2024 DHL Hurricanes v Moana Pasifika Super Rugby Pacific campaign will place on Friday, February 16, at the New Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sport (NZCIS) in Upper Hutt.
The Highlanders defeated Moana Pasifika 36-28 in their opening encounter of the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season at Queenstown, capping a spectacular preseason comeback.
The game will be a significant milestone for NZCIS, With a projected kickoff time of 2.30 pm, the home of the Hurricanes, as it will be the first Super Rugby Pacific pre-season encounter to be held at the high-performance facility.
Hurricanes v Moana Pasifika Pre-season game
Event: Hurricanes v Moana Pasifika
Date: 16th February 2024
Read More: How to Watch Super Rugby Pacific Game
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In addition to being essential to the team’s preparations for the DHL Super Rugby Pacific this season, Hurricanes CEO Avan Lee noted that the game against Moana Pasifika was also a fantastic chance to build relationships with Hurricanes fans.
The visitors scored three consecutive tries to hooker Sama Malalo, centre Pepesana Patafilo, and flanker Alamanda Motuga, all of which were converted by first-five William Havili, leaving the southerners behind 21-0 after the first 20 minutes of play.
The Highlanders defence shut out their opponents for the majority of the final three quarters while building some momentum of their own. Captain Sean Withy ended the drought with a try in the second quarter.
The Highlanders’ Timoci Tavatavanawai, Jona Nareki, and new fullback Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens were among their try-scorers, while centre Tanielu Tele’a and the Moana Pasifika team also displayed Pacific flare.
Next Saturday, the Highlanders will play the Hurricanes at Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium in another preseason game. On February 24, the Highlanders will play Moana Pasifika in the opening game of the regular season.
Highlanders 36 (Patchell 2 & Gilbert conversions; Withy, Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, Tavatavanawai, Nareki, Gilbert & Michaels tries) Moana Pasifika 28 (conversions from Havili 3 and Lealiifano; attempts from Malalo, Patifilo, Motuga, and Enari)