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Overlooked Magpies flourish in 'outstanding' first opportunity for Moana Pasifika

Danny Toala and Lincoln McClutchie. (Photos by Joe Allison/Getty Images)

There was a distinct Hawke’s Bay flavour to the Moana Pasifika squad when it was unveiled piece by piece last year.

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Despite being one of the best-performing sides in the NPC over the past decade, the top Magpies players haven’t always been justly rewarded at Super Rugby level.

Moana Pasifika, in their quest to put together a competitive team for their inaugural appearance in Super Rugby, sought to rectify that, bringing in eight of Hawke’s Bay’s most impressive players for their 2022 campaign.

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While the likes of Joe Apikotoa, Ereatara Enari, Danny Toala and Lolagi Visnia all had a taste of Super Rugby in seasons gone by, their on-field appearances were few and few between. For others, such as Neria Foma’i, Solomone Funaki, Lincoln McClutchie and Anzelo Tuitavuki, Super Rugby contracts had never fallen their way.

Six of the above players featured in Moana Pasifika’s debut appearance against the Crusaders on Friday night (Visinia and Tuitavuki will make their debuts in games to come) and despite eventually falling to a 33-12 defeat, all six enhanced their reputations after an industrious 80 minutes that was characterised by a never-say-die attitude from the competition newbies.

 

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McClutchie and Toala, who formed such a strong combination throughout Hawke’s Bay’s 2021 season, were two of the best on the park and Moana Pasifika head coach Aaron Mauger had plenty of praise for his young five-eighths combination following the match.

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“Danny and Lincoln were outstanding tonight,” Mauger said. “I thought Ere [Enari] served the guys really well too, there was some good service with the ball that we did have. Obviously we had to defend for long parts but I think both Danny and Lincoln showed what they’re capable of, it was good to step up to this level for the first time and really dominate as a combination.”

The pair first started playing together during their high school days for a dominant Hasting Boys’ College side that also boasted such talents as Folau Fakatava, Kini Naholo and Devan Flanders and both made their first appearances for Hawke’s Bay in 2018.

Toala made the step up to Super Rugby level the following season with the Hurricanes but managed just four appearances – including one solitary start – in his three years with the club. In his first start for Moana Pasifika, Toala finished the match with nine carries, three beaten defenders, 40 metres gained and 14 tackles to his name. While his full-time involvement in rugby for the past three seasons undoubtedly paved the way for his impressive performance against the Crusaders, Mauger also attributed Toala’s successful debut to his professional attitude.

“I think it’s probably a combination of both things,” Mauger said. “Danny knew the level, he knew what to expect, so he does have that experience which served him well. But been really impressed with Danny right from the start of our pre-season. He’s a guy that’s really put his hand up.

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“He’s smart, he understands the game. He’s worked really hard with his combinations with the guys around him, both Levi [Aumua] and Lincoln, and that combination has worked well at training. So really happy. I thought defensively he was really good tonight as well. I thought he was physical; it’s a part of his game that he’s been working on, along with Henry Taefu, his No 12 buddy. So really proud of those guys getting off to a good start tonight.”

McClutchie, meanwhile, has found it difficult to crack a full-time contract with a Super Rugby side in the past and after missing out for 2020, he spent the season as Marty Banks’ understudy at the Red Hurricanes in Japan. 2022 now presents the young pivot with an opportunity to prove that he’s more than capable of performing at this level of the game and his attacking form, in particular, was on full display in Friday night’s loss with the No 10 making a scything break to set up Moana Pasifika’s first-ever try.

With Moana Pasifika’s season only really getting underway against the Crusaders after Covid delayed their entry to the competition, the likes of McClutchie and Toala will have plenty of time to grow into their jerseys – and maybe prove to a few teams that they were misguided to let the many talents of Hawke’s Bay slip through their fingers.

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isaac 976 days ago

Last year Tonga were scraping for players to make up the numbers against the All Blacks. This year...they might be spoilt for choice and so will Samoa and Fiji. Playing at this level week in and week out will only benefit the islanders structure and pace of the game together with combinations as getting key positions playing together will only mean stronger set pieces.

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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