A strong second-half display saw the Māori All Blacks beat Moana Pasifika 28-21 in their one-off clash in Hamilton last night.
Moana Pasifika got it going, with captain Michael Alaalatoa and Nasi Manu prominent in their Tau Kaukauwa, which featured a unique integration of Samoan, Tongan and Fijian heritage; then the Māori were as strong as ever with skipper Ash Dixon and Sean Wainui leading the charge with their Te Timatanga haka.
Moana Pasifika led 9-7 at halftime.
Moana Pasifika is understood to be New Zealand Rugby's preferred Pacific Islands representative for a revamped 2022 Super Rugby competition.
Four players with links to Fiji were in the Moana Pasifika squad.
They are former Flying Fijian Asaeli Tikoirotuma, Chiefs star Pita Gus Sowakula, former Crusaders winger Jone Macilai and All Blacks 7s star Salesi Rayasi.
🙏🏽 Thank you Moana Pasifika. 🇼🇸🇹🇴🇫🇯
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) December 5, 2020
🎥: @skysportnz #MABvMPA pic.twitter.com/D3luPSa0A1
🖤 Nothing but aroha.#MABvMPA pic.twitter.com/6vSpAxNJBx
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) December 5, 2020
Highlights
Māori All Blacks 28 (Kaleb Trask, Ash Dixon, Billy Proctor, Mitchell Karpik tries; Trask 4 con) Moana Pasifika 21 (Alamanda Motuga, Dwayne Polataivao tries; Josh Ioane con, 3 pen). HT: 7-9.
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