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Moana Pasifika never trail, dismantle Crusaders in Christchurch

CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND - MARCH 29: Miracle Faillagi of Moana Pasifika celebrates with his team after scoring a try during the round seven Super Rugby Pacific match between Crusaders and Moana Pasifika at Apollo Projects Stadium, on March 29, 2025, in Christchurch, New Zealand. (Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)

Moana Pasifika arrived in Christchurch eager to create more history and capitalize on their strong yet inconsistent form in 2025.

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If you thought this Super Rugby season was unpredictable, this contest between the second-placed former champions and last-placed newcomers took things to yet another level.

Patrick Pellegrini provided one of the best clearances Super Rugby has seen to get his side not just out of their own 22, but into the Crusaders’ with the ball. The 50/22 put the visitors on the front foot and in scoring range just one minute into the contest.

After battering their way towards the Crusaders’ line, who else but Ardie Savea was on hand to provide the finishing power. The captain’s try handed his side a 7-0 lead after just two minutes.

As has been the case all season, Moana’s efforts on attack were let down by their defence, and it took just three minutes for the Crusaders to strike back via lineout drive.

Another masterful Pellegrini kick, this time a high bomb, had James O’Connor scrambling, and the former Wallaby couldn’t collect cleanly. The knock-on allowed Moana another attack, and big ball runners Savea and Miracle Faiilagi got Moana back into scoring territory.

The Crusaders repelled the first wave of attack, with Noah Hotham tackling Danny Toala into touch. More Moana Pasifika pressure resulted in Crusaders’ indiscretions, with Cullen Grace handed a yellow card as a result.

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Moana Pasifika again turned to their captain for the finishing touch, and again, Ardie Savea delivered, scoring his second try of the evening.

22m Entries

Avg. Points Scored
3.6
8
Entries
Avg. Points Scored
3.7
12
Entries

Facing a deficit on the scoreboard and in personnel, the Crusaders took their chances with a penalty when the opportunity presented itself. O’Connor converted.

With just three seconds remaining on Grace’s yellow card, Moana struck yet again. Danny Toala had been destructive with his running game throughout the opening 25 minutes, making eight carries and scoring with his ninth.

Another remarkable 50/22, this time by Solomon Alaimalo, got Moana out of trouble and into scoring range. A wayward lineout throw stopped that momentum momentarily, but with another lineout following a Crusaders clearance, the visitors executed.

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A long ball from Pellegrini saw Tevita Ofa run into space, shredding two defenders before offloading back to his 10, who scored under the posts.

One thing going for the Crusaders was their scrum, and they won another penalty just before halftime. A five-metre lineout saw the hosts get held up over the line before reloading and being denied again. A Danny Toala breakdown penalty marked the half’s conclusion. Moana led 28-10.

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Moana were first on the board in the second half, extending their lead with a penalty.

The Crusaders responded swiftly with bruising phase play finished out wide by Macca Springer, his seventh try of the season.

The comeback rumbled on when Codie Taylor collected a fumbled lineout, running around the corner and dragging a defender over the line.

It looked like it would be another 40-minute performance from Moana, with the hosts rallying. But Savea’s men had other ideas.

The strength of Moana’s running game was simply too great to be taken out of the game, and they added to their scoreboard tally with two more tries in the space of three minutes.

The first was another display of brute strength by Miracle Faiilagi, and similarly, the second saw former Crusader Pepesana Patafilo also drag defenders over the line.

Points Flow Chart

Moana Pasifika win +16
Time in lead
0
Mins in lead
70
0%
% Of Game In Lead
88%
55%
Possession Last 10 min
45%
7
Points Last 10 min
0

Moana Pasifika’s breakdown work repelled the Crusaders anytime they looked to be rallying once more. But, the hosts had quality of their own that refused to be nullified.

Chay Fihaki made a break down his right flank and offloaded to Mitch Drummond, who ran in the consolation try under the posts.

From that point on, disconnected Crusaders attack put the final nail in the coffin. Moana Pasifika, with perhaps the best performance in the club’s young history, take down the Crusaders in Christchurch for the first time with a scoreline of 45-29.

 

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Comments

7 Comments
B
BH 31 days ago

I hope Graham Peterson is coping OK with this historic and monumental loss!

G
GP 31 days ago

My name is Graham Paterson. I am coping fine . Ardie Savea and Moana Pasfifika deserved there victory. The outstanding David Havili was missed .I think , if you leave out Christian Lio-Willie , who has been so good. Best if Tom Christie starts with Ethan Blackadder and Cullen Grace. Mitchell Drummond too at 9. Some of those guys were short of a gallop against a fired up Pasifika.

I
Icefarrow 31 days ago

What happens when you rest key players, tinker with the starting XV, and bring injured players back all at once. Can’t afford to do that with how competitive it has been this year.

A
Andrew Nichols 31 days ago

Am I in a parallel universe? What a game. Every game Ive watched this season ..even the all Aussie ones has been a cracker. Best season in years

l
lK 31 days ago

Agree! Fabulous rugby this season

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JW 1 hour ago
How 'misunderstood' Rassie Erasmus is rolling back the clock

The All Blacks have definitely exchanged physicality for their running rugby, tiring teams out in the last 10 minutes type approach, over the last decade.


