Moana Pasifika top Waratahs to claim back-to-back wins for first time

If recent performances are anything to go by, this won’t be the last time Moana Pasifika mount a successful comeback.

On a beautiful Saturday afternoon in Albany, the side outlasted the Waratahs to claim a 45-28 win after facing a 14-point halftime deficit.

It’s been the tale of the season so far for Fa’alogo Tana Umaga’s side.

Now through their seven matches of the Super Rugby Pacific season, Moana Pasifika have scored about 63% of their 2274 total points in the second half, with 40% of opposition points being scored in the same 40 minutes.

It was an historic win for the side too, being the first time Moana Pasifika have won back-to-back games since the club entered the competition in 2022.

It was also the third time in a row that they got the better of the Waratahs.

“I’m screwed. We left it all out there, I’m very proud of the men in our team to stick it out there and for us to get the dub, to get back-to-back wins, it’s a blessing and we’re really happy,” Moana Pasifika captain Ardie Savea told Sky Sport.

“When we nail our little things, the small habits in our game – our set piece, our carry and clean – play in the right areas of the field, we start to get into our game. We showed that in the second half. I’m just extremely proud of the boys – the guys that came off the bench, they made a huge impact.”

Once more, the story of the match was written in two parts for Moana Pasifika.

They got off to a slow start, with inaccuracy and poor execution offering opportunities for the Waratahs – who raced through the door when it was held open for them.

A wayward Moana Pasifika lineout throw landed kindly for Waratahs halfback Teddy Wilson, who put the foot down and headed upfield. He was brought down about 10m from the line, and his side scored out wide through winger Triston Reilly.

Moana Pasifika were again foiled themselves when they were awarded a penalty inside the Waratahs’ 10m and missed the ball when trying to take a quick tap.

A strong run from Waratahs fullback Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii was the catalyst for the next try; exploiting some soft defence to set up Reilly’s second.

Tighthead prop Feleti Sae Ta’ufo’ou scored the first of his three tries soon after and it looked like the hosts would go into the break within a try of the visitors, before Andrew Kellaway crossed in the corner just before the break.

But while the Waratahs got the better of the first stanza and cashed in on some of their opportunities, the second half was largely one-way traffic.

Sae-Ta’ufo’ou scored his second off a good offload from Semisi Paea, before muscling over for his third about eight minutes later.

While Wilson got one back for the visitors, Moana Pasifika finished strong with tries through Patrick Pellegrini, William Havili, Fine Inisi and Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa to close out a memorable win.

Moana Pasifika have now won three of their last four contests.

Moana Pasifika 45 (Feleti Sae-Ta’ufo’ou 3, Patrick Pellegrini, William Havili, Fine Inisi, Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa tries; Patrick Pellegrini 5 cons)

Waratahs 28 (Triston Reilly 2, Andrew Kellaway, Teddy Wilson tries; Lawson Creighton 4 cons)

HT: 7-21