Battle of the Pacific: Making tackles key to containing Fijian rugby flair, says coach

The stage is set for a fierce clash as Moana Pasifika prepare to host the Fijian Drua in the Super Rugby Pacific ANZAC round at North Harbour Stadium this Saturday.

Moana Pasifika’s defence coach, Alando Soakai, says they are ready for what’s branded the Battle of the Pacific.

“We’re excited to be playing back home,” Soakai told Nemai Tagicakibau on Pacific Days. “It sounds like it’s going to be sold out, which is great. I expect to have an island party on Saturday.”

He says matches between the two Pacific teams have always been close.

“Every year we’ve played against the Drua, it’s been a close game,” he says. “They’re coming into this game with momentum.”

The Drua are at the bottom of the Super Rugby Pacific ladder but scored a strong 28-14 result against the Waratahs last weekend and will be looking for back-to-back wins.

Meanwhile, Moana Pasifika had a Saturday night shocker, losing 24-0 to the Brumbies. They now sit just ahead of the Drua in 10th place.

It's a bottom-of-the-table clash, but Soakai says both teams are in good form, and the rivalry has been consistently tight.

If history is anything to go by, the Drua hold the edge with four wins from five matches against Moana Pasifika since both teams joined Super Rugby Pacific in 2022.

Watch Alando Soakai's full interview below

Soakai stepped into the Moana Pasifika coaching role this year after guiding the Wellington Lions to the 2023 NPC title, bringing fresh leadership to the franchise.

A former Highlander and All Black Sevens player, he has been coaching for less than 10 years and is now focused on shaping Moana’s defence.

“There’s a couple of principles I stand with,” he says.

“The simple one is winning the tackle. Pride in making sure there’s two in the tackle. If you get that right, everything else can flow on from there.

“Saturday, it’s going to be some big Fijian boys running. It’s really important you make sure there’s two in the tackle.”

Members of Moana Pasifika coaching staff with former All Black Pita Alatini. From left, head coach Fa'alogo Tana Umaga, Pita Alatini, backs and skills coach Vaovasamanaia Seilala Mapusua, and defence coach Alando Soakai. Photo/Instagram.

When asked how he balances line speed and defensive structure, Soakai says it depends on the players.

“You’ve got to be really fit, then you need structure and mindset. The three things I look at are skillset, structure, and mindset.”

Facing Fijian flair requires a smart and disciplined approach, Soakai says.

“They like to offload and keep the ball alive, that’s why we’ve got to make our tackles stick and take that out of the game.”

The match will also mark the first time the Savea brothers, Julian and Ardie, have shared the pitch together in a Moana Pasifika jersey.

Soakai says the mood in camp is positive and grounded in shared values.

The match on Saturday will be the first time brothers Ardie Savea, left, and Julian Savea have been on the pitch together playing for Moana Pasifika. Photo/Supplied.

“It was a really good morning. We start off with a pēhina lotu. One of the players will speak. They might share a Bible verse or a message to inspire.”

“Our boys enjoy their kava. They tend to have a kava session once a week. It’s their time to connect and relax. It’s something that’s within our culture.”

He says he hasn’t seen any manioke or tapioca in camp yet, “but I wouldn’t be surprised if it shows up; that’s part of who we are.”

Looking ahead to Saturday, Soakai expects another tight contest.

“It’s got to be a close game (but) if we play the game we want to play, things will take care of themselves.”

Kick-off is Saturday afternoon at North Harbour Stadium, but you'll need to be quick to buy tickets.

Alando Soakai with PMN Tonga presenter John Pulu. Photo/Facebook.

Head-to-Head Match Results

• May 2022: Fijian Drua 34 – 19 Moana Pasifika

• February 2023: Fijian Drua 36 – 34 Moana Pasifika

• May 2023: Fijian Drua 47 – 46 Moana Pasifika

• March 2024: Moana Pasifika 39 – 36 Fijian Drua

• April 2024: Fijian Drua 24 – 17 Moana Pasifika