Ardie Savea's return inspires Moana Pasifika to a historic 45-29 victory over Crusaders

Celebrations were plentiful in Christchurch and across the Pacific on Saturday as Moana Pasifika crushed the Canterbury Crusaders, 45-29, in Ōtautahi - their second massive scalp of the season.

Their first scalp came two weeks ago when they defeated the Wellington Hurricanes 40-31 in Auckland during round five of the Super Rugby Pacific competition.

While Moana was unable to repeat that feat last week against the top-of-the-table Waikato Chiefs in Pukekohe, they took away important lessons in the breakdown, defence, and playing a full 80 minutes from that match.

Led by Captain Courageous Ardie Savea, Moana stunned Crusaders' fans at the Apollo Projects Stadium in Christchurch right from the start of the game.

The six-try-to-four victory moves Moana up to ninth place in the standings, ahead of the defending champions, the Auckland Blues, and the Fijian Drua.

An emotional Savea was at a loss for words after the match, acknowledging the daunting challenge of winning in "the hardest place in New Zealand rugby".

"After last week, we said we wanted to start well, and we did that, and we talked about moments and winning each moment, and I felt like the boys stacked a lot of those moments together tonight, and we came away with the win," Savea told SkySportNZ. "So I'm just proud of the boys, proud of the boys at home. They helped us prepare well."

He says no one expected them to win, and the message for the team was to play freely, "with nothing to lose".

"We came here, we did the job, and I'm just proud of the boys. They deserve everything that comes their way. So very proud. Our team gives glory to God. We start with Him, and we always finish with Him.

"We're trying to uplift our rugby IQ and our smartness around that, and we're getting to that point. And you add that with our poly flair, we can put other teams under pressure."

The 31-year-old All Blacks superstar reflected on the deeper significance of wearing the Moana Pasifika jersey.

"You're playing for them [Pacific] than for yourself and for your organisation. You're representing the kids in front of you, you're representing the people in the islands.

"So when you have that, and it's a bigger purpose, it stirs something in your heart and allows you to come up every day and turn up to work and give it your all. So I'm proud of the boys, I'm proud of the team, but we've still got to, still got to get next week."

Despite being the underdogs, Moana showed their intent from the kickoff, with Savea, playing at number eight, scoring their first try in just two minutes in, followed by a successful conversion from flyhalf Patrick Pellegrini to make it 7-0.

Man-of-the-match and Moana Pasifika flyhalf Patrick Pellegrini, left, contributed 20 points to his team's win over the Crusaders. Photo/Moana Pasifika

The Crusaders responded quickly as hooker Ioane Moananu crossed the tryline in the sixth minute, with flyhalf James O'Connor converting to level the score at 7-7.

But Moana regained the lead when Savea scored his second try in the 16th minute, which Pellegrini converted, making it 14-7. O'Connor then reduced the deficit with a penalty goal four minutes later.

The rest of the first half belonged to the visitors, who dominated in the breakdown. Midfielder Danny Toala and Pellegrini each scored a try, with Pellegrini converting again, giving Moana a comfortable 28-10 lead at halftime.

Moana maintained their momentum at the start of the second half, with Pellegrini adding a penalty goal to extend their lead to 31-10.

But the Crusaders fought back with tries from winger Macca Springer and replacement hooker Cody Taylor bringing them within nine points at 31-22, with O'Connor managing one conversion.

Refusing to let the Crusaders spoil their party, Moana responded with tries from flanker Miracle Fai'ilagi and Pellegrini, both of which were successfully converted, stretching their lead to 45-22.

Although the Crusaders' Mitch Drummond, coming off the bench, scored a late try with six minutes to go, Rivez Reihana, who took over the kicking duties from O'Connor, converted, resulting in a final score of 45-29.

Man-of-the-match Pellegrini contributed 20 points for Moana Pasifika. His outstanding kicking game included crucial 50-22s that set up early scoring opportunities.

The 26-year-old general says the last 40 minutes against the Chiefs in Pukekohe gave them "heaps of confidence" heading to Christchurch.

