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'It's got success written all over it': Calls grow for rugby's 'State of Origin-style' clash to be made an annual event

(Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

As anticipation grows for the maiden clash between Moana Pasifika and the Maori All Blacks next week, players and pundits have called for the one-off match to become an annual fixture on the New Zealand Rugby [NZR] calendar.

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The first-ever Moana Pasifika squad was unveiled for next Saturday’s match against the Maori All Blacks by head coach Tana Umaga on Tuesday, with the 26-man side boasting a plethora of talent across the board.

One-cap All Blacks first-five Josh Ioane headlines the squad which also features Samoan internationals Michael Alaalatoa, Alamanda Motunga, Jordan Lay and Dwayne Polataivao, Tongan representatives Nasi Manu, Fetuli Paea and Zane Kapeli, as well as Flying Fijians star Asaeli Tikoroituma.

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A host of standouts from New Zealand’s Mitre 10 Cup, such as Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, Folau Fakatava, Leicester Fainga’anuku and All Blacks Sevens duo Salesi Rayasi and Etene Nanai-Seturo, have also been included.

While those named in the squad will only be involved for this one-off encounter, excitement is brimming within New Zealand and Pacific rugby circles over the future of Moana Pasifika, with the team set to join Super Rugby in 2022.

Despite the franchise’s expected involvement in the new-look competition featuring the fives sides each from New Zealand and Australia, as well as a Fijian team, there remains an eagerness for Moana Pasifika to face the Maori All Blacks on a yearly basis.

Speaking on the Aotearoa Rugby Pod, host Ross Karl proposed the concept to panellists James Parsons and Bryn Hall.

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“This looks like a game, to me, that should become a yearly thing,” Karl told the Blues hooker and Crusaders halfback.

“It’s got success written all over it. A State of Origin-style, maybe not a three-game [series], but once a year we have this game, because that game is so appealing. It’s a cracker.”

Hall, a five-cap Maori All Black who could be named in Clayton McMillan’s squad for the upcoming match later on Tuesday, agreed with Karl’s sentiments, highlighting the need for NZR to give back to the Pacific community.

“Moana Pasifika have given so much to New Zealand Rugby, not just at that level, but at Super Rugby, Mitre 10 Cup and even at international level,” Hall said.

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“The Pacific Islanders have given so much to New Zealand Rugby, so to make it a regular fixture where they can be rewarded in New Zealand and play in New Zealand, I think it’s going to be great.”

Parsons went a step further, floating the possibility of a ‘mini Tri-Nations’ series between the Maori All Blacks, Moana Pasifika and the New Zealand Barbarians.

A former member of the New Zealand Barbarians side, the two-test All Black was confident New Zealand’s talent pool is deep enough to make a three-team series an entertaining spectacle.

“We played the Maori from the New Zealand Baabaas point of view a few years ago and that meant a lot to us to represent the New Zealand Baabaas,” Parsons told the Aotearoa Rugby Pod.

“We hear a lot about the world [UK] Baabaas, but you could add a third team into the mix and have the New Zealand Baabaas and have a little mini Tri-Nations.

“I think we’ve got enough talent to create a third team that would really have something worthwhile watching going into next year and beyond.”

How a ‘mini Tri-Nations’ tournament would squeeze into the NZR landscape remains to be seen, especially with hopes of the historic North vs South match becoming an annual event, or even a yearly three-match series, already proving difficult to fulfil.

Moana Pasifika’s imminent transition from a representative, exhibition team to a professional Super Rugby franchise adds complexity to the scenario, but the July test window might act as a suitable playing period should such a series come to fruition.

Karl suggested matches between Moana Pasifika and the Maori All Blacks could take place at the end of each Mitre 10 Cup season, as is the case this year.

He also added the contest may give the All Blacks selectors extra food for thought.

“It’s a nice stepping stone, isn’t it? You can get a slightly higher level than Mitre 10 Cup, a bit of action at the end of the Cup every year for some players who really would benefit from that, looking ahead to the following seasons.

“Guys like Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, who was sensational for the Highlanders this year, but there’s Hoskins Sotutu and all these guys in front of him. This kind of play could help a guy like that.”

Hall doubled down on those comments, noting that a match with that much talent would almost be of test match quality.

“Because we’ve just got such good stocks in this country, that one test – pretty much a test match, if you think about it – it’s an opportunity for the All Blacks selectors to see at that kind of level, ‘Oh, actually he played really well up to that level’,” he said.

“So, again, this is a great opportunity for a lot of men who will want to stamp their mark coming to higher honours.”

The Moana Pasifika match against the Maori All Blacks is set to take place on December 5 at FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton, with kick-off scheduled for 7:05pm NZT.

Listen to the latest episode of the Aotearoa Rugby Pod below:

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R
RedWarrior 1 hour ago
Three-way race to be number one in World Rugby men's rankings

IF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.


As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.


Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).

This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.

If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.

Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.

After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.

Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.


Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)

Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.

Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.


Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.


Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:


Seeding Band 1

IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG

Seeding Band 2

SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: FIJI

1/8 final opponent GEORGIA

Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA

1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND

Prognosis: You know the prognosis


I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?


Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.

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