This will be the first Super Rugby match between Moana Pasifika and the NSW Waratahs.
The Waratahs have won eight of their last nine games in the competition when facing a team for the first time (L1).
- The NSW Waratahs have lost their last 12 Super Rugby matches in New Zealand, conceding 41 points per game in that span; their last win in the country was a 29-24 victory against the Hurricanes (Rd 10, 2015).
- Moana Pasifika has won only one of their nine Super Rugby matches (L8) and lost their last six games in succession by an average margin of 24 points.
- The NSW Waratahs have won three of their last four Super Rugby matches against teams from outside Australia (L1), after winning only one of their 16 such fixtures (L15).
- Moana Pasifika has made 22% of their total metres gained from kick returns (763/3413), the highest rate of any team.
- The Waratahs have scored six tries from mauls, the most of any team, and four more than Moana (3).
- NSW (13) and Moana (13) have conceded more penalties than any team this season.
- The Tahs (12) and Moana (13) have conceded fewer turnovers than any other side in 2022.
Players to watch
- Jamie Roberts has made dominant contact on five carries per 80 minutes, the most of any player in the competition (min. 90 minutes played).
- Timoci Tavatavanawai has beaten nine defenders per 80 minutes, the most of any player (min. 10 minutes played).
- Christian Leali’ifano (991) needs nine points to reach 1,000 Super Rugby points.
Match detail
We are waiting for the kick-off.
In the meantime, why not have a look at the match preview.
1.00: PEEEP! We are underway at Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland.
3.00: Tima Fainga’anuku’s knock-on sparks a Waratahs counter-attack that leads to a penalty. Tane Edmed boots to the corner.
6.00: Nothing comes from another good Tahs’ attack. Timoci Tavatavanawai gets over Charlie Gamble and wins the penalty. Christian Leali’ifano clears.
8.00: Moana has a good attacking opportunity with a lineout on the opposition’s 5m, but the chance is wasted with a turnover.
9.00: Christian Leali’ifano calls for the tee after the hosts win a penalty in front of the posts.
10.00: PENALTY! Leali’ifano opens the scoring. 3-0
12.00: Moana bossing the early stages with another sustained attack inside the Waratahs’ 22; however, the home team lose possession with a turnover penalty at the breakdown.
15.00: TRY! Dave Porecki overthrows the defensive lineout, and Solomone Funaki gathered to set up a counter-attack. The ball got shifted wide to the wings where Timoci Tavatavanawai went close. Abraham Pole, on the angled run, takes Ereatara Enari’s pass and crashes over for the score. 8-0
16.00: CONVERSION! Leali’ifano edges closer to 1,000 SR points. 10-0
18.00: A strong carry from Angus Bell ends with the prop being pinged for holding.
21.00: TRY! Another devastating attack on the Tahs’ line, with several pick-and-goes (eight phases, 18 metres gained, 52 seconds), ends with Levi Aumua – who started the attack – scoring under the posts with two defenders hanging off him. 15-0
22.00: CONVERSION! Leali’ifano adds the extras. 17-0
24.00: NSW has conceded six penalties, four turnovers, and two handling errors. Not good enough.
26.00: A couple of offsides by Moana ends with the Tahs winning a kickable penalty inside the opposition’s 22. Instead, Jake Gordon calls for a scrum.
27.00: Moana and Waratahs have both conceded five penalties each. Tahs opt for another scrum.
28.00: TRY! Jake Gordon goes right to Izaia Perese, who cuts inside and breaks Leali’ifano’s tackle before beating Henry Taefu to the whitewash. 17-5
30.00: CONVERSION! Tane Edmed adds the two. 17-7
32.00: The players stop for a break as Sekope Kepu gets treatment.
34.00: Another superb counter-attack by Moana Pasifika ends with a penalty going against the attacking side.
35.00: Perese’s linebreak comes to nothing after he knocks on trying to recycle to Gordon.
37.00: Edmed boots to the corner.
38.00: TRY! Several pick-and-goes end with Dave Porecki breaking left off the ruck to score next to the sticks. 17-12
39.00: CONVERSION! Edmed adds the extras. 17-14
41.00: Moana loses another lineout, and the hooter sounds. Gordon kicks to touch.
The halftime score was Moana Pasifika 17 NSW Waratahs 14
41.00: PEEEP! We are back under way in New Zealand.
