Moana Pasifika v Chiefs
Kick-off: 7:05pm Friday 21 March
Navigation Homes Stadium, Pukekohe
Live blog updates on RNZ Sport
Moana are back from their bye week and face the toughest test yet of their season, coming up against a Chiefs side that's leading the competition. Nevertheless, Tana Umaga's team are coming off their first win of the year and are hopeful of keeping that form going. Meanwhile, Clayton McMillan's side had a pulsating one point win over the Blues last weekend.
Super Rugby Pacific standings after round 5 Photo: supplied
Team lists
Moana Pasifika: 1. Abraham Pole, 2. Millennium Sanerivi, 3. Sione Mafile'o, 4. Tom Savage (c), 5. Allan Craig, 6. Ola Tauelangi, 7. Miracle Faiilagi, 8. Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa, 9. Jonathan Taumateine, 10. Patrick Pellegrini, 11. Kyren Taumoefolau, 12. Lalomilo Lalomilo, 13. Pepesana Patafilo, 14. Losi Filipo, 15. William Havili
Bench: 16. Sama Malolo, 17. Tito Tuipulotu, 18. Chris Apoua, 19. Michael Curry, 20. Semisi Paea, 21. Melani Matavao, 22. Tevita Ofa, 23. Tuna Tuitama
Chiefs: 1. Jared Proffit, 2. Bradley Slater, 3. Reuben O'Neill, 4. Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 5. Tupou Vai'i, 6. Samipeni Finau, 7. Kaylum Boshier, 8. Luke Jacobson (c), 9. Xavier Roe, 10. Damian McKenzie, 11. Leroy Carter, 12. Gideon Wrampling, 13. Daniel Rona, 14. Emoni Narawa, 15. Shaun Stevenson
Bench: 16. Samisoni Taukei'aho, 17. Aidan Ross, 18. Sione Ahio, 19. James Thompson, 20. Jahrome Brown, 21. Cortez Ratima, 22. Josh Jacomb, 23. Quinn Tupaea
Moana selections
Tom Savage. Photo: ActionPress
Ardie Savea is out with a hamstring complaint, so the loose forwards are reshuffled. Ola Tauelangi starts at blindside with Miracle Faiilagi at open, with the destructive Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa continuing at number eight. Savea's absence means that Tom Savage takes over as captain, the Englishman establishing himself as a key man in the Moana forward pack.
Chiefs selections
Kaylum Boshier celebrates his second try. Photo: Photosport
The Chiefs have a loose forward rejig of their own, with Simon Parker out hurt and Kaylum Boshier starting at openside. Quinn Tupaea rotates to the bench and Gideon Wrampling gets a start, Damian McKenzie is back at 10 and has Josh Jacomb backing him up. James Thompson will debut off the bench on his provincial home track.
Key stats
Tupou Vaa'i of the Chiefs scores. Photo: Photosport
The Chiefs have won all five of their Super Rugby Pacific games against Moana Pasifika, scoring over 40 points in each of those games. They have outscored Moana Pasifika 78-3 in the first halves of the last three games.
Moana Pasifika have scored six tries within the opening 20 minutes of games so far this Super Rugby Pacific season, the joint-most of any team in the competition.
Tupou Vaa'i has scored one try in each of his last two Super Rugby Pacific games, the first time since May 2021 that he's scored in back-to-back games. He scored one try in his first game against Moana Pasifika in Round 5, 2022 but hasn't scored in four games against them since.
What they're saying
"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." - Moana Pasifika coach Tana Umaga.
"They need to be respected. So for us that looks like genuine preparation, making sure we don't leave any stone unturned. Because we know it'll be an intense battle." - Chief coach Clayton McMillan.
The last time they met
Chiefs 43 - 7 Moana Pasifika
One way traffic at Mt Smart, with the Chiefs sending out a very strong side to deal to Moana as they closed in on the playoffs and an eventual grand final berth. Moana didn't help themselves with two early yellow cards and Josh Jacomb made a mark in his second Super Rugby match with a try.
What's going to happen
This will be a really tough test for Moana, although the Chiefs have certainly shown in the last fortnight that even they have their weaknesses. Moana's success this year has been built on good starts, and they can take heart in the fact that their win over the Hurricanes didn't need the heroics of Ardie Savea to pull it off in the second half. However, if they are to have any chance they will have to probably score 30+ points, as the Chiefs will certainly be good for at least five tries.
