Moana Pasifika

Tito Tuipulotu, Millennium Sanerivi, Chris Apoua, Tom Savage, Allan Craig, Miracle Faiilagi (c), Semisi Paea, Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa, Jonathan Taumateine, Patrick Pellegrini, Solomon Alaimalo, Ngani Laumape, Lalomilo Lalomilo, Tevita Ofa, Glen Vaihu

Replacements: Samiuela Moli, Abraham Pole, Lolani Faleiva, Ola Tauelangi, Tupou Afungia, Melani Matavao, Jackson Garden-Bachop, Tevita Latu

Force

Tom Robertson, Nic Dolly, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Franco Molina, Darcy Swain, Jeremy Williams (c), Carlo Tizzano, Vaiolini Ekuasi, Nathan Hastie, Ben Donaldson, Bayley Kuenzle, Hamish Stewart, George Bridge, Darby Lancaster, Mac Grealy

Replacements: Leonel Oviedo, Sef Fa'agase, Misinale Epenisa, Lopeti Faifua, Kane Koteka, Agustin Moyano, Max Burey, Kurtley Beale

George Bridge at centre?

@DurryMexted said in Moana Pasifika v Force:

George Bridge at centre?

Yeah, his third start in a row at centre. He's not going that well.

He kicked away great attacking ball twice last week with no one chasing.

@Duluth said in Moana Pasifika v Force:

@DurryMexted said in Moana Pasifika v Force:

George Bridge at centre?

Yeah, his third start in a row at centre. He's not going that well.

He kicked away great attacking ball twice last week with no one chasing.

To this day I cannot fathom how the hell he got picked ahead of Reiko Ioane in 2019. My mind boggles.

@Duluth said in Moana Pasifika v Force:

@DurryMexted said in Moana Pasifika v Force:

George Bridge at centre?

Yeah, his third start in a row at centre. He's not going that well.

He kicked away great attacking ball twice last week with no one chasing.

Haha because he can't run anymore, he now has to resort to the boot.

Moana have to win this if they want to go anywhere in this years comp. Sitting 2-1 after 3 games gives them a strong platform to pust for finals footy.

I’ve got Patrick, Ngani and Miracle in my Fantasy side this week. Come on Moana.

Hopefully Bridge disrespects Ngani’s name so he fires up.

I have gone really rogue and made Ekuasi my captain. No wonder I'm right down the bottom of the ladder

And subbed Donaldson for Pellegrini after hearing he didn't start

Gotta say I’m not fan of Paul Williams

@Steven-Harris said in Moana Pasifika v Force:

Gotta say I’m not fan of Paul Williams

A lot more pedantic than what we’ve seen from other refs in the first couple of rounds.

@Canes4life

Ekuasi looks huge

Eventually Parsons will reach a bit too far, when striving to sound emphatic, and call the ball the "nut".

The biggest pain in rugby is when a hooker can’t throw. The Moana hooker is horrible.

Shame you can’t pick a ref in your fantasy team as a joker

Unfortunately number 14 Samoa doesn’t look to be up to this level. He looks to really be struggling to keep up and he’s now dropped a sitter. Poor skill set.

The playing surface looks well short of what you'd expect of this level

Bridge that was exceptionally him lol

Miracle Faiilagi been very quiet very quiet in the first 40

@SouthernMann said in Moana Pasifika v Force:

The playing surface looks well short of what you'd expect of this level

So does the crowd

There was a concert a few weeks ago.. They should have put new turf in.

@KiwiMurph not sure why MP would move away from their Harbour base where they were starting to build something not to mention their record in Pukekohe is not flash

@Steven-Harris said in Moana Pasifika v Force:

Miracle Faiilagi been very quiet very quiet in the first 40

Was quiet last week as well.

MP is making Bridge look world class.

@Bovidae said in Moana Pasifika v Force:

MP is making Bridge look world class.

MP very very average.

As part of Moanas deal, they have a limit of games played in Auckland.

This is an awful cripple fight

@SouthernMann said in Moana Pasifika v Force:

This is an awful cripple fight

Get the hooker off. Anytime Moana get any sort of territory the hooker can’t throw it in.

Average rugby.

Well that’s the last time I include any Moana players in my Fantasy side.

A lot of the experienced MP players were poor. Taumateine is often a handbrake on attack.

@Steven-Harris said in Moana Pasifika v Force:

Miracle Faiilagi been very quiet very quiet in the first 40

He was terrible, did you see the non-defense to help let one of the tries in? Last year, I would have had him close to an AB jersey (if available). This year, half the player.

Is Bridge the centre you've been looking for?

Just watched it due to the massive time difference in Perth, and yes, it was a messy affair, the ground was a disgrace, it was a tough watch especially in the first 30 mins, but the Force deserve some credit. They battered Moana up front to my surprise, led by their big pack, Swain, Ekuasi, Williams and Moyano really led the charge in that area and managed to take Ta'ieloa and Fa'ilagi out of the equation which meant Pellegrini was playing backwards most of the night at 10. Hard for both teams to string phases together, in part due to the surface, Bridge had a good first half despite his howler (he sure loves a weaker opponent), and Lancaster had a good night too. They still look clunky and out of sync at times in posession, but they got some things right tonight so fair play to the Force. Still unsure about Hastie at 9, but he'll get plenty of opportunity there to stake his claim.

I suspect it going to longish year for MP again this year, odd good game, but not enough consistency. They certainly missed Willie Havili, and Pellegrini was having to receive all the long kicks I thought.
Although I thought Force 'retirement team' went ok, I still couldn't help feeling it was a pretty poor perfrormance from MP that set them up for win.

@African-Monkey

That one with Bridge fucking up was a very good teaching moment for my boy.

We discussed why you need to play hard to the score and should never relax until the try, basket, or any other goal is actually achieved.

Equally, we talked about why you should never quit on defense, it was great to see the man who was beat chase him down like that.

In regards to the ground condition, I am pretty sure this venue was only confirmed for this game a few weeks ago. So the grounds man was probably expecting more recovery time after the UB40/Ali Campbell concert.

It is probably the cheapest venue for Moana to hire compared to Whangarei or one of the BOP venues.

There is a limit of 5 games in Auckland for Moana

"Under their current licensing agreement, they can only host five games in Auckland per season, due to fears it would saturate the viewing market."

@mikedogz

Restriction apparently at the instigation of the Blues.
BS.
Surprised that they couldn’t get the funds together for the Tonga game.
NZ chipped in to get the stadium there refurbed; pity they didn’t do a bit more and get it some use.