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Culture round delight for Highlanders in nail biter against Moana Pasifika
By Henry Lee reporting from Auckland
Sunny North Harbour Stadium in the North Shore of Auckland hosted the opening game of culture round on Friday evening, playing host to a high-scoring matchup between the Highlanders and Moana Pasifika.
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Moana Pasifika donned their new 2004-inspired culture round jerseys, which showcase and pay tribute to the Pacific Islanders team that played against the All Blacks at North Harbour Stadium.
The Highlanders managed to hold off a late flurry of tries by Moana Pasifika in Albany, backing up last weekend’s historic win against the Blues with a 31-29 victory over Moana Pasifika.
Timoci Tavatavanawai was huge once again for Jamie Joseph’s Highlanders, winning four turnovers in the match, only behind Moana Pasifika’s captain, Ardie Savea with five.
Highlanders halfback Nathan Hastie and Caleb Tangitau were the difference makers for the Highlanders, while Savea showcased his class in his first game at home for Moana Pasifika.
It didn’t take long for the Highlanders to get on the scoreboard in Albany, after silky footwork from Michael Manson.
Manson threatened to score himself, before firing a short offload to halfback Nathan Hastie to go in under the posts inside two minutes.
The Highlanders continued to pile on the pressure inside Moana Pasifika’s 22, earning a penalty close to the posts. Sam Gilbert successfully kicked the penalty, pushing the Highlanders lead out to 10-0 after six minutes.
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Moana Pasifika worked their way into the Highlanders 22 after a lineout infringement by the visitors, before they shifted the ball to the right edge.
Moana Pasifika prop Sione Mafile’o received a quick pass off the base of the ruck from halfback Jonathan Taumateine, as the prop pushed his way over the line in the tenth minute.
Moana Pasifika crossed once again, but this time it was quick hands from All Blacks loose forward Ardie Savea who shuffled the ball onto Pepesana Patafilo.
The Moana Pasifika midfielder had the initiative to pass it one more to his right, putting William Havili over the line ten in from touch.
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A Highlanders offside penalty gave Moana Pasifika the opportunity to take the lead with ten minutes left in the first half, but former Blues outside back turned Highlanders winger Caleb Tangitau smartly picked off a Taumateine pass, before running the length of the field and going in untouched.
Gilbert added the extras, extending the Highlanders lead to 17-7.
It went from bad to worse for the home side, as Jackson Garden-Bachop dropped a box kick gifting Highlanders midfielder Tanielu Tele’a a free run over the try line.
Tangitau’s pace was once again a problem for Moana Pasifika, this time on the back of a brilliant box kick from Nathan Hastie. The Highlanders retrieved the ball, before firing a pass to an open Mitchell Dunshea close to the posts.
Dunshea crossed, increasing the Highlanders halftime lead to 24.
HT: 31-7 to the Highlanders.
The opening try of the second half was in the 45th minute when All Blacks star Ardie Savea brought down a Taine Robinson kick to storm through and run 40 meters to score his second try of the season.
William Havili was unable to convert the try, adding to a disappointing night with the boot after missing the conversions for the two earlier Moana Pasifika tries. Savea’s try brought the deficit down to 16 with over 30 minutes to go.
The next twenty minutes of the second half were back and forth without any tries scored before Moana Pasifika muscled up at scrumtime winning a penalty just inside the Highlanders’ half.
Replacement first five for Moana Pasifika Patrick Pellegrini flung a wide pass to Solomon Alaimalo, who smartly passed the ball inside to William Havili for his second try of the evening.
Pelligrini added the extras from the sideline, closing the gap to nine points with 15 minutes to go.
Moana Pasifika didn’t give up there, scoring a well-executed try off a quick tap to the left of the posts.
The set move put Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa through the Highlanders defence, setting up a mouth-watering finish in Albany.
The Highlanders’ leading margin was two heading into the final three minutes of the match, but Joseph’s men held on to win a scintillating clash to begin round three of Super Rugby Pacific.
FT: 31-29 to the Highlanders.
Jamie Joseph and the Highlanders will have a week off in round four, having their first bye of the 2025 competition.
Moana Pasifika will be back at their new home again next Saturday evening, taking on the Hurricanes in round four of the competition.
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Good home crowd support for MP but poor display by O’Keefe - too inconsistent. However, both teams willing and a good contest. Hastie had a very accomplished performance for Landers who have some serious speed out wide.