also denied a third) to bring themselves within seven points of their opposition. A red card to Blues prop Nepo Laulala in the 56th minute could have swung the match in the home team’s favour but it was the visitors who finished stronger, eventually securing a 32-19 victory.
Both teams rolled out vastly changed line-ups for the match following their respective wins over the weekend and many would have expected the relatively more season Blues to canter away to victory but Moana Pasifika showed once again that you’d be writing of Super Rugby’s newest side at your own peril.
Unsurprisingly, Blues coach Leon MacDonald asserted after the match that Moana Pasifika’s latest match further “absolutely” justified the team’s inclusion in this year’s competition.
“Every game [they’ve performed], they rattled the Crusaders in the early rounds, they were in the game at half-time against the Chiefs – the Chiefs were able to pull away from them – and then obviously the Hurricanes and now us, so no one’s been spared from Moana yet,” MacDonald said.
“They’re a great team and I know that everybody’s giving them full respect because, when they get their tails up, they’re extremely hard to stop. Some of the plays that they have are nearly impossible [to defend] with the offloads that they can do or the footwork, so they belong in this comp.
“I think they’ve brought an awesome flavour, their own style, and their culture’s really strong and I know there’s a lot of people really proud of their team, supporting them.”
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While MacDonald could see what Moana Pasifika were capable of from his seat in the coaches’ box, Blues hooker Ricky Riccitelli was out on the field experiencing it – and mimicked MacDonald’s sentiments.
“It’s pretty obvious, with the results and putting teams under pressure, that they’re going to be a big force in this comp and that they belong here,” Riccitelli said. “No one’s taking them lightly, they’re a good side and they’ve earned the respect they’ve gotten, so, as I said, they’re just building and they’ve got a brand of footy that’s pretty exciting to watch and they’ve got some athletes all over the park, so you’ve got to respect that. They’re actually a good side.”
The two sides will square off once more on Saturday evening, with the Blues playing host across town at Eden Park. While a large change in personnel in expected, MacDonald suggested that with just a few days to prepare for the rematch, not a lot is likely to change for either side from a strategic point of view.
“I think both teams will take a lot away from this performance,” he said. “They would have seen opportunities that they enjoyed against us, and we want to do the same, and likewise for us.
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“Given we’ve only got a four-day turnaround, there won’t be a huge amount being able to change. We just need to really freshen up, make sure we’ve got the same mindset to go into the performance.”
Saturday evening’s fixture will kick off at 7:05pm with both teams due to be named for the match on Thursday.
Comments on RugbyPass
Lets 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?
10 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.
9 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.
10 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.
22 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.
9 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.
14 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 commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to comments