Hurricanes v Moana Pasifika: what you need to know
Hurricanes v Moana Pasifika
Kick-off: 7:05pm Saturday 31 May
Sky Stadium, Wellington
Live blog updates on RNZ Sport
Can Moana Pasifika lock in their first ever play-off spot? Ardie Savea will lead them out against his old team the Hurricanes, in his hometown, as they face must win circumstances. Depending on the result of today's earlier result between the Blues and Waratahs, Moana either need a win or a bonus point win to secure sixth spot and a play-off berth next weekend.
Meanwhile, the Canes have plenty to play for themselves, as they can secure fourth spot and a potential second life under the new play-off format.
READ: what every teams needs to do in the final round of Super Rugby Pacific
Hurricanes:
1. Xavier Numia, 2. Jacob Devery, 3. Tyrel Lomax, 4. Zach Gallagher, 5. Hugo Plummer, 6. Devan Flanders, 7. Du'Plessis Kirifi (cc), 8. Peter Lakai, 9. Cam Roigard, 10. Brett Cameron, 11. Fatafehi Fineanganofo, 12. Peter Umaga-Jensen, 13. Billy Proctor (cc), 14. Bailyn Sullivan, 15. Ruben Love
Bench: 16. Raymond Tuputupu, 17. Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18. Pasilio Tosi, 19. Will Tucker, 20. Brad Shields (cc), 21. Ereatara Enari, 22. Jone Rova, 23. Tjay Clarke
Moana Pasifika:
1. Tito Tuipulotu, 2. Millennium Sanerivi, 3. Feleti Sae-Ta'ufo'ou, 4. Tom Savage, 5. Samuel Slade, 6. Miracle Faiilagi, 7. Ardie Savea, 8. Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa, 9. Jonathan Taumateine, 10. Patrick Pellegrini, 11. Solomon Alaimalo, 12. Julian Savea, 13. Lalomilo Lalomilo, 14. Kyren Taumoefolau, 15. Tevita Ofa
Bench: 16. Samiuela Moli, 17. Abraham Pole, 18. Chris Apoua, 19. Allan Craig, 20. Lotu Inisi, 21. Melani Matavao, 22. Jackson Garden-Bachop, 23. Pepesana Patafilo
Brett Cameron glides through to score.
Photo:
Photosport
Brett Cameron gets the start at first five, moving Ruben Love back to fullback. They're backed up by debutant Tjay Clarke and Jone Rova on the bench, while up front Jacob Devery starts at hooker in place of Asafo Aumua. Devan Flanders gets his first start of the season, at blindside.
Julian Savea of Moana Pasifika.
Photo:
Bianca De Marchi / www.photosport.nz
No William Havili for a second week in a row, which means Tevita Ofa will be hoping for a less torrid time at fullback that he faced in last weekend's demolition by the Chiefs. The only change is Julian Savea coming in at second five for the injured Danny Toala, which means both Savea brothers will be facing the side that made them All Blacks over the last decade and a half.
Moana Pasifika loose forward Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa during the Super Rugby Pacific v the Blues at Eden Park on Saturday, 12 April 2025.
Photo:
Brett Phibbs / www.photosport.nz
The Hurricanes have won all three of their Super Rugby Pacific matches against Moana Pasifika at Sky Stadium by an average margin of 32.7 points per game, scoring 52 points per game across those three wins.
Moana Pasifika have won two of their last three Super Rugby Pacific matches after conceding 50+ points in the game prior.
Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa has made 146 carries committing two or more tacklers this Super Rugby Pacific season, 27 more than any other player in the competition.
"It will be good playing in Wellington, but I just want to do my best for the team and for myself after the weekend, we want to respond and it just happens that we are in Wellington, so it's going to be massive." - Moana captain Ardie Savea.
"We're aware of (Savea's) strengths as a player, of their team's strengths. It'll be a tough game, they had a blip on the weekend but we're sure that's all it was. We've been super impressed." - Hurricanes coach Clark Laidlaw.
Moana Pasifika 40 - 31 Hurricanes
No matter what happens from here on out, the last time these sides played will be noted as a real turning point for Moana. After losing their first three games, Savea, Patrick Pellegrini and Miracle Faiilagi played big roles in the upset win, which set Moana on the trajectory to a potential play-off berth this weekend.