Hell they were the ones getting tired in South Africa last year.


Previously, we had always had to get ourselves pumped up to match the SB. Our forwards would need to punch above their weight. There’s been no such feeling or talk like that for a decade. We’re happy that we can go toe to toe all day everyday now. I suggest Ireland still need to do that though.


Yes I’m not familiar with those games, or the way you’d played them, you and Graham were discussing, but I’d say the players I’ve seen recently certainly do have those capabilities (to outplay/skill NZ or France). Really though I think we both acknowledging the same thing, the capaticity to play multiple ways, because you have the most well rounded player types.


So I fully endorse unlocking that further. Ireland became a tricky bunch for sure. You may not have heard me champion their play when it first started coming out, by I credited them/Lancaster, as encompasing a lot of the great backline/phase play trickery I’d become accustomed to naturally seeing, through evolution, from all ages in New Zealand. He put a plan together about how/when to cut/when to loop/when to skip. Players I grew up with, well even myself of course, we just did those things based on what we see, and Lancaster put that together as a package for people who don’t.. have such DNA, or ‘IP’. I’ve not seen any other team do it with such precision, or make it look so natural as they did. They’ve lost it now of course (as had NZ already), but my point would be that you can also do you’re own thing. For instance you could go to grubbers instead of territory kicks, low fast guys, even the tall lanky Fassi’ are supreme at reading and catching a bouncing ball. Simply by not going to your lineout strength, you can put immense attacking pressure through space and speed for example. Brown got the use of those athletes going in the wide channels, while still looking for say someone who was as good as Kieran Read to really unlock that threat. But anyway, maybe I misconstrued what you wanted the team to do, but I just think there are, as youve said about the past, ways SA can play. I wouldn’t be worried about anything too fancy, but yes, they say defence wins match’s but really that’s just because attack is the hardest thing to get right. So if you can get it right, yes, you do almost become unbeatable. Like I said I couldn’t see going as far as to play like a “Brazil” being a “trick” to get over the mental barrier of expectation, not with SA’s psyche. In tsaying that though I’m thinking to myself, in terms of clamming up in big games, Irelands playbook approach would be better than instinct. That’s because you need that ‘brazilian’ to play on instinct, and I think the game means too much to us for that, and maybe that’s how Ireland was able to keep up it’s threat in those big games, all everyone simply had to do with stick the playbook.


Even without winning WCs NZ has been able to feel like it was still on top, and playing with some audacious flair, as in just backing yourself to beat these two players in front of me that results in a breakdown field which wins you the game, requires that sort of knowledge that you are the best, that level of confidence. That’s an advantage NZ has had to keep that style going over the decades. The acid test has come on, there is a desire their from from Razor to regain it, now to be able to play that way when doubts set in.

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Connor Nicolas 2 hours ago
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Several weeks ago, my life was irrevocably altered by a crypto romance scam a cruel amalgamation of emotional manipulation and financial exploitation. A person I believed to be my partner, whom I had met on a niche trading forum, gradually ensnared me into investing in a purportedly “groundbreaking” decentralized finance (DeFi) project. Over several months, they meticulously cultivated trust, shared fabricated returns, and even orchestrated video calls with supposed “developers” to lend credence to the scheme. By the time I discerned the truth, a staggering $215,000 of my life savings had evaporated into a labyrinth of blockchain addresses, and the individual I thought I knew had vanished without a trace. The betrayal was paralyzing; I felt not only financially devastated but emotionally shattered.As a small business owner, I am no stranger to risk, but this was a domain far beyond my comprehension. I promptly filed reports with the FTC, collaborated with cybersecurity experts, and spent countless sleepless nights poring over Etherscan, desperately attempting to trace the transactions. However, the scammers’ adept use of privacy coins and offshore exchanges rendered the trail elusive, dissipating like smoke. Each dead end deepened my despair and sense of helplessness.In the midst of this turmoil, I confided in a family friend about my harrowing ordeal. After hearing my story, he referred me to GRAYWARE TECH SERVICES . Initially skeptical but driven by desperation, I visited their website and was struck by their no-nonsense commitment to transparency. Unlike other firms that promised miraculous recoveries, GRAYWARE TECH SERVICES provided a clear,breakdown of their process: forensics, collaboration with international legal networks, and direct engagement with exchanges to freeze illicit funds.From the moment I reached out to GRAYWARE TECH SERVICES , their team approached my case faster . They meticulously analyzed my situation, keeping me informed at every stage of the recovery process. Ultimately, they succeeded in recovering my entire investment, restoring my financial stability and also rekindling my faith in the possibility of justice in the digital age. This experience has imparted invaluable lessons about vigilance and the importance of seeking help when navigating the dangerous currents of cryptocurrency. GRAYWARE TECH SERVICES has proven to be a beacon of hope for those ensnared in the web of crypto fraud, demonstrating that recovery is indeed possible with the right support and expertise.You can reach them on whatsapp +18582759508, web at ( https://graywaretechservices.com/ )    also on Mail: (contact@graywaretechservices.com)

