February 8, 2025 • 11 mins
Moana Pasifika is gearing up for another season of Super Rugby - and they're hoping to build on the last three years within the sport.
The team finished 11th on the 12-team table last year with 4 wins and 10 defeats.
Moana Pasifika head coach Tana Umaga joined Piney to discuss.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk zedb Iwana Pacifica.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Good quick ball, hop bly hop bly up.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
Till Tanny Twala Tanny Towala.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
Britch pass.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
They've got a score and it's lotto only see he comes.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Round behind the posts and dots it down by They
deserve man Jame over.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
Scintillating game of forty and the Battle.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
On the Pacific has been won by Mowanna Pacifica.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Yeah, Mina Pacifica back again this season and looking to
improve upon their performances of the last three seasons. Last year,
just to remind you, Mauna Pacifica finished eleventh on the
twelve team table with four winds, ten defeats eighteen points,
which had them about eight points outside the top eight
who made it through to the to the quarterfinals. Course
(01:01):
different this year, only eleven teams only a top six
will go through to the playoffs which have been rejinked
and we can obviously talk more about that as the
season goes on. But one to pacific A head coach
Tana Umaga is with us a ton of thanks for
joining us on Weekend Sport. First of all, Have you
arrived at the start line or thereabouts of Super Rugby
with with a fully fit squad after a couple of
(01:22):
preseason outings.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
Yeah, how's it going, Jason? We have Actually, it's been pleasing,
to be honest, you know, I think you know, my
one of my pet fears obviously in the preseason is
just getting injuries, and we've we haven't done too bad
apart from just yesterday against the Chiefs we lost Nico Jones,
(01:48):
so that could be a little bit concerning going forward.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
Is that Are we talking weeks here for Nico?
Speaker 3 (01:57):
Yeah? I think so. Look what I haven't had the
final report, but it didn't look at yet. A bit
of an elbow injury and had to come straight off
the game, off the off the field, and he was
in a sling at the end of the game and
had to go to hospital for scans. So yeah, yeah,
(02:18):
hopefully I need more about that today than tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
All right, Well, keep our fingers crossed for him. Other
than that, In terms of the way your team's played
in a couple of preseason games you've had, as you
look ahead to your first couple of matches over the Tasman,
are you happy with the way your side is looking
on the field.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
Yes, yeah, I am. Actually, you know, I think we've
improved in terms of our overall fitness from last year,
but also just our execution about what we're trying to do.
I can see these a little bit more understanding around things,
and you know, obviously when you're fitter and you're organized,
(02:58):
makes the game a little bit easier. But you know,
as we know, preseasons not a precursor for what happens
in the during the season, so you know, we've got
a bit of a hard going away to perform the heat.
So it's actually been good training and playing an orphan
at the moment because long made of the summer half, it's.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
Not just in Auckland, right around the country. Has it
also helped you think kind of that You've you've got
a pretty strong core of players back from twenty twenty four, Oh.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
Totally totally, and you know those plans have come back
motivated and again come back and good Nick. You know,
we've had I've got a few players that have on
their way back from injury. So I haven't paid a
lot of rugby leading up to this season, but they've
got two good hitouts under their belts, you know, and
(03:54):
so yeah, I think very much. So you know, that
group of core experienced plans, which is what we need,
and leadership, I think is a big thing for us
on field leadership and obviously having an Artissavi return coming
to play for us now you know that we improve
(04:16):
in that area immensely.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
How noticeable has Ardie Sav's influence been on your team?
Speaker 3 (04:23):
Oh yeah, very noticeable. Even you know, he only played
fifteen minutes yesterday and you know you could just see
the players lift around him. You know, he just gives
(04:44):
people confidence and obviously that's a big you know, that
obviously comes with his his abilities, but also it comes
with a bit of pressure on him too, and if
he understands that, you know, he just goes around and
does his business, you know, plays the game that he
wants to play, and I think the players just get
him behind that. And also that's that's kind of of
(05:09):
art his style too. You know, he's said at our
first meeting that he's here in their respect first, and
you know, he's everything he does, whether it's on the
field off the field, I think, you know, he's really
got these guys behind him, and you know, he doesn't
(05:29):
have to do much. You know, obviously his reputation precedes
him when he comes here. But I think now that
they're with him, you know, I can see a lot
more players talking to him now. I think there was
a little bit of you know, a little bit nervous talking.