The good news for Moana is that they would need a lot to go wrong to repeat last weekend's horrific result, the bad is that the Hurricanes are the form team of the competition and are unbeaten in their last five games. Moana will have to essentially repeat what they did against them the last time, which was to shoot out to a big lead and defend all the way into the second half, however it's unlikely the Hurricanes will let that happen.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
an hour ago
- RNZ News
Bore water near Christchurch Men's Prison returns clear results after diesel leak
Some neighbouring properties had been told to stop using water from their private bores. Photo: Luke McPake / The Wireless Corrections says further testing of bore water near Christchurch Men's Prison after a diesel leak has returned clear results. It comes after about 14,000 litres of diesel leached into the ground at the prison on May 24 after the hatch of a fuel tank was left open, potentially affecting the water supplies of neighbouring properties. Corrections custodial services commissioner Leigh Marsh said a sample taken from outside the prison on June 6 returned a clear result on Tuesday. A sample taken from 200 metres outside the prison perimeter on May 28 tested positive for dissolved hydrocarbon and Corrections visited 40 properties to determine who was affected. Eight affected neighbouring properties had been told to stop using water from their private bores for drinking, cooking or feeding stock or animals and use water from other sources until the potential contamination was addressed. It remained safe for showering and washing. Marsh said that advice from the National Public Health Service regarding water use had not changed. "The sample taken from the same site on 28 May remains the only positive result from our testing. While this is a good sign, we are still taking a cautious approach and testing will continue." Marsh said neighbouring residents would be kept informed of test results and it would ensure that they had the water they needed. Corrections was now working through an updated testing and monitoring plan, with additional bores being drilled on site, and additional testing sites included in its plan. Results from these tests would help to determine the next steps as it worked with the National Public Health Service to understand when we can see a safe return to normal. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
an hour ago
- RNZ News
Heat on Agriculture Minister Todd McClay to deliver KiwiSaver farm promise
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone The heat is on the Agriculture Minister to deliver this term on a pre-election promise to unlock KiwiSaver so it can be used to buy a first farm, a flock of sheep or herd of cows, and not just a house. At the moment, if you have been contributing to KiwiSaver for three years, you can withdraw almost all the money to buy a first home to live in, although there are a few exceptions. As a general rule, you can't have owned a home or land before. But there are some exceptions for second chance buyers who, for example, might have been through a relationship breakup. Federated Farmers has launched a petition urging the government to loosen the rules for accessing the retirement scheme, saying it will turbo charge the next generation of farmers and deliver on a commitment that Agriculture Minister Todd McClay made during a meeting in Morrinsville prior to the election. The minister has now said that his comments were a National Party promise, rather than a coalition promise. But McClay told Checkpoint he does intend to uphold the promise before the end of the government's term. "I hope to have an announcement later this year and yes, that would be before the end of this term. But the work is underway now," he said. "We're gonna work pretty hard on it. If there is a reason not to, I'll front up and tell them. But I'm confident that it will be done before the election" McClay said that while he is determined to stick to the pre-election promise, he wants to ensure that it does not come with any unintended consequences. "You've gotta make sure that it's fair cause there will be others in the economy that say, well, you know, I want to use my KiwiSaver to buy a business that also allows me to get into a farm," he said. "Secondly, it's around whether if you get a flock of sheep and what happens if you decide that you don't wanna go any further, and then purchase a home... then money might go back into KiwiSaver." McClay said that because of these scenarios, the overall policy responsibility lies with another minister. "As Agriculture Minister, I'm focused on what we can do for farmers... I think there's a much broader conversation than I'm willing to have as the Agriculture Minister." Federated Farmers Dairy Chair Richard McIntyre told Checkpoint the changes would help young farmers get on the property ladder. "This is a chance to allow young farmers to actually progress their way up the ladder, investing in in small scale business ownership with ultimately the goal of buying a farm," he said. "A tangible asset like a flock or herd that gets young farmers progressing up up the ladder within the agriculture sector makes a huge amount of sense." He said although the promise hasn't yet been delivered, he still has faith in the Agriculture Minister to deliver. "We've still got a lot of confidence that we're gonna get this over the line. It's just taking a little bit more work and a bit more pressure than we'd like it to." McClay said that this government has already delivered the majority of what Federated Farmers had called for prior to the election, as well as intending to fulfil this final promise in some form. "We announced probably 25 pieces of policy and [Federated Farmers] had a list of 12 that we had already put out. Of those, 11 have been delivered on fully or are now underway with law changes." National MP for Rangitīkei Suze Redmayne submitted a members bill late last year, which will achieve some of what Federated Farmers is calling for, but it is yet to be drawn from the ballot. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
