Super Rugby Pacific: Moana Pasifika's down but not out - coach

Super Rugby Pacific reaches its one-third mark this weekend, and round six of the competition features several exciting match-ups, starting with Friday night's clash between the Chiefs and Moana Pasifika.

The Chiefs hold on to win 50-35 despite a second-half fightback from Moana Pasifika. Twelve tries were scored, with Moana accounting for five of them.

The game was scheduled in Tonga but moved to the southern town in the Auckland region due to logistical issues.

It was a challenging task for Moana Pasifika, as they faced the top-of-the-table Chiefs without their captain, Ardie Savea, who suffered a hamstring injury before the match.

The 31-year-old All Blacks star sustained the injury during his team's round-four win against his former side, the Hurricanes.

Miracle Faiilagi, who scored a hat-trick in the Hurricanes game in Auckland, was shifted from the blindside to the openside flank to fill the gap left by Savea. Lock Tom Savage took over the captaincy in Savea's absence.

Head coach Tana Umaga says Savea’s injury is “nothing major”, but they did not want to risk him against the Chiefs.

“He’s feeling pretty confident, and we’ve just got to go with his knowledge of his body,” Umaga told a media conference.

To add to Umaga's woes, he lost winger Solomon Alaimalo, centre Danny Toala, and front rower James Lay, who were all sidelined with shoulder, knee, and elbow injuries, respectively.

Moana Pasifika head coach Tana Umaga, left, and captain Ardie Savea. Photo/Facebook

Losi Filipo replaced Alaimalo on the right wing while Lalomilo Lalomilo moved from outside to inside centre to replace Toala. Pepesana Patafilo stepped in to wear the number 13 jersey, and Abraham Pole took over for Lay at loosehead prop.

The only other change to the run-on side that started against the Hurricanes saw Ola Tauelangi come in for Faiilagi on the blindside flank.

Moana Pasifika will regret their first-half performance. They appeared down and out 40 minutes into the match in Pukekohe, with the Chiefs in a commanding lead, 43-7, at halftime.

Hooker Bradley Slater scored a try in the eighth minute, fullback Shaun Stevenson followed in the 13th, halfback Xavier Roe in the 20th, wing Leroy Carter (29th), lock Manaaki Selby-Rickit (36th), and flyhalf Damien Mckenzie in the 39th minute. Samisoni Taukei'aho, who replaced Slater, scored in the 78th minute. Mckenzie converted six of the tries and added a penalty goal.

Moana's lone first try came from fullback William Havili in the 32nd minute. In the second half, prop Abraham Pole (42nd), replacements front-rower Sama Malolo (57th) and wing Tuna Tuitama (69th), and Havili's second try in the 74th minute were all part of their comeback. Flyhalf Patrick Pellegrini converted all five tries.

While Moana rallied after the break, it was too late. The game was lost upfront, despite the Chiefs’ star-studded backline dazzling fans. The Chiefs' dominance in the forward pack was a defining factor that was impossible to ignore.

Moana conceded two scrum penalties within the first 12 minutes of the game, and former All Blacks captain Jeff Wilson, who was in the commentary box for SkySportsNZ, noted that the Moana Pasifika side “certainly wouldn’t take a scrum” after being awarded a penalty inside the Chiefs’ 22. They opted for a quick tap.

Moana also lost the game at the breakdown, as they struggled to contain the Chiefs' powerhouse upfront.

Despite the loss, Coach Umaga is optimistic about his team's chances in the next round. "We've got a little bit of confidence. We're not trying to get too far ahead of ourselves.

"We're still trying to build our game, and the guys are getting their opportunities," Umaga, who captained the All Blacks and became the first All Black with Pacific Island heritage to skipper the team, told media.

Rising Tongan superstar Kyren Taumoefolau is already making waves in New Zealand rugby. The Moana Pasifika speedster has scored five tries in four games this season.

Media reports suggest he is set to pledge his allegiance to the All Blacks ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.

Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa, Moana Pasifika's No.8, is tackled during their round six Super Rugby Pacific match against the Chiefs at Navigation Homes Stadium in Pukekohe on Friday. Photo/Phil Walter

Taumoefolau was born and raised in New Zealand but represented Tonga at the 2023 World Cup to honour his family heritage.

But he is eligible to play for the All Blacks in October next year if he doesn't don the Tongan jersey again.

"If the opportunity came, I would definitely take it with two hands. One hundred per cent," the 21-year-old told NineSports.

"It's been the dream since I was four years old, walking around in the garden with a rugby ball to put on the black jersey."

Another positive takeaway for Umaga from Friday's loss is his other wing, Tuitama, who had a dream debut in Pukekohe.

The winger caused the Chiefs all sorts of problems in the second half, scoring a try for his efforts, although a replay suggests he may have knocked the ball on.

Shaun Stevenson, Chiefs' fullback, scores against Moana Pasifika. Photo/Supplied

Looking ahead, Moana Pasifika, who remain at the bottom of the table, face a trip to Christchurch next weekend to take on the Crusaders.

Meanwhile, the Chiefs head into the bye in first place, eight points clear of the Crusaders in second.

In other matches this weekend, the Highlanders host the Queensland Reds on Saturday afternoon. At the same time, the Canterbury Crusaders travel to Auckland to face the defending champions, the Blues, and the NSW Waratahs take on the ACT Brumbies at home. On Sunday, the Western Force host the Fijian Drua in Perth.