It was pretty funny, Yeah, exactly was. But no, no, look,
(05:51):
he's made an impact, you know, as soon as he
got here.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
Yeah, I love that. I love that. I can imagine
there be a few nervous, nervous young men, but great
to know that they're starting to have a chat with
with Artie now there has been talked to her. I'm
sure you've heard of other New Zealand players following his
lead and joining more on the Pacific. Is that something
that you will actively try to make happen.
Speaker 3 (06:13):
Look, well, we're here to make our program better and
you know, if you know other players that play alongside
the ARDI and for their countries, then would be silly
not to you know, It's as we've seen with ARDI,
when you've got the color of player like that coming in,
(06:33):
it just lifts everybody. And that's what we're about. You know,
we want to uplift our players around them. You know,
we can't have a team full of them because we
don't afford it. But you know, if we can pick
ones that we know will approve the program and lift
those around them, you know, not just with their play,
but with their off field leadership as well, you know,
(06:54):
then we're definitely interested. And yeah, I think it would
be silly for us not to look into that.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
You start the season, as you say, with a way
trip the Force and the Reds. Presumably you'll stay in
Australia between games, So will that be a good thing
for solidifying the sides togetherness early in the season.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
Touring is always great for doing that. You know. The
sad things we can't take a whole squad with us,
so you know we're still going to be leaving a
group of us behind, and you're right, we are staying
over there for our two game Australian tour and it
just makes sense as well. But yeah, I look, that
(07:35):
group that does get to go, they're fortunate enough that
you know, it'll be within that squad that takes qre
of those first two games and they'll be We'll be
doing a lot to grow our connections and that's been
a big part of our pre season two. It's just
growing those connections within our players and understanding that everyone's
got a role, whether you're you get to play or
(07:56):
you don't get to play, and how we can make
sure that we're helping each other, you know, achieve what
we want to achieve as a group.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
You won four games last season, six or sive even
would get you into the playoff conversation? Is that something
you talk about, Tanna? Do you talk about the number
of wins or is it really just performance and the
results will take care of themselves.
Speaker 3 (08:20):
Oh, look, we don't talk about that to everybody. You know,
we kind of know the you know, the equations of
what we need to get to the finals for you
and obviously that's where we want to be. We talked.
I think you have to talk about it. The probably
problem is everyone's talking about it. Every team's got the
(08:41):
same goal. We all want to be in their final six.
And then then it comes down to what you talked about,
you know, just our performances and the results will take
care of themselves. But you know, we have to make
sure that we've got a goal. Our goal is to
be successful, you know, as everybody is. We want to
get to the to the top six. Once you get there,
you know things will take care of themselves. But you know,
(09:03):
we want to improve from last year. We know we've
got a long way to go to do that, and
we just got to work away and put our heads
down and think. You know, that's something that we get
from ADI as well, is that, you know, look our talking,
we have to let our actions do. That's talking for
us because you know, words alone won't get us to
where we want to get to.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
And just to finish, Tony, You've done plenty in your
rugby career, both as a player and as a coach.
Where does coaching more on a pacifica sit for you?
Speaker 3 (09:36):
Yeah, no, I think it's for me at the moment.
It's right up there. Obviously. I have a connection, a
real passion to help the Pacific people. I feel, you know,
I feel a real strong purpose connected to this franchos,
to this club and to my people. So you know, yeah,
(09:59):
look it's a tough one for some but you know,
I really love what I do. I enjoy giving up
every morning to go to work and I love what
we're doing and nice see things happen every day. You know,
the improvements on players, just little things, the improvements and
(10:21):
even within our staff and helping them achieve what they
want to achieve. You know. That's yeah. Look, I think
this is probably, you know, one of the top things
I've done, probably in my life, to be honest, brilliant.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
What's you all the best?
Speaker 3 (10:34):
Appearance?
Speaker 2 (10:35):
Well, there is that good safe, good sight. You're good
save good save at the end there, what's you all
the best? Make for twenty twenty five, travel safe to
Australia and look forward to catching up throughout the season.
Speaker 3 (10:45):
I appreciate talking to you, Jason. You take care.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
You take care too, Tanna, thanks indeed, Tana Whomonga there?
