One of Super Rugby Pacific’s standout fixtures took place on Saturday afternoon, with Moana Pasifika hosting Fijian Drua at North Harbour Stadium in Albany.
Clashes between these two Pacific teams are always captivating, and Round 11 delivered once again. Moana Pasifika raced out to a 22-point advantage before a spirited second-half fightback from the Drua made for a tense finish.
Moana Pasifika skipper Ardie Savea expressed his pride in being part of such a meaningful match, highlighting the deep connections between the two sides.
“It was a special night for the Pacific, playing against our Fijian Drua brothers and bringing together our cultures—this is what rugby is about,” Savea said after the match.
“At the final whistle, it was important for us to come together. We share similar upbringings, and it’s just a wonderful chance to show our appreciation to the Drua players and their families.
“Everyone can see the journey both clubs are on—trying to carve out a future for our people. It’s been dubbed the Battle of the Pacific, and it’s heartwarming to see the shared respect for our cultures and faith, which is so central to who we are.”
Moana Pasifika head coach Tana Umaga was pleased with his side’s hard-fought win, but noted the physical toll the match had taken.
“Really happy with the victory, but we had to dig deep early on,” Umaga said.
“It became a real arm-wrestle in that first half-hour, but our defence stood strong, which is something we’ve been working on.
“When we finally got some ball later in the game, we started to break through and score. There are definitely some tired and battered bodies after that, but we’re delighted with the outcome.”
Savea echoed his coach’s thoughts, crediting their defensive effort for withstanding the Drua’s late surge.
“The Drua kept the pressure on us, but we managed to weather the storm and slowly build a lead,” Savea explained.
“Our defence really bailed us out at times. I don’t think the final score tells the full story, because we had to make a lot of tackles—the Drua brothers are always a real threat with ball in hand.”