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Connor Nicolas 3 hours ago
'Individuals are stepping up': Vern Cotter on Beauden Barrett's influence

Several weeks ago, my life was irrevocably altered by a crypto romance scam a cruel amalgamation of emotional manipulation and financial exploitation. A person I believed to be my partner, whom I had met on a niche trading forum, gradually ensnared me into investing in a purportedly “groundbreaking” decentralized finance (DeFi) project. Over several months, they meticulously cultivated trust, shared fabricated returns, and even orchestrated video calls with supposed “developers” to lend credence to the scheme. By the time I discerned the truth, a staggering $215,000 of my life savings had evaporated into a labyrinth of blockchain addresses, and the individual I thought I knew had vanished without a trace. The betrayal was paralyzing; I felt not only financially devastated but emotionally shattered.As a small business owner, I am no stranger to risk, but this was a domain far beyond my comprehension. I promptly filed reports with the FTC, collaborated with cybersecurity experts, and spent countless sleepless nights poring over Etherscan, desperately attempting to trace the transactions. However, the scammers’ adept use of privacy coins and offshore exchanges rendered the trail elusive, dissipating like smoke. Each dead end deepened my despair and sense of helplessness.In the midst of this turmoil, I confided in a family friend about my harrowing ordeal. After hearing my story, he referred me to GRAYWARE TECH SERVICES . Initially skeptical but driven by desperation, I visited their website and was struck by their no-nonsense commitment to transparency. Unlike other firms that promised miraculous recoveries, GRAYWARE TECH SERVICES provided a clear,breakdown of their process: forensics, collaboration with international legal networks, and direct engagement with exchanges to freeze illicit funds.From the moment I reached out to GRAYWARE TECH SERVICES , their team approached my case faster . They meticulously analyzed my situation, keeping me informed at every stage of the recovery process. Ultimately, they succeeded in recovering my entire investment, restoring my financial stability and also rekindling my faith in the possibility of justice in the digital age. This experience has imparted invaluable lessons about vigilance and the importance of seeking help when navigating the dangerous currents of cryptocurrency. GRAYWARE TECH SERVICES has proven to be a beacon of hope for those ensnared in the web of crypto fraud, demonstrating that recovery is indeed possible with the right support and expertise.You can reach them on whatsapp +18582759508, web at ( https://graywaretechservices.com/ )    also on Mail: (contact@graywaretechservices.com)

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Charles Brown 3 hours ago
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Charles Brown 3 hours ago
Does a crowd have the right to boo their team if they're not being entertained?

Bitcoin Recovery Testimony: How LION CYBERSECURITY COMPANY Saved My $1 Million

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From the first moment I contacted them, I could tell this wasn’t just another "recovery scam." Their team was professional, clear in their communication, and, most importantly, they didn’t make unrealistic promises. They walked me through their process step by step, and while I was still skeptical, I had nothing left to lose.

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Several weeks ago, my life was irrevocably altered by a crypto romance scam a cruel amalgamation of emotional manipulation and financial exploitation. A person I believed to be my partner, whom I had met on a niche trading forum, gradually ensnared me into investing in a purportedly “groundbreaking” decentralized finance (DeFi) project. Over several months, they meticulously cultivated trust, shared fabricated returns, and even orchestrated video calls with supposed “developers” to lend credence to the scheme. By the time I discerned the truth, a staggering $215,000 of my life savings had evaporated into a labyrinth of blockchain addresses, and the individual I thought I knew had vanished without a trace. The betrayal was paralyzing; I felt not only financially devastated but emotionally shattered.As a small business owner, I am no stranger to risk, but this was a domain far beyond my comprehension. I promptly filed reports with the FTC, collaborated with cybersecurity experts, and spent countless sleepless nights poring over Etherscan, desperately attempting to trace the transactions. However, the scammers’ adept use of privacy coins and offshore exchanges rendered the trail elusive, dissipating like smoke. Each dead end deepened my despair and sense of helplessness.In the midst of this turmoil, I confided in a family friend about my harrowing ordeal. After hearing my story, he referred me to GRAYWARE TECH SERVICES . Initially skeptical but driven by desperation, I visited their website and was struck by their no-nonsense commitment to transparency. Unlike other firms that promised miraculous recoveries, GRAYWARE TECH SERVICES provided a clear,breakdown of their process: forensics, collaboration with international legal networks, and direct engagement with exchanges to freeze illicit funds.From the moment I reached out to GRAYWARE TECH SERVICES , their team approached my case faster . They meticulously analyzed my situation, keeping me informed at every stage of the recovery process. Ultimately, they succeeded in recovering my entire investment, restoring my financial stability and also rekindling my faith in the possibility of justice in the digital age. This experience has imparted invaluable lessons about vigilance and the importance of seeking help when navigating the dangerous currents of cryptocurrency. GRAYWARE TECH SERVICES has proven to be a beacon of hope for those ensnared in the web of crypto fraud, demonstrating that recovery is indeed possible with the right support and expertise.You can reach them on whatsapp +18582759508, web at ( https://graywaretechservices.com/ )    also on Mail: (contact@graywaretechservices.com)

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