May 17, 2025 • 8 mins
Moana Pasifika’s hopes for a maiden finals berth have been boosted massively by a 27-21 win over the Blues.
It’s the very first win over their Auckland rivals and cements their spot in the top six at the expense of the defending champions.
Utility Kyren Taumoefolau joined Piney to discuss.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks ed B.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Like be Mourna Pacifica have made more history with a
twenty seven twenty one win over the Blues at Albany
last night. Right running ball, big bridge, pass the time
boy for that.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Probus break at us, right way, go up, fir and
time boy for our one two three tries.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
It is the first time that Mona Pacifica have ever
beaten the Blues. Winger Kirraen to mooifilawscored a hat trick
of tries. As you heard there from our commentator Elliott Smith.
He joins us now, Kiraen, congrats on the win last night,
your sixth of the season, third in a row, first
ever against the Blues. How big a night was this
for Moana Pacifica.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
It was massive. It was so big for us at
Mina obviously, like you said, it's a history year we're
having with Mona, and I just feel like we're just
throwing street to strength every game and what last night
meant to us and to our fans, and yeah, it's
beyond words. It's just massive for us.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
What do you think last night's victory was built on.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
I think a really good preparation. I think, yeah, it
all started in our preparation. I think that we took
the emotion. There's a lot of emotion going into this game,
a lot of outside noise, and we're just solely focused
on performance. I think that's what really led us to
going out there with a clear mind, mindset, and everyone
was on the same page knowing that we had to
(01:37):
beat them up physically because we know they've got some
big boys, but strong bull carriers. We knew if we
took the physicality to them, then we can play in
the right areas of with our game driving. And I
think the boys did that pretty well.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Absolutely. Such an interesting point you make there, because sport
is emotional, right, I know for the fans anyway, But
in the heat of the battle, how do you keep
a cool head? How do you go into such a
big occasion like that with a cool head?
Speaker 3 (02:04):
Yeah? I think for us, like we just talked out,
be can just being task focused. There's a lot of noise.
We have an awesome crowd there, over ten dozen people there.
I think us whiner boys, we just see we're just
going to be real task focused. So it's always the
next job and staying real president of the moment. It's
what really got us.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
I think so so Hettricka tries for you nine for
the season. Now you're the leading New Zealand based try
scorer in Super rugby. Why do you think you've been
so prolific try scoring wise this season?
Speaker 3 (02:34):
I think I've got some really good guys inside the
He's fitting me up for that. But no, I think, yeah,
I'm just lucky enoughs that the game plan allows me
to get my hands on the ball with Tanna as
the coach, and if it's in the air or get
a miss spore or a kick, it's been pretty lucky.
So yeah, no, I'm loving it all right.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
Well, I'm not going to let you get away without
talking about your third try, the little kickchase, the little
grubb up. Yeah, just what goes through your mind? You
get the ball split second to make up your mind?
What are you doing as you're izing app your options
in that situation?
Speaker 3 (03:09):
Yeah, once I got the ball, I was thinking, all right,
am I going to do a dive tray here? But
he was he was in my face like he was
he had me pretty well read. So I've seen a
little bit of space at the back, so I thought,
I've just put a little kick through it and lucky
enough to yeah get it away and yeah get it through,
get it and put it down, which was cool. So
(03:31):
that was pretty special.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
I saw your WinCE a little bit afterwards. Did you
cramp up or something?
Speaker 3 (03:35):
Yeah, both carls are crampy out. Yeah, both go again
and got game some pickled juice.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
That's all you need and talk us through the last
last minute or so of the game. You camped on
your line. They if they score a try and convert it,
they win. You know, what are the conversations out there?
Whose voices are the loudest?
Speaker 3 (03:59):
Just the leaders man like we had odd Ardie s
he was He's a big talk and he was just
saying that we've just got really no abilities here. You know,
this is a scrum. I think we had times up.
You know, I think we just had like frist backs.
We just we knew we had to go front four
(04:20):
like to defend them. We're going to go send the house.
But yeah, when I already got that turnover, it was massive.
It was also it was a special moment for our group.
And you can hear the fans too, which was which
was pretty.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
Cool, absolutely amazing. Yeah, everybody's trying to find words to
describe Artie's performance last night, But it's not just last night,
is it. It's you know, he's been a game changer
for the franchise. Are you able to articulate his influence
on your side internally?
Speaker 3 (04:48):
Yeah? So with odds, it's just the consistency of every week,
the way he preps his week, he performs in trainees
leading up to the games, the character he is. He
leads by his actions, and you feel it when you're
out there. You feel comfortable and you feel like you
know he's leaving us. So great leader, a great captain,
(05:09):
and I just know there's more to come.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Yeah, speak sure man, as you say. Great crowd, how
much energy did you get from them last night?
Speaker 3 (05:16):
Oh? It was massive, man, Like Yeah, it was pretty cool.
Like bell aloud too, So all Ireland has Yellingcoln's screening,
but I was cool. Man was loved it too.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
All right. Just to finish your sixth two games to
go Chiefs Away, Cans Away. You know that's tough. How
are you going to keep this going and make the
top six for the first time?
