'Good for rugby': rivals hail Moana Pasifika influence
The rugby world is saluting the strides of Moana Pasifika after the competition's relative newcomers enjoyed their best-ever Super Rugby Pacific campaign.
Moana bowed out, somewhat unceremoniously, with a 64-12 loss to the high-flying and powerhouse Hurricanes in Wellington on Saturday night.
After joining the competition in 2022, Moana needed to record an unlikely bonus-point win over the Hurricanes to make the finals for the first time.
But a seventh-placed showing, after two wooden spoons in 2022 and 2023 before last year's 11th-spot, is rightfully being lauded.
"I do want to acknowledge Moana Pasifika and the season that they've had, and the inspiration and the excitement that they brought to our competition," said Hurricanes captain Xavier Numia.
"You can see now the amount of fans and people that are behind them and what that brings to rugby in New Zealand.
"So whether people were here tonight to support us or Moana, it doesn't matter.
"It's good for New Zealand rugby and the brand of rugby that they play and the values that they represent, things that we all have in common.
"So real credit to Moana and the things that they're doing on and off the field. They've been a joy to watch this season. There is no doubt about that."
But inspirational skipper Ardie Savea, the newly crowned Super Rugby Pacific player of the year, maintains the Pasifika are aiming higher.
"The way where you can take the momentum today, what you've done, even just in tonight's game, these moments, what this season has done, where you go from here, we're not satisfied," Savea said.
"Our goal was to win the thing and make top six, but that wasn't meant to be."
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A Crusaders team on a 16-game finals winning streak, dotted with 10 All Blacks in their starting 15, will welcome the Reds on a cold, wet Christchurch Friday night. Losses in 13 of their past 14 games, including a season-worst 43-19 drubbing this campaign, sums up the one-sided rivalry. Rob Penney's side pipped the ACT Brumbies in Canberra in their battle for second place, while the fifth-placed Reds haven't beaten a top-four side all season. "Absolutely formidable," Reds coach Les Kiss summed up ahead of their must-win qualifying final. "We'll have to take a few hits, might be on the ropes, but we just have a belief we can fight back from those moments." The belief comes from victory there last year that ended a 25-year drought - the Crusaders' only loss to an Australian side in their past 21 games - and the Reds' new-found composure behind flyhalf Tom Lynagh since. They were able to turn the tables on the Highlanders this season, resorting to their trusty scrum to engineer a comeback win. Named at No.8, Harry Wilson's availability after an injury scare on Saturday was a huge mid-week boost. And super-boot Lynagh's competition-best 87 per cent conversion rate could also prove crucial in tough conditions, while the ruck and lineout will be a battle against a Crusaders team stacked with high-calibre Test talent. "It does plant a seed for us, hopefully plants a seed of doubt for them," Kiss said of victory in Christchurch last year. "It's a challenge; he (Lynagh) is up for it and hasn't failed a challenge yet, from what I've seen. "There's been a lot said about what the Crusaders are good at over there and we respect that, but I'll back Tommy to stand up and direct us around the park. "Let's go see what happens." 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And super-boot Lynagh's competition-best 87 per cent conversion rate could also prove crucial in tough conditions, while the ruck and lineout will be a battle against a Crusaders team stacked with high-calibre Test talent. "It does plant a seed for us, hopefully plants a seed of doubt for them," Kiss said of victory in Christchurch last year. "It's a challenge; he (Lynagh) is up for it and hasn't failed a challenge yet, from what I've seen. "There's been a lot said about what the Crusaders are good at over there and we respect that, but I'll back Tommy to stand up and direct us around the park. "Let's go see what happens." Wilson's combination with flanker Fraser McReight, who is fourth in the competition with 17 turnovers from 12 games, will also be a pivotal one. McReight's influence was curbed in a 31-27 loss to the Hurricanes two weeks ago that dropped them out of the top four. Hurricanes captain and opposing flanker Du'Plessis Kirifi managed that contest superbly. Kiss has urged the Reds to avoid a repeat on Friday against a back row featuring Ethan Blackadder and Tom Christie. "Control the errors and ensure the breakdown is not left up to the ref to decide," Kiss said. "Do our job there to get the kind of ball we want." Former Reds playmaker James O'Connor will come off the bench for the Crusaders as the 34-year-old strengthens his case for a Wallabies recall. He has played just 328 minutes this year - Lynagh has logged 703 - but been impactful at the late stages with his kicking and decision-making. "He's been brilliant there, hasn't he," Kiss said of O'Connor, who left Ballymore after an injury-riddled 2024. "I can only say good things about James. He was good here ... gone over there and done a similar job. "Good luck to him, just not too much on Friday night." 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