42.00: NO TRY! It’s that man Perese again. this time, the ex-rugby league playmaker kicks forward after a counter-attack from the Tahs’ 22. Perese gathered and sent Alex Newsome away. However, there was a foot in touch by Timoci Tavatavanawai before the turnover. 17-14
44.00: Moana earn another kickable penalty, Leali’ifano calls for the tee, he’s looking for 1,000 pts.
46.00: HISTORY IS MADE! Leali’ifano becomes the first Pacific islander to reach 1,000 Super Rugby points. He is now the seventh player to do so in the tournament’s history. 20-14
49.00: All Moana at the minute as the Waratahs struggle to clear their lines.
53.00: A penalty near the Tahs’ line comes to nothing for the home team. The visitors clear before running into the ref to kill a counter-attack.
54.00: YELLOW CARD! Fainga’anuku is off for 10 minutes for a tip-tackle. The Tahs boot to the corner. 17-14
55.00: TRY! Mark Nawaqanitawase takes Gordon’s long cutout pass and beats Willy Havili to the corner flag. 20-19
56.00: MISS! Ben Donaldson’s conversion attempt is wide. 20-19
59.00: Moana boot a penalty to the Tahs’ 22.
61.00: TRY! Jed Holloway sends Dylan Pietsch away in the corner after Nawaqanitawase and Gordon, with some slick handling, combined to start the counter-attack. 20-24
63.00: CONVERSION! Ben Donaldson slots the touchline kick. 20-26
67.00: NO TRY! What a tackle by try scorer Pietsch! He got back to hit Fainga’anuku, whose elbow touched the chalk before he could dot down in the corner. 20-26
70.00: Moana looking for history tonight, but time is running out.
73.00: The game is falling apart at the death as the Tahs look to hold on for a win.
76.00: Moana are on the charge, they have gone through six phases as the batter away at the line.
78.00: Offside by the visitors. Gordon gets a talking to from the ref. Moana tap-and-go, but Henry Time-Stowers knocks on near the Waratahs’ try line. Donaldson clears. OH DEAR!
81.00: The Aussies manage to see out the final minutes without any hitches for a rare win in New Zealand.
FULL TIME
To refresh this page, click HERE. Live In-Play Betting.
The final score is Moana 20 (17) Waratahs 26 (14)
Scorers
Moana
Tries – Pole, Aumua
Pen – Leali’ifano (2)
Con – Leali’ifano (2)
Drop –
Cards – T. Fainga’anuku (Yellow, 54′)
Waratahs
Tries – Perese, Porecki, Nawaqanitawase, Pietsch
Pen –
Con – Edmed (2), Donaldson
Drop –
Cards –
Match Officials
Referee: Angus Gardner
Assistant Ref 1: Paul Williams
Assistant Ref 2: Mike Winter
TMO: Richard Kelly
Teams
Moana Pasifika: 15 Willy Havili, 14 Tima Fainga’anuku, 13 Levi Aumua, 12 Henry Taefu, 11 Timoci Tavatavanawai, 10 Christian Leali’ifano, 9 Ereatara Enari, 8 Henry Time-Stowers, 7 Solomone Funaki, 6 Michael Curry, 5 Sam Slade, 4 Veikoso Poloniati, 3 Sekope Kepu (captain), 2 Ray Niula, 1 Abraham Pole.
Replacements: 16 Luteru Tolai, 17 Ezekiel Lindenmuth, 18 Joe ‘Apikotoa, 19 Alex McRobbie, 20 Jack Lam, 21 Jonathan Taumateine, 22 Lincoln McClutchie, 23 Fine Inisi.
Waratahs: 15 Alex Newsome, 14 Mark Nawaqanitawase, 13 Izaia Perese, 12 Lalakai Foketi, 11 Dylan Pietsch, 10 Tane Edmed, 9 Jake Gordon (captain), 8 Rahboni Warren-Vosayaco, 7 Charlie Gamble, 6 Will Harris, 5 Geoff Cridge, 4 Jed Holloway, 3 Archer Holz, 2 Dave Porecki, 1 Angus Bell.
Replacements: 16 Tom Horton, 17 Teterta Faulkner, 18 Ruan Smith, 19 Hugh Sinclair, 20 Langi Gleeson, 21 Jack Grant, 22 Ben Donaldson, 23 Triston Reilly.
