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Tana Umaga talks Moana Pasifika's 'purpose', Aaron Mauger's advice and more
Coaching Moana Pasifika is unlike coaching any other club in professional rugby, but that’s exactly why Tana Umaga wanted the role.
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The chance to represent his Samoan ‘aiga and harness the Pacific region’s raw talent ultimately made the appointment a natural fit for the former All Black.
But, with the team finishing bottom of the table in both of their opening seasons in the competition, the hill the club must climb remains steep.
The bigger picture is front and centre for Umaga.
“The purpose of Moana Pasifika resonates with me,” he told Stuff.
“Assisting Pasifika players for the betterment of not just themselves and Moana, but also Samoa and Tonga. That made it easier for me to make this decision.
“I have had head coaching experience and there were tough lessons I had to learn around that.
“But also, watching other people working in that role and learning from them some of the things I can bring forward to this role now. That made it easier for me to say I’m ready for this.
“With being an assistant coach, I enjoy that. You just focus on one role, you go home and it’s pretty easy, you don’t have to think about much else, other than that role.
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“Head coach is different, there’s a lot more on it. But I believe I’m better equipped to handle those things outside of it and build a group that I know can handle it as well.”
The results of the first few seasons will be happily forgiven if the club can build a foundation for future success and streamline local development pathways, but there is pressure on that timeline.
“That’s an understanding and realisation that there’s a big picture to what we’re doing,” Umaga said.
“In Super Rugby, we’re still trying to get those wins. It is a fine balancing act and we won’t know if we’ve got it right until we start playing.
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“Learning from previous campaigns and the experiences we’ve had as coaches, we have got an experienced coaching group (Tom Coventry and Stephen Jones) and taking from this player group that’s been around for a while, we know the big picture, but we also know the responsibility for Moana and Pasifika rugby, is to get rewards and we need to start having success on the field.
“That’s what everyone is looking for. That’s what people want to support, so we’ve got to make sure we earn their support through putting in good performances that they’re proud of, and also that we’re proud of.
“Winning goes a long way towards putting more bums on seats and getting financial assistance. We’re not kidding ourselves.”
With a record of 25 losses and three wins, previous Moana coach Aaron Mauger knows the challenges the club faces intricately.
Umaga revealed that the two had spoken before he made his decision to join the club.
“Right at the start, when I was initially thinking about the role, Aaron contacted me and it was really good to get his gauge,” Umaga said.
“He’s always offered his ear if I want to talk to him about anything and I’m sure I will at some stage.
“I’ve also understood the experiences I’ve had in teams I’ve been a part of and made sure I’ve implemented that.
”Going from the learnings of other guys, not just Aaron, but listening to the senior players who were here the last couple of years.
“I’ve got a good connection with some of them, while I was away with Samoa, so I have a good understanding around some of the issues and also some of the positive aspects that happened last year.
“I’m trying to make sure we build on the positive ones and see what we can do about those other issues we’re working away on.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Dear Ben Smith you are a genius! God please become the next all blacks coach that can take on the mighty BOKS. Your rugby acumen is second to none - imagine your dads sperm bounced as unfortunately as that oval ball did….we would not be blessed with your presence. Just as the all blacks were missing a man you too are missing a chromosome for 80% of your life, so your insights are not only profound but ring true from your own experiences. Just as the TMO interfered with citing an illegal pass I am sure your local authorities interfere with your illegal passes you make on women - How dare they!!! God forbid that rugby be officiated fairly. You are the right man for the job. Next all blacks coach is here ladies and gentlemen Miss Ben Smith.
218 Go to commentsHuge engine this guy and great to see him back ..The amount of clean outs he does at the ruck are ridiculous !!
3 Go to commentsThe level of desperation in this article is just embarrassing.
218 Go to commentsSome silly trolling in the comments.
8 Go to commentsEverywhere you turn some irish journo is advocating Ireland as the greatest, reasoning that the wc is a 4 year cycle event so, they say wc doesn’t matter it’s the rugby in between that should account for the accolade. If there was no wc then some substance could be gained, however in my opinion the moment that defined Ireland’s fate against the abs was 37 phases of repeated head bashing against a brick wall. If a change in strategy or a tinker with the game plan was executed then things could've been vastly different. And to point a finger the let down was in the hands of the number 10.
