Steamers: ITM Cup Taniela Moa's first priority

Taniela Moa's dream of running onto Eden Park on September 9 to face the All Blacks in the opening game of the Rugby World Cup is over, with the combative Bay of Plenty Steamers halfback this week confirming he'll stick around for the duration of the ITM Cup before heading offshore.
Moa, back in the Steamers' lineup for today's clash with North Harbour at Mt Maunganui's Baypark Stadium, was an unknown quantity heading into the ITM Cup, with Bay of Plenty unsure if he'd be picked to play for Tonga at the World Cup or go overseas, hence the signing of halfback Jamie Nutbrown as insurance.
But 25-year-old Moa isn't going anywhere yet and will play out a second full season for Bay of Plenty before going to France, where he's signed for an undisclosed club side.
"I haven't told too many people yet but it (the deal in France) is all sorted and I feel quite content. After the Super 15 I didn't really know what I was going to do but prior to the ITM Cup starting, a few clubs came knocking on my door. It's nice to know I'm wanted."
Somewhere Moa isn't required is with Tonga at the World Cup, having fallen foul of coach Isitolo Maka, a former All Blacks No 8.
Coincidentally or not, three of the highest profile players out of favour with Maka are current or former Bay of Plenty players - Moa, former Tongan captain Nili Latu and hooker Aleki Lutui.
Moa was keen to play for Tonga but has been axed for good after an incident before last year's Pacific Nations Cup. Maka claims Moa was supposed to be back in New Zealand having a medical check-up but instead played in Hawaii.
"He told me he was sick and would come back to New Zealand for a check-up. But he went to Hawaii to play in a tournament there. What would you do as a coach?" Maka told Rugby News. "He has since contacted me and said he's available for the World Cup, but you don't wait for the World Cup and then suddenly say you want to play."
Moa isn't losing sleep about being left out of the island nation's 50-strong preliminary squad.
"Right now my focus is on playing well for the Bay. I've been told I'm not wanted by Tonga and that's fair enough, but I'm not too disappointed. It would have been pretty special to be involved against the All Blacks at Eden Park in the opening game, but the door right now is completely shut for that."
Maka has dumped Latu after the former Steamers flanker, one of the stars of their 2007 World Cup campaign, wrote a letter demand-ing more pay for the players, while Lutui was apparently deemed too old and too slow.
Moa won plaudits for a game-breaking performance in Bay of Plenty's 20-13 win over Counties-Manukau last weekend. Replacing Jamie Nutbrown he constantly threatened and set up the game's decisive try when he stole the ball off Ahsee Tuala and flipped it up to fullback Toby Arnold.
The compressed nature of this year's competition has made coaches more tactically aware of the need for fresh legs meaning stints on the sideline.
Moa, like many of his teammates, isn't enamoured of having to ride the pine. "I can't really say too much but most people, as long as they're on the field, they're happy.
"I was happy with 30 (minutes) but the more game time the better. When you're playing you can get into it from the start, but the players know it's a different year this year and guys need to get into the game quickly, whether it's a start or not."
Horan has brought star Blues flanker Luke Braid into the side for his first match of the season, replacing Tanerau Latmer at blindside, with NZ under-20s openside Sam Cane keeping his place. Chris Noakes gets the nod at first-five and Ben Smith starts on the left wing to cover Jason Hona's shift into the midfield.
Leon Power partners Culum Retallick in the second row, with Bronson Murray and John Pareanga also promoted to start at the front of the pack.
Bay of Plenty missed 30 tackles against Counties, the third worst of the ITM Cup's opening round, with Horan imploring a vastly improved defensive effort today against a Harbour side chock-full of game breakers.
"Eighty-one per cent tackle accuracy simply isn't good enough and we won't get anywhere if we're missing that many tackles in a game, especially against a side like Harbour who are a similar side to Counties in that they can score quick points and have players who can beat opposition one-on-one."