At Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland: Western Force 48 (Andrew Ready test 8 minutes, Jake McIntyre test 30 minutes, 49 minutes, Byron Ralston test 40 minutes, Toni Pulu 43 minutes, Jackson Pugh test 59 minutes, Kyle Godwin test 78 minutes, Ian Prior 4 contras, Michael McDonald with) Moana Pasifika 28 (Tima Fainga’anuku try 11min, 22min, Ezekiel Lindenmuth 51min, Tau Koloamatangi 68min; Lincoln McClutchie 4 contras). HT: 19-14 Yellow cards: Levi Aumua (Moana Pasifika) 27min
Moana Pasifika’s challenging first year has continued with a 48-26 loss to Western Force at Mt Smart Stadium as the Australian team got the bonus point victory that keeps the pressure on the Highlanders.
Fiona Goodall / Getty Images
Richard Kahui faces Moana Pasifika’s defense at Mt Smart Stadium.
Former All Black Richard Kahui went back in time with his running back in the Force No 12 shirt on Tuesday, showing Moana Pasifika’s defense clean heels with a break in the second half that led to the defender’s second attempt. by Force Jake McIntyre.
Kahui was at the center of much of the good work of the Force, while the ex-Croatian Manasa Mataele made the final break that gave the Force the victory of bonus points they longed for.
READ MORE: * Highlanders No. 10 Sam Gilbert will miss the rest of Super Rugby after a five-week ban * The Blues will be ready to throw a second thread to face the Waratahs in the Super Rugby Pacific final * Senator ‘Bam Bam’: Former Wallaby David Pocock to enter a completely new ball game * Leon MacDonald praises Blues’ “brave” effort to seal Super Rugby Pacific first place
They can still qualify for the final if they beat the Hurricanes in Perth on Saturday, and the Highlanders lose to the Rebels on Sunday without winning a bonus point.
Moana Pasifika was having a great game – if anything the pouring rain seemed to be spurring him on! In a state of frustration, both the players and the coaches repeatedly pushed the ball under the pressure of the Force jumpers.
Poor discipline, another recurring theme this year, also hurt them. Levi Aumua of Kahui was booked for kicking the ball away after the whistle.
Aumua lifted and tilted Kahui well after the former header had passed the ball outside, and Moana Pasifika midfielder may have been a bit lucky that Kahui managed to get his hand on the ground before landing in a dangerous position. .
Andrew Cornaga / Photosport
Force lock Jeremy Thrush celebrates an attempt that was later canceled due to a forward pass.
The Force scored an attempt in the absence of Aumua, and took advantage of this momentum by scoring another shortly after his return.
The opposing supporters loudly informed the referee that he was too lenient when he only showed Moana Pasifika from FC a yellow card after a mistimed challenge from behind 70 minutes into the game. Encouraged by a strong break from Alamanda Motuga and strong carries by the latter, they bounced back to a 14-5 lead after two attempts by Tima Fainga’anuku.
The No. 14 has been one of Moana Pasifika’s big promoters this year, impressing with his pace of work and determination, and is surely on the radar of Tonga coach Toutai Kefu ahead of the Pacific Nations Cup in July .
His first attempt, in particular, was a show of pure heart, as he detected a gap near the ruck and pulled away from the cover defenders.
Motuga and Sione Tu’ipulotu also had strong moments, while the young migback Manu Paea was highlighted after injecting himself into the game in the 51st minute.
Paea’s energy around the ruck played a major role in two Moana Pasifika tries in the second half, and also put pressure on Ian Prior to make a mistake at the bottom of the scrum.
Great time
Lincoln McClutchie was given a chance to change things around. Four minutes later, the Force passed through Kyle Godwin to get the vital test of bonus points.
Fiona Goodall / Getty Images
Moana Pasifika’s Tima Fainga’anuku scores a try against Western Force at Mt Smart Stadium on Tuesday.
Match rating
7.5 / 10. An entertaining finale unfolded as the Force chased the victory over the bonus points, while Force No. 10 Reesjan Pasitoa could have won some new fans with his attacking ability.
Great image
The Highlanders. Moana Pasifika closes her inaugural campaign with a home game against the Brumbies on Saturday. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that the Brumbies will aim for Moana Pasifika’s maul defense in this game, and the chances of Moana Pasifika getting her second win of the season seem slim. The Western Force returns to Perth to host the Hurricanes on Saturday with their season still alive.
MVP
For Moana Pacifica, Zion’s Promise was the best of the show.