Moana Pasifika captain Ardie Savea is issuing a rallying cry to his players, as they turn their attention to a must-win game against the Hurricanes in the final round of the season to qualify for the Super Rugby Pacific playoffs.
Moana Pasifika headed into the penultimate round against the Chiefs full of confidence on the back of three straight wins, but were handed a brutal reality check in a humiliating 85-7 defeat in Hamilton.
Despite the loss, Moana Pasifika still hold the sixth and final playoffs spot but will need to pick themselves up for a trip to the Hurricanes on Saturday, a team they’ve already beaten this season.
With the Chiefs, Crusaders, Brumbies, Hurricanes and Reds guaranteed spots in the playoffs, there is a three-team shootout for the final spot between Moana Pasifika, the Blues and the Waratahs.
The Blues host the Waratahs at Eden Park before Moana Pasifika’s clash with the Hurricanes, so Savea’s men will play with the benefit of knowing the result of that match and will be aware of what is needed to finish sixth.
Before that, there will be a huge week of preparation and Savea knows this is arguably the biggest match in Moana Pasifika’s short history.
Savea says it is a great lesson, not only for himself but for everyone that played last night.
Savea was pulled from the field midway through the second half, with coach Tana Umaga saying his skipper had an injury, although he wasn’t willing to go into details.
Umaga has played and coached in many big games in his career, and the former New Zealand captain knows the magnitude of Saturday’s clash in Wellington.
He says they just got to go down there and try to win, whatever happens after that happens.
Moana Pasifika will play the Hurricanes this Saturday at 7.35pm in Wellington.