Who else? Head coach of Morana Pacifica. What a quality
human being he is, Tana as I was just chatting
to him then, just you remember how good a player
he was and you know, moving into coaching it didn't
work out, I'm sure or see have hoped at the Blues,
but at my ONEA Pacifica. It just seems like the
(11:09):
right fit, doesn't it to have a guy like Tana Umanga.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
There For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine. Listen
live to News Talk zed B weekends from midday or
follow the podcast on iHeartRadio,
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk zedb Iwana Pacifica.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Good quick ball, hop bly hop bly up.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
Till Tanny Twala Tanny Towala.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
Britch pass.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
They've got a score and it's lotto only see he comes.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Round behind the posts and dots it down by They
deserve man Jame over.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
Scintillating game of forty and the Battle.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
On the Pacific has been won by Mowanna Pacifica.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Yeah, Mina Pacifica back again this season and looking to
improve upon their performances of the last three seasons. Last year,
just to remind you, Mauna Pacifica finished eleventh on the
twelve team table with four winds, ten defeats eighteen points,
which had them about eight points outside the top eight
who made it through to the to the quarterfinals. Course
(01:01):
different this year, only eleven teams only a top six
will go through to the playoffs which have been rejinked
and we can obviously talk more about that as the
season goes on. But one to pacific A head coach
Tana Umaga is with us a ton of thanks for
joining us on Weekend Sport. First of all, Have you
arrived at the start line or thereabouts of Super Rugby
with with a fully fit squad after a couple of
(01:22):
preseason outings.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
Yeah, how's it going, Jason? We have Actually, it's been pleasing,
to be honest, you know, I think you know, my
one of my pet fears obviously in the preseason is
just getting injuries, and we've we haven't done too bad
apart from just yesterday against the Chiefs we lost Nico Jones,
(01:48):
so that could be a little bit concerning going forward.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
Is that Are we talking weeks here for Nico?
Speaker 3 (01:57):
Yeah? I think so. Look what I haven't had the
final report, but it didn't look at yet. A bit
of an elbow injury and had to come straight off
the game, off the off the field, and he was
in a sling at the end of the game and
had to go to hospital for scans. So yeah, yeah,
(02:18):
hopefully I need more about that today than tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
All right, Well, keep our fingers crossed for him. Other
than that, In terms of the way your team's played
in a couple of preseason games you've had, as you
look ahead to your first couple of matches over the Tasman,
are you happy with the way your side is looking
on the field.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
Yes, yeah, I am. Actually, you know, I think we've
improved in terms of our overall fitness from last year,
but also just our execution about what we're trying to do.
I can see these a little bit more understanding around things,
and you know, obviously when you're fitter and you're organized,
(02:58):
makes the game a little bit easier. But you know,
as we know, preseasons not a precursor for what happens
in the during the season, so you know, we've got
a bit of a hard going away to perform the heat.
So it's actually been good training and playing an orphan
at the moment because long made of the summer half, it's.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
Not just in Auckland, right around the country. Has it
also helped you think kind of that You've you've got
a pretty strong core of players back from twenty twenty four, Oh.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
Totally totally, and you know those plans have come back
motivated and again come back and good Nick. You know,
we've had I've got a few players that have on
their way back from injury. So I haven't paid a
lot of rugby leading up to this season, but they've
got two good hitouts under their belts, you know, and
(03:54):
so yeah, I think very much. So you know, that
group of core experienced plans, which is what we need,
and leadership, I think is a big thing for us
on field leadership and obviously having an Artissavi return coming
to play for us now you know that we improve
(04:16):
in that area immensely.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
How noticeable has Ardie Sav's influence been on your team?
Speaker 3 (04:23):
Oh yeah, very noticeable. Even you know, he only played
fifteen minutes yesterday and you know you could just see
the players lift around him. You know, he just gives
(04:44):
people confidence and obviously that's a big you know, that
obviously comes with his his abilities, but also it comes
with a bit of pressure on him too, and if
he understands that, you know, he just goes around and
does his business, you know, plays the game that he
wants to play, and I think the players just get
him behind that. And also that's that's kind of of
(05:09):
art his style too. You know, he's said at our
first meeting that he's here in their respect first, and
you know, he's everything he does, whether it's on the
field off the field, I think, you know, he's really
got these guys behind him, and you know, he doesn't
(05:29):
have to do much. You know, obviously his reputation precedes
him when he comes here. But I think now that
they're with him, you know, I can see a lot
more players talking to him now. I think there was
a little bit of you know, a little bit nervous talking.
It was pretty funny, Yeah, exactly was. But no, no, look,
(05:51):
he's made an impact, you know, as soon as he
got here.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
Yeah, I love that. I love that. I can imagine
there be a few nervous, nervous young men, but great
to know that they're starting to have a chat with
with Artie now there has been talked to her. I'm
sure you've heard of other New Zealand players following his
lead and joining more on the Pacific. Is that something
that you will actively try to make happen.