Speaker 3 (05:37):
We're gonna whatever works for us during the week preparation wise,
we're going to prep for the Chiefs like that. But
we're going to try to take it to the next level.
I think we talked about have a good week weekend
when we get Backwi China, we're going to try and
take it to the next level because we know it's
gonna be hard to beat the Chiefs and the Hurricanes away.
But yeah, first things for us to try to be
the Chiefs.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
If from just that, you're earning a lot of admirers
Skyra and you and the team. Congratulations on a historic
victory last night, and I really appreciate you taking the
time for a chat this afternoon.
Speaker 3 (06:06):
Oh good cheers mate, have a good Sunday.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
You have a good Sunday too, Kra, and great to
chatt Ya Cara in tow moifilaal there hat trick hero
from last night as Mawana Pacifica made some more history
first ever went over the Blues. Yes, six wins this season.
Now the late game last night, the Brumbies beat the
Reds twenty four to fourteen. Earlier on the Fijian drewer
at Latoka, which seems to be an absolute fortress for
(06:29):
them beating the four thirty eight to seven, so that
is round fourteen in the books. The Brumbies are top
on forty three points, but they've played one extra game
than all of the other teams in the top six,
so the Brumby's forty three. The Chiefs are second on
forty one. The Crusaders also have forty one, with a
(06:49):
slightly inferior points differential. Then it's a big gap back
to the Reds on thirty two in fourth place. The
Hurricanes are fifth on thirty Mawana Pacifica are sixth on
twenty eight. Now the Blues also have twenty eight points,
but they've played one more game. The Blues may well
(07:12):
miss the six. They've got one more game to go.
They've got the by next week and then in their
final game of the season, they welcome the Waratahs to
Eden Park on the Saturday of King's Birthday weekend. First
of all, they absolutely have to win that game, but
that might not even be enough in their favor the
Blues in their quest to make it into the top six,
(07:36):
and it would just be squeaking into the top six.
Maaana Pacific is run and is very tough, as I
just mentioned Chiefs Away, Hurricanes Away. But then you look
what Maaana Pacifica did to the Blues last night, and
you think to yourself, you would not put it past
them to get something out of one or both of
those games if they were to lose them both. The
(08:01):
Blues do have the chance to sneak into the top
six if they were to beat the Warriors. Are the
Waratars over King's Birthday weekend. The Wara Tars themselves theoretically
could still make it. They've got a couple of games
left there. On twenty two points, it would take a
pretty strange set of circumstances for them to sneak in,
(08:22):
So I think we can talk about seven teams being
in contention for the top six.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk SEDB weekends from midday, or follow the
podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks ed B.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Like be Mourna Pacifica have made more history with a
twenty seven twenty one win over the Blues at Albany
last night. Right running ball, big bridge, pass the time
boy for that.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Probus break at us, right way, go up, fir and
time boy for our one two three tries.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
It is the first time that Mona Pacifica have ever
beaten the Blues. Winger Kirraen to mooifilawscored a hat trick
of tries. As you heard there from our commentator Elliott Smith.
He joins us now, Kiraen, congrats on the win last night,
your sixth of the season, third in a row, first
ever against the Blues. How big a night was this
for Moana Pacifica.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
It was massive. It was so big for us at
Mina obviously, like you said, it's a history year we're
having with Mona, and I just feel like we're just
throwing street to strength every game and what last night
meant to us and to our fans, and yeah, it's
beyond words. It's just massive for us.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
What do you think last night's victory was built on.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
I think a really good preparation. I think, yeah, it
all started in our preparation. I think that we took
the emotion. There's a lot of emotion going into this game,
a lot of outside noise, and we're just solely focused
on performance. I think that's what really led us to
going out there with a clear mind, mindset, and everyone
was on the same page knowing that we had to
(01:37):
beat them up physically because we know they've got some
big boys, but strong bull carriers. We knew if we
took the physicality to them, then we can play in
the right areas of with our game driving. And I
think the boys did that pretty well.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Absolutely. Such an interesting point you make there, because sport
is emotional, right, I know for the fans anyway, But
in the heat of the battle, how do you keep
a cool head? How do you go into such a
big occasion like that with a cool head?
Speaker 3 (02:04):
Yeah? I think for us, like we just talked out,
be can just being task focused. There's a lot of noise.
We have an awesome crowd there, over ten dozen people there.
I think us whiner boys, we just see we're just
going to be real task focused. So it's always the
next job and staying real president of the moment. It's
what really got us.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
I think so so Hettricka tries for you nine for
the season. Now you're the leading New Zealand based try
scorer in Super rugby. Why do you think you've been
so prolific try scoring wise this season?
Speaker 3 (02:34):
I think I've got some really good guys inside the
He's fitting me up for that. But no, I think, yeah,
I'm just lucky enoughs that the game plan allows me
to get my hands on the ball with Tanna as
the coach, and if it's in the air or get
a miss spore or a kick, it's been pretty lucky.
