Patrick Pellegrini on Moana Pasifika getting 'stung' in 2025

Moana Pasifika-labelled wheelie bins weren’t safe in 2025. A raucous team victory song featured the euphoric thrashing of vulnerable plastic.

Moana Pasifika won six times last year, double their victories from the first two seasons and two more than in 2024. That year, they finished four places lower in the championship standings than the 2025 class.

First five-eighth Patrick Pellegrini was vital to Moana Pasifika’s improved fortunes. He played 12 of 14 matches, scored 81 points, and started in four of the six victories, including first wins against eventual champions the Crusaders (45-29) and the Blues (27-21).

“We went through quite a few bins. Lucky we had someone to sort that out,” Pellegrini laughed with RugbyPass.

“I think they started strengthening the lids after the first couple of wins. The garbage company didn’t mind; it was good publicity for them.”

Ironically, one of the composers of the Moana Pasifika victory song was Jackson Garden-Bachop, with whom Pellegrini is in direct competition for the number 10 jersey. Garden-Bachop added the “Cheehoo” flourish, which always carries great gusto. Which “Cheehoo” was most enjoyable in 2025?

“The Blues at home was the best. The crowd was crazy,” Pellegrini emphatically responded.

Pellegrini kicked four penalties in that historic 27-21 triumph on May 17, 2025, at North Harbour Stadium.

However, the match will be forever remembered for the awesome display from Super Rugby Player of the Year Ardie Savea. Savea had 44 touches, 21 carries for 90 metres, beat five defenders, made four offloads, had a clean break and a linebreak assist, made nine tackles, and won three turnovers in a mammoth effort. Savea is no longer with Moana Pasifika.

“You can’t replace Ardie, no matter how hard you try. He’s the best player in the world,” Pellegrini acclaimed.

“As a collective, we have to fill that gap. We’ve kept a core group of leaders who will try to drive the team toward greater success.

“At flanker, Semisi Paea had a real solid NPC. Our skipper, Miracle Fai’ilagi, has been outstanding for a couple of seasons.

“We started the pre-season in December last year. With a lot of new boys, we had a good connection and developed some themes and tactics which we hope last through the season.”

Moana Pasifika has 13 new players in its squad, including former All Blacks Ngani Laumape and Augustine Pulu. Capped 17 times by Tonga, Pellegrini hopes to build on his strong 2025, where his best was mesmerising.

In a March 29, 2025, 45-29 victory against the Crusaders, Pellegrini kicked seven goals from eight attempts and scored one of the tries of the season, finishing a sweeping move from halfway that he started with a long cut-out pass.

The Crusaders had won all four Super Rugby Pacific games against Moana Pasifika, scoring an average of 38.8 points per game before that stunning setback. Only the 1996 champion Blues, who beat the Crusaders 49-18, have scored more points in a single game in Christchurch than Moana Pasifika.

The following week, Pellegrini scored a try and helped inspire Moana Pasifika to a 45-28 come-from-behind victory against the Waratahs. Moana Pasifika scored 38 points in the second half, with prop Feleti Sae-Ta’ufo’ou scoring a hat-trick.

“I like to think I’m a calm and controlled player with a little bit of flair as well,” Pellegrini surmised of his game.

“My role is to put the team in the right places, kick goals and hopefully add a little poly flavour.”

No fixture in Super Rugby Pacific has more “Poly flavour” than Moana Pasifika against Fijian Drua. The two teams clash in the opening round of the 2026 season at Churchill Park, Lautoka. Drua holds a 4-2 advantage from previous meetings and has achieved 15 of its 18 all-time victories at home.

Typically, Drua-Moana matches are high-scoring thrillers. This will be the second first-round meeting to start a Super Rugby Pacific season. Drua won 36-34 in their only previous such fixture (25 February 2023 at Go Media Stadium) after trailing 19-26 at halftime.

In their two previous meetings in Fiji, Drua prevailed 47-46 in May 2023 and 24-17 in April 2024. Pellegrini came off the bench during a 34-15 win at North Harbour Stadium on April 26, 2025.

“It’s going to be a big crowd that’s involved, hard, fast and exciting rugby. The boys can’t wait to rip in,” Pellegrini said.

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Meetings

Wins

3

Draws

0

Wins

2

Average Points scored

32

34

First try wins

60%

Home team wins

80%

Tempering early enthusiasm was a lesson learned the hard way by Moana Pasifika last year. They were in playoff contention with two rounds remaining, but crashed back to earth with heavy defeats against the Chiefs (7-85) and Hurricanes (12-64).

“That stung a bit,” admitted Pellegrini. “It was the first time we got a sniff of what it could be like to play finals footy. Others were peaking at that point, while we got stuck in round rugby. Playoffs are a different kettle of fish. We’ve learnt from that and hope to push a bit further.”

In 2025, Moana Pasikifa conceded the most turnovers, received the most red cards and had the lowest scrum and lineout success of any team.

Still, seasoned Fa’alogo Tana Umaga is optimistic. He said at the squad unveiling in November.

“The movement continues for us and as the new season approaches, a new wave of players will join our growing story. Building on what was done last year is important to us as well as maintaining our core Pasifika values and unique flavour.”