'One Step At A Time': Moana Pasifika Focused As They Hunt For Top 6 Spot

Friday, 2 May 2025, 1:10 pm
Article: RNZ

Iliesa Tora, Senior Sports Journalist

Moana Pasifika captain Ardie Savea has set the benchmark that he wants the team to achieve in their remaining Super Rugby Pacific matches this year.

He understands the team is in the running for a top six finish.

But the message he has given the team is to focus on winning all their games, starting with the Highlanders, whom they meet in Dunedin this weekend.

Moana Pasifika meet the Highlanders for the second time this year when the two teams battle in a Super Rugby Pacific round 12 game on Sunday.

Following last Saturday's big win against the Fijian Drua, Savea said their focus had already shifted to the Highlanders game.

While he acknowledges that the team will work hard to secure the wins in their remaining matches, the important thing for them is to take it one game at a time, starting with the Highlanders.

"To go one step at a time," Savea told reporters at the post-match conference last Saturday.

"Obviously, we have the [Highlanders] on Sunday, leading into a bye week.

"This week is probably one of the important weeks for us to nail our stuff and then after that we just go week by week and treat it like knockout footy.

"We gotta win every game."

That has been the tone of the team's preparation this week at Albany.

A 31-29 win to the Highlanders was the result of the team's first clash of 2025 at the North Harbour Stadium in February in the third round clash in February.

The Highlanders had led 31-0 at halftime in that clash, before Moana Pasifika sprung back into life at the resumption of play.

The team managed to score 29 points, with two conversions going astray.

With five minutes to go Moana Pasifika threw all they had into the game but time ran out on them as Highlanders hung on to win 31-29.

Now, nine rounds later, the two teams go head-to-head again, in a different setting and under different circumstances, at the tail end of the competition.

Moana Pasifika are in eighth position on the points standing, after four wins from 10 games and 20 points to their name.

The Highlanders are in 10th position, with there wins and 17 points.

A Moana win will see them climb up the ladder again, possibly to fifth spot if the Waratahs, Force and the Hurricanes lose their matches this weekend.

A win for the Highlanders will get them above Moana on points and standing as well.

Both teams still have the chance to get into the top six.

Former Wallaby to debut for Moana

Head coach Fa'alogo Tana Umaga has named a strong team for the clash.

That includes giving former Wallabies and Melbourne Rebels prop, Pone Fa'amausili, the chance to make his long debut at Forsyth Barr Stadium.

The 28-year-old played seven Tests for the Wallabies between 2022 and 2023, with his last appearance coming at the Rugby World Cup in France.

At 1.96m tall (6 foot 5 inches), Fa'amausili said he is excited about his opportunity.

"Having moved to Auckland from Melbourne last year, all I've wanted is to get a chance like this," Fa'amausili said.

"Before that, I had five months off rugby due to injury so I've had to work really hard to get to this point.

"I really love this team and I can't wait to get to Dunedin and get things going with the boys."

Umaga has made there other changes to the match-day 23 that defeated the Fijian Drua 34-15 at home last weekend.

Chris Apoua earns a start at tight-head prop, while Manawatū Turbos lock Ofa Tauatevalu will also get his opportunity to make his Super Rugby Pacific and Moana Pasifika debut off the bench.

"We're looking forward to having Pone do a job for us this weekend," Umaga said.

"It's been a long road back for him and we're happy to see him get his chance this weekend.

"The same goes for Ofa, who has worked really hard since our pre-season. Both of these players are part of the reason we have good depth this season.

"They've been pushing the rest of the squad really hard and preparing them well for games and now they get their chance."

Speedster Kyren Taumoefolau returns to the starting lineup at left wing, replacing Fine Inise, who sustained an ankle injury last week.

Inspirational captain Ardie Savea keeps his place with loose trio partners, Miracle Faiilagi and Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa.

Umaga has also retained the strong midfield combination of Danny Toala and Lalomilo Lalomilo.

Winger Tevita Ofa gets a second start, following a strong showing against the Drua, where he had 91 post contact metres, 12 tackles, five defenders beaten, 188 metres carried, four linebreaks and a try.

Highlanders team

Meanwhile, Highlanders head coach Jamie Joseph has made minimal changes to the team's forward pack this week.

Co-captain Hugh Renton returns to number eight, and lock Oliver Haig being promoted from the bench.

Haig will partner with Fabian Holland who has been declared fit to play after leaving the field early against the Crusaders.

Rohan Wingham makes his first appearance in the game day squad for the season replacing the injured Sosefo Kautai.

Flanker Veveni Lasaqa, who also had a strong performance last round, will also come off the bench.

Co-captain Timoci Tavatavanawai gets to face his former Moana Pasifika teammates again, as he lines up for the hosts at 12.

Round 12 is the annual celebration of grassroots rugby for the Highlanders and players will be wearing their club socks to acknowledge their club roots.

There is also a First XV curtain raiser between Waitaki Boys High School and Kings High School kicking off at 1:30pm and the annual SBS Bank Junior Club Relay at halftime.

Moana Pasifika v Highlanders

Kick-off: 3.35pm Sunday 4 May

Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin

Moana Pasifika: 1. Tito Tuipulotu, 2. Millennium Sanerivi, 3. Chris Apoua, 4. Tom Savage, 5. Samuel Slade, 6. Miracle Faiilagi, 7. Ardie Savea (captain), 8. Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa, 9. Jonathan Taumateine, 10. Jackson Garden-Bachop, 11. Kyren Taumoefolau, 12. Danny Toala, 13. Lalomilo Lalomilo, 14. Tevita Ofa, 15. William Havili

Bench: 16. Tomasi Maka, 17. Monu Moli, 18. Pone Fa'amausili , 19. Ofa Tauatevalu, 20. Sione Havili Talitui, 21. Melani Matavao, 22. Julian Savea, 23. Patrick Pellegrini.

Highlanders: 1. Ethan de Groot, 2. Soane Vikena, 3. Saula Ma'u, 4. Fabian Holland, 5. Oliver Haig, 6. Te Kamaka Howden, 7. Sean Withy, 8. Hugh Renton (cc), 9. Nathan Hastie, 10. Cameron Millar, 11. Jonah Lowe, 12. Timoci Tavatavanawai (cc), 13. Thomas Umaga-Jensen, 14. Sam Gilbert, 15. Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens

Bench: 16. Jack Taylor, 17. Josh Bartlett, 18. Rohan Wingham, 19. Mitch Dunshea, 20. Veveni Lasaqa, 21. Folau Fakatava, 22. Taine Robinson, 23. Jake Te Hiwi

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