So yeah, no, I'm loving it all right.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
Well, I'm not going to let you get away without
talking about your third try, the little kickchase, the little
grubb up. Yeah, just what goes through your mind? You
get the ball split second to make up your mind?
What are you doing as you're izing app your options
in that situation?
Speaker 3 (03:09):
Yeah, once I got the ball, I was thinking, all right,
am I going to do a dive tray here? But
he was he was in my face like he was
he had me pretty well read. So I've seen a
little bit of space at the back, so I thought,
I've just put a little kick through it and lucky
enough to yeah get it away and yeah get it through,
get it and put it down, which was cool. So
(03:31):
that was pretty special.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
I saw your WinCE a little bit afterwards. Did you
cramp up or something?
Speaker 3 (03:35):
Yeah, both carls are crampy out. Yeah, both go again
and got game some pickled juice.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
That's all you need and talk us through the last
last minute or so of the game. You camped on
your line. They if they score a try and convert it,
they win. You know, what are the conversations out there?
Whose voices are the loudest?
Speaker 3 (03:59):
Just the leaders man like we had odd Ardie s
he was He's a big talk and he was just
saying that we've just got really no abilities here. You know,
this is a scrum. I think we had times up.
You know, I think we just had like frist backs.
We just we knew we had to go front four
(04:20):
like to defend them. We're going to go send the house.
But yeah, when I already got that turnover, it was massive.
It was also it was a special moment for our group.
And you can hear the fans too, which was which
was pretty.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
Cool, absolutely amazing. Yeah, everybody's trying to find words to
describe Artie's performance last night, But it's not just last night,
is it. It's you know, he's been a game changer
for the franchise. Are you able to articulate his influence
on your side internally?
Speaker 3 (04:48):
Yeah? So with odds, it's just the consistency of every week,
the way he preps his week, he performs in trainees
leading up to the games, the character he is. He
leads by his actions, and you feel it when you're
out there. You feel comfortable and you feel like you
know he's leaving us. So great leader, a great captain,
(05:09):
and I just know there's more to come.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Yeah, speak sure man, as you say. Great crowd, how
much energy did you get from them last night?
Speaker 3 (05:16):
Oh? It was massive, man, Like Yeah, it was pretty cool.
Like bell aloud too, So all Ireland has Yellingcoln's screening,
but I was cool. Man was loved it too.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
All right. Just to finish your sixth two games to
go Chiefs Away, Cans Away. You know that's tough. How
are you going to keep this going and make the
top six for the first time?
Speaker 3 (05:37):
We're gonna whatever works for us during the week preparation wise,
we're going to prep for the Chiefs like that. But
we're going to try to take it to the next level.
I think we talked about have a good week weekend
when we get Backwi China, we're going to try and
take it to the next level because we know it's
gonna be hard to beat the Chiefs and the Hurricanes away.
But yeah, first things for us to try to be
the Chiefs.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
If from just that, you're earning a lot of admirers
Skyra and you and the team. Congratulations on a historic
victory last night, and I really appreciate you taking the
time for a chat this afternoon.
Speaker 3 (06:06):
Oh good cheers mate, have a good Sunday.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
You have a good Sunday too, Kra, and great to
chatt Ya Cara in tow moifilaal there hat trick hero
from last night as Mawana Pacifica made some more history
first ever went over the Blues. Yes, six wins this season.
Now the late game last night, the Brumbies beat the
Reds twenty four to fourteen. Earlier on the Fijian drewer
at Latoka, which seems to be an absolute fortress for
(06:29):
them beating the four thirty eight to seven, so that
is round fourteen in the books. The Brumbies are top
on forty three points, but they've played one extra game
than all of the other teams in the top six,
so the Brumby's forty three. The Chiefs are second on
forty one. The Crusaders also have forty one, with a
(06:49):
slightly inferior points differential. Then it's a big gap back
to the Reds on thirty two in fourth place. The
Hurricanes are fifth on thirty Mawana Pacifica are sixth on
twenty eight. Now the Blues also have twenty eight points,
but they've played one more game. The Blues may well
(07:12):
miss the six. They've got one more game to go.
They've got the by next week and then in their
final game of the season, they welcome the Waratahs to
Eden Park on the Saturday of King's Birthday weekend. First
of all, they absolutely have to win that game, but
that might not even be enough in their favor the
Blues in their quest to make it into the top six,
(07:36):
and it would just be squeaking into the top six.
Maaana Pacific is run and is very tough, as I
just mentioned Chiefs Away, Hurricanes Away. But then you look
what Maaana Pacifica did to the Blues last night, and
you think to yourself, you would not put it past
them to get something out of one or both of
those games if they were to lose them both. The
(08:01):
Blues do have the chance to sneak into the top
six if they were to beat the Warriors. Are the
Waratars over King's Birthday weekend. The Wara Tars themselves theoretically
could still make it. They've got a couple of games
left there. On twenty two points, it would take a
pretty strange set of circumstances for them to sneak in,
(08:22):
So I think we can talk about seven teams being
in contention for the top six.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk SEDB weekends from midday, or follow the
podcast on iHeartRadio.
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