Coach Aaron Mauger said Enari and McClutchie have developed a "magic" combination at halfback and first five. Photo / Getty Images
Newcomers Moana Pasifika will have the greatest number of Hawke's Bay Magpies players ever seen in a Super Rugby squad.
The South Auckland-based club have announced six Magpies in their inaugural squad so far – equal to the largest contingent to have ever been signed to the Hurricanes for any one season.
Head coach Aaron Mauger said they are proud to have Solomone Funaki, Ereatara Enari, Lincoln McClutchie, Danny Toala, Neria Foma'i and Lolagi Visinia on board, and their recruitment is a credit to Hawke's Bay Rugby.
"They've done an outstanding job, they've created a great environment where guys obviously feel like they are able to go out and express themselves and perform their best, and it looks like they're having fun as well," he said.
"They've proved they are good enough. These guys are not only performing well, they're dominating the NPC at the moment."
Mauger said Enari and McClutchie have developed a "magic" combination at halfback and first five, with Toala really starting to flourish outside them.
"Lolagi's probably playing some of the best rugby I've ever seen him play," the former All Black said of his new fullback.
"Even connecting with [each of] them one on one, just hearing the way they talk around their game, what motivates them and being part of Moana Pasifika is inspiring."
Moana Pasifika director of rugby Kevin Senio said the most important factor in recruiting their squad was international eligibility and availability to play for Samoa, Tonga or Fiji.
"A number of players in that Hawke's Bay team certainly put their hands up and we've been tracking them ... going back around a couple of years ago when you're thinking who could actually make up the profile of a Pasifika team," he said.
Senio said he sees similarities between the Pacific islands finally getting an opportunity to have a team in Super Rugby, and the players they have recruited that for whatever reason haven't gotten the opportunities they personally deserve.
"Identifying talent that understand who we are, our identity, what we're trying to achieve and the history behind this," he said.
Senio added that he was a huge admirer of the groundwork and rugby programme developed by Magpies coaches Mark Ozich and Josh Syms.
He said there are a lot of parallels between Hawke's Bay's confident, entertaining playing style and the identity Moana Pasifika want to foster.
Uncertainty around Covid means it is unclear when the squad will come together for the first time, but a pre-Christmas camp in Auckland is the current ideal plan.
Aaron Mauger said it will be useful to lean on the on-field connections the Hawke's Bay players have built with each other, whether or not they can begin their preparations for Super Rugby Pacific this year.
Other Magpies set to feature in the competition include Chiefs pair Brodie Retallick and Brad Weber, Highlanders duo Gareth Evans and Folau Fakatava, Hurricanes forwards Pouri Rakete-Stones and Devan Flanders, and Melbourne Rebels centre Stacey Ili.
Contracts for 2021 Super Rugby players Bryn Evans, Marino Mikaele-Tu'u (both Highlanders), Isaia Walker-Leawere (Hurricanes) and Jonah Lowe (Chiefs) are yet to be announced but all those players should also be involved once again.
Tighthead prop Joe Apikotoa played significant minutes for the Chiefs in Super Rugby Trans-Tasman – he and fellow 2021 short-term signings Caleb Makene (Highlanders) and Brendon O'Connor (Crusaders) will be in the mix as well.
Five straight wins over Premiership rivals have given Hawke's Bay an unassailable lead at the top of the table with two rounds of the regular season remaining.
That has allowed head coach Mark Ozich to heavily rotate his squad for the Manawatū game on Saturday night, with 10 players promoted to the starting lineup.
Hawke's Bay Magpies team to play Manawatū on Saturday, kickoff 7.05pm
1. Jason Long, 2. Kianu Kereru-Symes, 3. Joel Hintz, 4. Geoff Cridge, 5. Tom Parsons (captain), 6. Josh Kaifa, 7. Solomone Funaki, 8. Gareth Evans, 9. Ereatara Enari, 10. Lincoln McClutchie, 11. Anzelo Tuitavuki, 12. Kienan Higgins, 13. Neria Foma'i, 14. Ollie Sapsford, 15. Lolagi Visinia
Reserves: 16. Jacob Devery, 17. Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18. Namatahi Waa, 19. Bryn Evans, 20. Devan Flanders, 21. Danny Tusitala, 22. Caleb Makene, 23. Dennon Robinson-Bartlett