Speaker 3 (06:13):
Look, well, we're here to make our program better and
you know, if you know other players that play alongside
the ARDI and for their countries, then would be silly
not to you know, It's as we've seen with ARDI,
when you've got the color of player like that coming in,
(06:33):
it just lifts everybody. And that's what we're about. You know,
we want to uplift our players around them. You know,
we can't have a team full of them because we
don't afford it. But you know, if we can pick
ones that we know will approve the program and lift
those around them, you know, not just with their play,
but with their off field leadership as well, you know,
(06:54):
then we're definitely interested. And yeah, I think it would
be silly for us not to look into that.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
You start the season, as you say, with a way
trip the Force and the Reds. Presumably you'll stay in
Australia between games, So will that be a good thing
for solidifying the sides togetherness early in the season.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
Touring is always great for doing that. You know. The
sad things we can't take a whole squad with us,
so you know we're still going to be leaving a
group of us behind, and you're right, we are staying
over there for our two game Australian tour and it
just makes sense as well. But yeah, I look, that
(07:35):
group that does get to go, they're fortunate enough that
you know, it'll be within that squad that takes qre
of those first two games and they'll be We'll be
doing a lot to grow our connections and that's been
a big part of our pre season two. It's just
growing those connections within our players and understanding that everyone's
got a role, whether you're you get to play or
(07:56):
you don't get to play, and how we can make
sure that we're helping each other, you know, achieve what
we want to achieve as a group.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
You won four games last season, six or sive even
would get you into the playoff conversation? Is that something
you talk about, Tanna? Do you talk about the number
of wins or is it really just performance and the
results will take care of themselves.
Speaker 3 (08:20):
Oh, look, we don't talk about that to everybody. You know,
we kind of know the you know, the equations of
what we need to get to the finals for you
and obviously that's where we want to be. We talked.
I think you have to talk about it. The probably
problem is everyone's talking about it. Every team's got the
(08:41):
same goal. We all want to be in their final six.
And then then it comes down to what you talked about,
you know, just our performances and the results will take
care of themselves. But you know, we have to make
sure that we've got a goal. Our goal is to
be successful, you know, as everybody is. We want to
get to the to the top six. Once you get there,
you know things will take care of themselves. But you know,
(09:03):
we want to improve from last year. We know we've
got a long way to go to do that, and
we just got to work away and put our heads
down and think. You know, that's something that we get
from ADI as well, is that, you know, look our talking,
we have to let our actions do. That's talking for
us because you know, words alone won't get us to
where we want to get to.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
And just to finish, Tony, You've done plenty in your
rugby career, both as a player and as a coach.
Where does coaching more on a pacifica sit for you?
Speaker 3 (09:36):
Yeah, no, I think it's for me at the moment.
It's right up there. Obviously. I have a connection, a
real passion to help the Pacific people. I feel, you know,
I feel a real strong purpose connected to this franchos,
to this club and to my people. So you know, yeah,
(09:59):
look it's a tough one for some but you know,
I really love what I do. I enjoy giving up
every morning to go to work and I love what
we're doing and nice see things happen every day. You know,
the improvements on players, just little things, the improvements and
(10:21):
even within our staff and helping them achieve what they
want to achieve. You know. That's yeah. Look, I think
this is probably, you know, one of the top things
I've done, probably in my life, to be honest, brilliant.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
What's you all the best?
Speaker 3 (10:34):
Appearance?
Speaker 2 (10:35):
Well, there is that good safe, good sight. You're good
save good save at the end there, what's you all
the best? Make for twenty twenty five, travel safe to
Australia and look forward to catching up throughout the season.
Speaker 3 (10:45):
I appreciate talking to you, Jason. You take care.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
You take care too, Tanna, thanks indeed, Tana Whomonga there?
Who else? Head coach of Morana Pacifica. What a quality
human being he is, Tana as I was just chatting
to him then, just you remember how good a player
he was and you know, moving into coaching it didn't
work out, I'm sure or see have hoped at the Blues,
but at my ONEA Pacifica. It just seems like the
(11:09):
right fit, doesn't it to have a guy like Tana Umanga.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
There For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine. Listen
live to News Talk zed B weekends from midday or
follow the podcast on iHeartRadio,
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