Moana Pasifika celebrated their greatest victory in Super Rugby Pacific with a pulsating 40-31 triumph over the Hurricanes at North Harbour Stadium on Saturday evening, snapping a 20-match losing streak against New Zealand opposition.
Key moments:
15′ – Brayden Iose powers over from scrum base after Delany’s lineout steal, Godfrey converts (0-7)
19′ – Miracle Fai’ilagi peels from maul to score Moana’s first try, Pellegrini converts to level (7-7)
22′ – Ruben Love scores in corner after ball ricochets off his knee, Godfrey’s conversion drifts wide (7-12)
28′ – Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa crashes over from close range, Pellegrini’s conversion gives Moana 14-12 lead
36′ – Brayden Iose yellow carded for cynical infringement
HT – Moana lead 14-12, Ardie Savea doesn’t return after half-time (hamstring concern)
41′ – Kyren Taumoefolau wins race to Pellegrini’s perfectly weighted chip, Pellegrini converts from sideline (21-12)
44′ – Taumoefolau makes stunning break, Fai’ilagi scores second try (26-12)
51′ – Tom Savage yellow carded for head contact
57′ – Isaia Walker-Leawere yellow carded for dangerous tackle on Toala who leaves injured
58′ – Millennium Sanerivi scores off lineout drive with Hurricanes down to 14, Pellegrini converts (35-12)
61′ – Peter Lakai crashes over beside the posts for Hurricanes, Godfrey converts (35-19)
65′ – Fai’ilagi completes historic hat-trick with powerful finish, Pellegrini’s conversion attempt misses (40-19)
71′ – Ngatungane Punivai scores under posts after Roigard break, Godfrey converts (40-26)
74′ – Debutant Jone Rova scores in corner, Godfrey misses conversion (40-31)
80′ – Hohepa spills ball in final attack as Moana secure famous win
The home side, inspired by a masterful performance from Tongan first five-eighth Patrick Pellegrini and a historic hat-trick from loose forward Miracle Fai’ilagi, secured their first win of the 2025 season in spectacular fashion, outscoring the visitors six tries to five in a match that showcased Pacific rugby at its exhilarating best.
The victory carried extra significance as it came despite losing former Hurricanes talisman Ardie Savea at half-time to a hamstring concern, with the star loose forward lasting just 40 minutes against the team he represented with distinction for nearly a decade.
From the outset, Tana Umaga’s men showed their attacking intent, absorbing early pressure from the Hurricanes whose handling errors in the opening exchanges prevented them from building momentum. Pellegrini’s tactical kicking repeatedly turned the visitors, finding crucial territory that would later prove decisive.
The Hurricanes struck first in the 15th minute when number eight Brayden Iose powered over from close range following a dominant scrum, with Harry Godfrey adding the conversion. However, Moana responded just four minutes later as Fai’ilagi peeled away from a driving maul to crash over for his first, with Pellegrini levelling the scores.
The visitors regained the lead in somewhat fortuitous circumstances after 23 minutes when fullback Ruben Love, making his first appearance of the season following injury, gathered a loose ball that had ricocheted off his knee before diving over in the corner. Godfrey’s conversion attempt drifted wide.
Pellegrini’s influence grew as the half progressed, a sublime 50/22 kick setting up field position for Moana’s second try. After sustained pressure, prop Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa twisted through tackles to score near the posts, with Pellegrini’s conversion giving the hosts a slender 14-12 half-time advantage.
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The pivotal moments came immediately after the break with Savea absent from the field. Rather than faltering without their star, Moana Pasifika produced their most devastating rugby, scoring twice in quick succession to seize control of the contest.
First, Pellegrini delivered a perfectly weighted chip kick that winger Kyren Taumoefolau chased down to score in the corner. Minutes later, a breathtaking team move saw Taumoefolau hurdle a defender before linking with Pellegrini, whose offload sent Fai’ilagi over for his second try, extending the lead to 26-12.
The match descended into chaos midway through the second half with yellow cards shown to Moana’s Tom Savage for head contact and the Hurricanes’ Isaia Walker-Leawere for a dangerous no-arms tackle that forced Danny Toala from the field.
Despite being temporarily reduced to 14 men, Moana struck again through hooker Millennium Sanerivi, who detached cleverly from a lineout drive to score their fifth try. When Fai’ilagi completed his hat-trick in the 65th minute – the first in Moana Pasifika’s history – following another mesmerising passage of play involving Pellegrini, the North Shore crowd erupted in celebration with their side leading 40-19.
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The Hurricanes, to their credit, mounted a spirited comeback in the final quarter as All Blacks halfback Cam Roigard injected pace after coming off the bench. Peter Lakai burrowed over from close range before Ngatungane Punivai and debutant Jone Rova crossed in quick succession to reduce the deficit to nine points with five minutes remaining.
However, Moana’s defence held firm in the closing stages, securing a famous victory that will be remembered as a watershed moment for Pacific Island rugby in the competition.
For the Hurricanes, this defeat continues their inconsistent start to the season, slumping to a 1-3 record that leaves them languishing near the bottom of the table. The visitors were hampered by 11 handling errors and struggled to contain Moana’s physicality at the breakdown, with Iose’s yellow card shortly before half-time proving costly.
“This is what we’ve been working towards,” said a delighted Tana Umaga afterwards. “The boys have shown plenty of heart over the first three rounds, going close each time, but tonight they clearly learned from those experiences and tightened up their errors.”
Man of the match Pellegrini, starting his first match for Moana after impressing off the bench last week, controlled proceedings magnificently with his tactical kicking and distribution. “Patrick made the correct choice on each and every occasion, helping build momentum perfectly,” noted commentators as the first five-eighth converted five of the six tries.
The result marks only Moana Pasifika’s second win against New Zealand opposition in their four-year Super Rugby history, and suggests Umaga’s side could be a much tougher proposition for rivals in 2025 despite Savea’s early departure not boding well for his availability in coming weeks.
Moana Pasifika now enjoy a bye week before hosting the Chiefs in Pukekohe on March 21, while the Hurricanes face a challenging trip to Dunedin next Friday to take on the Highlanders as they desperately seek to revive their campaign.
