Moana Pasifika adamant: 'We won't be playing any make-up games the next few weeks'
Moana Pasifika are taking the positives out of their fourth Covid-forced Super Rugby Pacific match postponement, saying they're bristling with energy ahead of Saturday's clash with Melbourne.
The competition newcomers were left sitting in the stands of AAMI Park during Super Round last weekend after Western Force were unable to play due to Covid-19 cases.
It was the fourth postponement for Moana Pasifika, leading to coach Aaron Mauger to call for competition bosses to follow the lead of UK counterparts and make teams forfeit if they're unable to field a team due to Covid-19.
Due to the backlog, the New Zealand-based club has already had to play their last six matches in a 23-day period and they are reportedly considering pushing for the Force to give up their points due to the tight scheduling of the competition.
On Thursday, Mauger said it wasn't his call to make.
"We're just really focused on this game against the Rebels and we really want to set ourselves up to be in a good position to attack the second half of the competition," he said.
"I know we won't be playing any make-up games the next few weeks."
Mauger said the enforced weekend off had an upside ahead of their return to AAMI Park where they will gun for their second win of the season.
"We have had an opportunity to freshen up and spend some time together socially as a team," the former All Blacks centre said.
"I certainly noticed the energy of the guys coming into the start of this week for a big game against the Rebels - it was a lot higher than what would normally be.
"We just had to look at the positives and really turn our attention to this game against the Rebels, which is going to be another big challenge."
In a boost for the visitors, captain Sekope Kepu returns from a collarbone injury.
Fellow ex-Wallaby Christian Lealiifano will be at five-eighth.
Melbourne, who also have two wins to sit ninth, welcome the return of giant prop Pone Fa'amausili, who has been sidelined thr ough the season with a calf injury.
Mauger said that while the Rebels suffered a 42-17 loss to the Crusaders in Super Round, they showed their grit to only trail by four at halftime.
"We went to watch the Rebels play last week live and they did a lot of things really well," he said.
"They had the Crusaders under a lot of pressure at times, especially with their big pack ... using the physicality to get their team on the front foot.
"The other thing I was impressed with was their scramble [defence] - they're a team that plays for each other so we know it's going to be tough."
- Melissa Woods
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The way Ratima has been treated he needs to look OS. Same with Perofeta and Love, Hothem too. Razor is a token coach. Gives debuts but very few mins. Also DM too. Just go earn millions elsewhere DM as all you get in NZ is bagging.
BB is coaches favourite and I say let him have BB right thru to the next 2 or maybe even 3 World cups.😁😁 Have JB outside him at 12...That just works so well.
Go to commentsIt certainly needs to be cherished. Despite Nick (and you) highlighting their usefulness for teams like Australia (and obviously those in France they find form with) I (mention it general in those articles) say that I fear the game is just not setup in Aus and NZ to appreciate nor maximise their strengths. The French game should continue to be the destination of the biggest and most gifted athletes but it might improve elsewhere too.
I just have an idea it needs a whole team focus to make work. I also have an idea what the opposite applies with players in general. I feel like French backs and halves can be very small and quick, were as here everyone is made to fit in a model physique. Louis was some 10 and 20 kg smaller that his opposition and we just do not have that time of player in our game anymore. I'm dying out for a fast wing to appear on the All Blacks radar.
But I, and my thoughts on body size in particular, could be part of the same indoctrination that goes on with player physiques by the establishment in my parts (country).
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