3 hours ago
- RNZ News
'I felt grateful and ready for the world' - students graduate with qualifications in carving and weaving
Graduates Kingi Aupouri and Tawhiri Solomon tempering their taiaha. Photo: Supplied / Te Puia Nine tauira (students) graduated from the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute in Rotorua last week with qualifications in whakairo rākau (wood carving), whakairo pounamu me te wheua (stone and bone carving) and raranga me te whatu (weaving), with an exhibition open at Āhua Gallery to share their taonga. Te Wānanga Whakairo Rākau graduate Kingi Aupouri (Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao, Ngāti Tarāwhai, Ngāti Tūwharetoa) was one of three who did the wero in the haka pōhiri with a taiaha he carved and tempered. Graduation was special with his whānau over the moon with happiness, he said. "I loved it, I had a good tangi, they were happy tears, as I felt the moment and reflected on everything that I'd achieved for my whānau and the responsibility ahead with my new journey of carving. It was special to see my nan Emily Schuster's photo on the stage too." Graduate Kingi Aupouri does the wero with the taiaha he carved and tempered. Photo: Supplied / Te Puia The New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute (NZMACI) operates on-site at Te Puia in Rotorua and is home to: Te Wānanga Whakairo Rākau (National Wood Carving School), Te Takapū o Rotowhio (National Stone and Bone Carving School) and Te Rito o Rotowhio (the National Weaving School). Under the 2020 New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute Vesting Act, tohunga conferred qualifications are given, with a history going back 99 years since Tā Apirana Ngata set up the original Act of Parliament and wānanga. This allows traditional practices to be taught and passed to a level of excellence. Te Takapū o Rotowhio graduate Maaka Toi, had his father Gordon Toi (a 12th intake Whakairo Rākau graduate) speaking in the proceedings. Maaka said graduation made him reflect on his grandparent's generation and how they didn't have these opportunities, so to be able to have studied the arts at NZMACI had been empowering. "I felt proud, supported, grateful and ready for the world. I felt blessed and stoked for myself, my peers and my family. "I came to NZMACI aiming for success and the school has given me the tools to be successful - to utilise persistence, patience, perseverance, humility, resilience, respect and longevity to last the test of time." 2025 New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute Graduates. L-R: Maaka Toi, Kingi Aupouri, Te Okiwa Morgan, Taj Winika, Hetekia Waimotu, Tawhiri Solomon, Melissa Tamamasui, Anahera Emile, Inanga Andrews. Photo: Supplied / Te Puia Te Rito o Rotowhio graduate Anahera Emile (Ngāti Te Roro o te Rangi, Ngāti Uenukukopako, Ngāti Popoto) said graduation was a bit overwhelming and then seeing the Āhua Gallery exhibition felt emotional. "Seeing all our mahi in the exhibition looking beautiful - you can feel the energy. Everyone here with me said they were proud." New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute general manager Eraia Kiel said graduation reminds us of why the Institute was established - to perpetuate traditional art forms. "This is a significant day. I'm so proud of these nine tauira, as they now take on the responsibility of the pōito to keep afloat our kupenga (net) - being our arts, crafts, and culture." Kingi Aupouri tempering his taiaha over an open flame for four days, seven hours a day. Photo: Supplied / Te Puia The graduate exhibition Tātai Whetū featuring the taonga of graduates is open until 6 July, with some pieces going to the NZMACI collection and others available to buy. One of the Graduate taonga going into collections is a taiaha by Aupouri. He and Tāwhiri Solomon both tempered a taiaha each in a fire using traditional techniques. They studied the Taonga Māori Collection at Te Papa and carved their taonga inspired by taiaha from the 1800s. Over four days, for seven hours a day, Aupouri and Solomon tempered their taiaha over open flames of a fire, turning them constantly and letting the flames of the fire lick the rākau (wood) while also working the taiaha with linseed oil, which works as a protectant over the surface of the wood, helping it to not burn. The tempering made the taiaha stronger and lighter with a unique finish. This was the first time this technique had been done by tauira at NZMACI. 2025 New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute Graduates and their whānau in front of Te Aronuia-ā-Rua wharenui at Te Puia. Photo: Supplied / Te Puia Speaking to how it feels to see it in the exhibition, Aupouri said he had asked for it to remain uncovered, so people can touch it and feel it. "It's not just visual, but an interactive piece as well because of the tempering and traditional aweawe. I want people to be able to feel how dense the timber is, feel the design on the upoko and touch the aweawe. "Not many are doing this style of aweawe which I saw in the Te Papa Collection, so a big thanks to Te Rito o Rotowhio Tumu Cori Marsters who helped with the materials and method. "I'd also like to acknowledge Layton Robertson who answered our pātai on the process and methodology to temper taiaha." The next intake of tauira takes place on 30 June. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
