the Super Rugby Pacific Highlanders vs Moana Pasifika will play in the encounter. The Highlanders have won both of their previous matches, giving up exactly 17 points in each game (37-17 on April 8, 2022) and (45-17 on March 31, 2023). Timoci Tavatavanawai scored one of the six Highlanders’ tries against his former team Moana Pasifika in their Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific warm-up last night.
Head Coach Clarke Dermody has named a team with few changes and welcomes back four forwards from the injury list.
The only change to the starting forward pack sees the well performed Hugh Renton (who withdrew in the warm-up of last Saturday’s win against the Fijian Drua) return at the back of the scrum. However, it’s a different story on the bench with the naming of six forwards including All Black Shannon Frizell whol is fit to return alongside Marino Mikaele-Tu’u and Andrew Makalio.
In the backs, Thomas Umaga-Jensen and Connor Garden Bachop replace the injured Jake Te Hiwi and Martin Bogado. Fetuli Paea stays at centre and Sam Gilbert at fullback after spending much of last week’s game in the midfield.
Dermody knows that Moana Pasifika present a significant challenge to the Highlander’s hopes of securing a third win in a row. “We played them in the preseason and there wasn’t much in it, they have significant threats in their backs and forwards, and it will be a difficult assignment Friday night against a team hungry for success and playing at home”.
Moana Pasifika full schedule | Highlanders vs Moana Pasifika
- Round 1: Highlanders vs Moana Pasifika. Saturday 24th February at 7:05pm (NZT)
- Round 2: Moana Pasifika vs Fijian Drua. Saturday 2nd March at 7:05pm (NZT) – Super Round, AAMI Park, Melbourne
- Round 3: Moana Pasifika vs Melbourne Rebels. Friday 8th March at 7:05pm (NZT) – North Harbour Stadium, Albany.
- Round 4: Moana Pasifika vs Western Force. Saturday 16th March at 12:00am (NZT)
- Round 5: Moana Pasifika vs Brumbies. Friday 22nd March at 9:35pm (NZT)
- Round 6: Highlanders vs Moana Pasifika. Saturday 30th March at 4:35pm (NZT) – Eden Park, Auckland.
- Round 7: Moana Pasifika vs Chiefs. Saturday 6th April at 7:05pm (NZT)
Highlanders: Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, Timoci Tavatavanawai, Tanielu Tele’a, Sam Gilbert (vc), Jona Nareki, Rhys Patchell, Folau Fakatava, Hugh Renton, Billy Harmon (capt), Sean Withy, Fabian Holland, Pari Pari Parkinson, Saula Ma’u, Henry Bell, Daniel Lienert-Brown.
Reserves: Jack Taylor, Ayden Johnstone, Jermaine Ainsley, Oliver Haig, Nikora Broughton, Nathan Hastie, Cameron Millar, Jonah Lowe