Moana Pasifika will finally make their Super Rugby debut against the benchmark Crusaders team after two failed starts.
Moana Pasifika has twice been delayed in her first appearance in Super Rugby Pacific. The tournament’s newcomers COVID caused the match against the Blues to be delayed. The second round match against Chiefs was also postponed due to the players’ inability to prepare.
Fijian Drua played twice in the Australian section, but the New Zealand section lacks the Pacific flavour that Moana Pasifika expects to bring.
The young Moana Pasifika players have been training for months and now they will be able to play against the best Super Rugby team. The Crusaders won Super Rugby Aotearoa in 2013 and are undefeated in their two matches this year.
Aaron Mauger, head coach, said that his job was to prepare his team for their debut by “encouraging our young guys first time up and to back themselves.”
They are here because they believe in them, and they are here because trust is what we have in common,” Mauger stated. “That builds the more time that we spend together on the grass.
We’ve only played one game, but we’ve been through a lot of trainings and the intensity is building. We are quite happy with where we are at the moment. It’s going be hard, but we are looking forward to it.
Crusaders will be facing a team that they have never seen before, and have little to no way of assessing. Moana Pasifika has a strong front line and backline that can promote the style and flair they want.
Scott Robertson, Crusaders head coach, said that “I believe you stick to your strengths” and that Moana Pasifika strengths would be their power play.
“They have players all over the field who can tear you apart. They are probably trying to express themselves. They have a lot of potential. They deserve our respect.”
Fijian Drua will also be playing Friday against the Melbourne Rebels, as they continue to seek their first Super Rugby victory. The Western Force will play the Queensland Reds in Perth (West Australia) later.
On Saturday, the Auckland-based Blues will play the Hamilton-based Chiefs. The Wellington-based Hurricanes will play the Dunedin Highlanders. Meanwhile, the Canberra-based ACT Brumbies will host the New South Wales Waratahs.
