Defending Super Rugby Pacific champions the Blues have slipped out of the knockout qualification places after suffering their first loss to Moana Pasifika.
After making their competition entry in 2022, Moana have placed themselves in line for a first ever finals berth with a 27-21 win over the Blues in Auckland on Saturday.
Pasifika are currently sitting in sixth place on 28 points, equal with the Blues.
The pair have a six-point buffer over the NSW Waratahs in eighth place.
“We worked really hard on our defence … They’re a big group, we knew they were going to get up for the cross-town rivalry,” Moana coach Tana Umaga told Sky Sport.
“We just had to weather the storm. We talked about it a lot; if we could wear them down, we know we can get into the right parts of the field; we can do some magic with the ball in our hands and you saw that tonight.”
The Blues slipped out of the qualification places for the knockout rounds as captain Ardie Savea inspired his side to their breakthrough win over the New Zealanders.
Centre Kyren Taumoefolau scored a hat-trick of tries, including two in the second half that swung the game in Pasifika’s favour as Umaga’s team climbed into the top six with a memorable victory.
“I’m proud of the efforts of the boys, for standing up against a quality Blues side and I’m just happy to get the win,” Savea added.
The Blues have the bye next weekend, with Moana Pasifika set to face the second-placed Chiefs (41 points).
Moana finish their year against the fifth-placed Hurricanes (30), while the Blues host the eighth-placed Waratahs (22).
With AAP.
https://thewest.com.au/sport/rugby-union/moana-give-super-rivals-the-blues-with-historic-victory-c-18727345