44 Go to commentsI have heard it asked if RA is essentially one of the part owners and I suppose therefor should be on the other side of these two parties. If they purchased the rebels and guaranteed them, and are responsible enough they incur Rebels penalties, where is this line drawn? Seems rough to have to pay a penalty for something were your involvement sees you on the side of the conned party, the creditors. If the Rebels directors themselves have given the club their money, 6mil worth right, why aren’t they also listed as sitting with RA and the Tax office? And the legal threat was either way, new Rebels or defunct, I can’t see how RA assume the threat was less likely enough to warrant comment about it in this article. Surely RA ignore that and only worry about whether they can defend it or not, which they have reported as being comfortable with. So in effect wouldn’t it be more accurate to say there is no further legal threat (or worry) in denying the deal. Unless the directors have reneged on that. > Returns of a Japanese team or even Argentinean side, the Jaguares, were said to be on the cards, as were the ideas of standing up brand new teams in Hawaii or even Los Angeles – crazy ideas that seemingly forgot the time zone issues often cited as a turn-off for viewers when the competition contained teams from South Africa. Those timezones are great for SR and are what will probably be needed to unlock its future (cant see it remaining without _atleast _help from Aus), day games here are night games on the West Coast of america, were potential viewers triple, win win. With one of the best and easiest ways to unlock that being to play games or a host a team there. Less good the further across Aus you get though. Jaguares wouldn’t be the same Jaguares, but I still would think it’s better having them than keeping the Rebels. The other options aren’t really realistic 25’ options, no. From reading this authors last article I think if the new board can get the investment they seem to be confident in, you keeping them simply for the amount of money they’ll be investing in the game. Then ditch them later if they’re not good enough without such a high budget. Use them to get Jaguares reintergration stronger, with more key players on board, and have success drive success.
15 Go to commentsYeah, and ours is waaay bigger than yours. Just as you's get a semi…oh hold on that never happens
44 Go to commentsLove watching
1 Go to commentsThe Melbourne Rebels lineout is a complete disaster so not surprisingly a kiwi coach of the Wallabies hires the worst lineout coach in the country and a foreigner to boot. No surprises whatsoever here…….
3 Go to commentsThank your for wasting 2 minutes of my life Daniel. There is a useful message in there somewhere but your delivery sucks.
7 Go to commentsBen Smith, you are cry baby
218 Go to commentsSux that homophobia is still a thing though. I wonder how many players who could have become legends never kept playing rugby because they felt unwelcome.
7 Go to commentsCrazy he’s only 28, feel like he’s been around forever - don’t mind the move, safe pair of hands and creates depth in a thin position for ABs. Hopefully aides Kemara’s growth also without thrusting too much responsibility on him
1 Go to commentsMen should show strength and be mean, but they should be able to show emotion to those close yo them in certain times, birth of your child, death of family, proud moment. This article is stupid
7 Go to commentsWhat a weak article…absolute drivel and clickbait, well done. Will stick to rugby365 thanks
7 Go to commentsHonest, discipline, humility… Priceless.
2 Go to commentsSo many excuses. No mention of the SA number 2 being taken out illegally in the 2nd minute. That act of foul play had a massive impact on the SA game. Face it, NZ play pretty dirty very regularly, and it’s only since 2016 they’ve been held to higher officiating standards via stricter officiating and TMO reviews. They deserved to have a man down. Sorry. Fix the yellow and red cards and NZ will win more RWCs. Plus, there WAS a knock on invalidating the one try, so it was NOT a try. Period. Here’s a Kleenex…
218 Go to commentsOverheard conversation between NZ and SA rugby fans everywhere: We’re the greatest! No! we’re the greatest! We’re the greatest! No we’re the greatest! Ireland are arrogant! True but they beat you! We’re the greatest! No! we’re the greatest! Etc. etc, etc.
44 Go to commentsTypical crap Aussie weather
11 Go to comments“If they’d have beaten England, I still feel we would have been talking ‘is this the best team ever,’ ‘is this the best team that’s ever played in the Six Nations'” he said. “I still think they’re not quite that good. I actually don’t think they’re that good.” So Trimble is saying he doesn’t think this is the best 6N team of all time. He is silent on if it is the best Irish team of all time. Can’t disagree with him. Just another misrepresentative clickbait headline from the guys at RP.
44 Go to comments