"We started pretty slow, every game pretty much, so we knew if we could just get a good start and sort that first 40-20 minutes out and put a good 80 minutes together, we can put a good performance in like this," the Tongan playmaker told SkySportNZ's Jeff Wilson after the game.

Captain Courageous: Ardie Savea is tackled by the Crusaders during their round seven Super Rugby Pacific clash in Christchurch on Saturday. Photo/John Davidson

"The more we play together, the more we build those combinations, and it just goes up from here. Everyone buying in and just believing that we could do it for the full 80."

Crusaders' captain and flanker Ethan Blackadder, who filled in for David Havili, says it was a "tough night at the office".

"Moana certainly rolled their sleeves up tonight, and you saw in that first half especially their forwards' work, and great carries around the corner, game line, quick ball, and they were on fire," he told SkySportNZ after the game.

"We just couldn't build enough pressure through ill-discipline. There were five offsides in the first, what, 10 minutes? So, it's just our error rate and discipline that cost us at times. I was happy how we responded early in the second half, but it wasn't enough in the end.

"It's an even playing field, that's for sure. So, you can't take anything lightly in this comp, no way. It's disappointing. We came out to win, but I think we are going to be better for this experience. We know the areas we need to sharpen up so we'll be better."

Moana Pasifika flanker Miracle Fai'ilagi, left, scored a try against the Crusaders. Photo/Moana Pasifika

Moana's crushing defeat of the Crusaders also denied the 14-time Super Rugby champions any hope of topping the table, leaving them in third place behind the Queensland Reds and the Chiefs.

The Reds claimed the number one spot after holding off the Western Force 28-24 in Brisbane on Saturday night, and the Chiefs' bye aided the Queenslanders' ascent. The Blues and Drua are also on a break this weekend.

In other results, the ACT Brumbies held off the Otago Highlanders in Canberra 34-27, and the Hurricanes blew the NSW Waratahs out of Wellington's Regional Stadium 57-12.

In Super Rugby Aupiki, the Chiefs Manawa women beat the winless Poua 27-7 at Upper Hutt, while the Blues women suffered their first loss of the season, falling 37-29 to Matatū in Whangārei.

Looking ahead to next week, the Chiefs host the Reds on Friday, and on Saturday, Moana Pasifika will face the Waratahs at North Harbour Stadium, Fijian Drua will take on the Crusaders in Suva, Blues will battle it out with the Hurricanes at Eden Park, and the Force will host the Highlanders in Perth.

CRUSADERS (1-15): George Bower, Ioane Moananu, Fletcher Newell, Scott Barrett, Jamie Hannah, Cullen Grace, Ethan Blackadder, Fletcher Anderson, Noah Hotham, James O’Connor, Macca Springer, David Havili (c), Dallas McLeod, Chay Fihaki, Will Jordan

Replacements: Codie Taylor, Tamaiti Williams, Seb Calder, Quinten Strange, Xavier Saifoloi, Mitch Drummond, Rivez Reihana, Levi Aumua

MOANA PASIFIKA (1-15): Tito Tuipulotu, Millennium Sanerivi, Feleti Sae-Ta’ufo’ou, Sam Slade, Allan Craig, Miracle Fai'ilagi, Semisi Paea, Ardie Savea (c), Jonathan Taumateine, Patrick Pellegrini, Solomon Alaimalo, Lalomilo Lalomilo, Pepesana Patafilo, Tevita Ofa, William Havili

Replacements: Sama Malolo, Abraham Pole, Chris Apoua, Tom Savage, Alamanda Motuga, Melani Matavao, Jackson Garden-Bachop, Tuna Tuitama

Referee: Angus Gardner

Assistant Referees: Mike Winter, Jeremy Markey

TMO: Angus Mabey

Moana Pasifika will now take on the NSW Waratahs in Auckland next Saturday. The Australians were thrashed by the Hurricanes, 57-12, in Wellington on Saturday. Photo/Moana Pasifika