April 7, 2025 • 10 mins
Moana Pasifika's having a memorable run this Super Rugby season - and it's sparked speculation about the team's future.
The team have claimed claimed back-to-back wins over the Crusaders and Waratahs, scoring 90 points over two games.
Rugby commentator Ken Laban joined Piney to discuss.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildegrave
from News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Slader's had a good game on to Tyler, Oh my
goodness made the numbs got all away, So me see
du pot dayla straight through past four defenders and.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
The number eight dots down.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
The crown of loving it times up.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
There goes to honer and the touch from Pellequini and
the WAA have won back to back Super Rugby games
for the first time.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
In franchise history. They blitzed the task in the second
half to win forty five twenty eight at North Harber Stadium.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
Here Nathan Linn with the call on Saturday afternoon Onana
Pacifica have won consecutive games for the first time in
their history. They now sit on the cusp of Super
Rugby's top six after their historic win over the Crusaders
and christ Church last weekend. They came back from twenty
one to seven down at halftime on the weekend to
beat the Waratars forty five twenty eight. Let's bring in
(01:05):
long time common Tata Ken Laban, who has a particular
expertise in Pacifica rugby can thanks for joining us this evening.
What have you seen in overall terms from Mowana Pacifica
this season that's seen them pick up three wins, including
the last two back to back.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
Well, they were the biggest story in the off season
Windey Jason when they signed Ardie Savia arg you bled
the top loose forward in the world and also spent
some time with captain Emie or Blacks as well when
Scott Berrat was unavailable, so you know his influence on
the field and particularly Monday to Friday bring around some
(01:45):
of those players and giving them a necessary belief alongside
has very very experienced for the IQ. You put that
together with a with a very good first five eight
that tanu Umanga has has recruited as well, and they're
getting good decisions made at the contact zone with they're
being dominant man, very good, very good decessions on the edge.
(02:07):
That with the five eight Perolin who's been fabulous.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
What about the way that they're applying in terms of
meshing the typical and traditional sorry Polynesian flare with ball
in hand with the structure needed to consistently compete with
the best sides in Super rugby.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Well, they've beaten three teams that are ahead of them
on a table and that doesn't happen unless you can
dominate the middle, dominate the line or whatever you want
to call it, will dominate the contact area. So that's
the first thing is that they need to take care
of business around there, whether they take the ball into
contact and where the opposition take the ball into contact.
And they have been very aggressive and very physical, in fact,
(02:48):
almost a carbon copy of what the Blues were last year.
And it's working from one plus second. And on the
back end of that they're having some very very smart
decisions made about when they kick and when they run
in their pass selection as well. And as you know,
coming down coming from twenty one to seven, down again
the team with the experience of the Warriorts, what have
(03:08):
they got fourteen internationals yep, and the team is as
a fabulous performance and they are probably you know, they're
not they're not there by a long shot, but they're
definitely building for the future.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
What have you made of kind of Umanu's development as
a rugby coach, Well.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
You know, the brutal world of assessment of professional sport pony,
as you know, Well, it's all about the numbers. Then
as you say, they sit you know, so they're three wins,
am I reckoning six wins? Six wins will give you
inside the six seven, eight wins potentially will we'll get
you will get you into the top four. So based
(03:52):
on based on how they're tracking, on how they're tracking,
now he's doing he's doing a terrific job. And you've
got to understand as well, people forget pretty quickly that
they were in they you know, they weren't always able
to get ECO access to every player on the market
when they came into the competition. So it wasn't like
the Phoenix or Auckland FC, or the Melbourne Storm or
(04:14):
the Dolphins, who essentially if they had the money they
could buy whoever they want. They were denied the players
that were already contracted to Super Rugby, so they had
to start a long way back behind the apel. Obviously,
the exception to that has been the recruitment of of
Ardie Savia and and if the rumors that we hear
(04:34):
a true about what Richie Moong is going to do
when he's done in Japan, you know they had they
could potentially be at the beginning of something very very special.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
Are you hearing Richie Mwonga to Mowana Pacifica. Yeah we
did that, mate, Well I have, but I just wondered
how much credence there was to it. But if you're
saying it, then it adds a lot more weight to it.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
Well, if you'd ask me, if you ask, if you
would ask anybody minu plus figure, if you had the
recruit a player, who would you go for? Will it
beat him? Wouldn't it?
Speaker 3 (05:00):
Well? Absolutely? I just I didn't know whether the whether
everything would match up to make can happen? I guess
I just assumed the Crusaders would be the team that
he would go back to. But goodness make can you
imagine Rochie Moore hunger and the more round the pacifica ship?
And what about yeah, what about others? Can? I mean
there must be others who see what's happening there and think, wow,
maybe I want a piece of that.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Yeah, exactly. Well, you know, you look at the likes
of Sean Stevenson, Mark Taltava Tava Nahai, Peter and Thomas
u Munger Jensen, Richie, you know Titi, you know Dalton, Dalton,
Papali Topolotu, Isaac Walker, Leo Wedde. Who's party g and
(05:46):
Parmari from Marti Purou. You know, you're limited by image
stuff more, you're limited by imagination potentially on on what
they could have if they're able to secure the resources
and the necessary money to make it attractive. And obviously
we're tana being the conduit near his knowledge of the game,
his knowledge of the bold and put speaker communities, as
(06:08):
well as the access to the players and the status
in the games, all of those things in this faithor
and of course Adie Savia wouldn't have find a minor
PAS speaker if it wasn't for Tanner. So if there's
anybody in there's anybody in world rugby that can secure
an opportunity for Richie Munger when he's done in Japan,
Tana Umanga will be in that conversation.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
I guess they also too have to have to find
the balance, don't they can? And that they are also
a side that develops young emerging pacifica talent. And I
look at Miracle Fight Alungi as an example of that.
I mean, I know he's not you know, he's emerged already,
hasn't he. But they'll they'll have to still find the
balance between providing opportunities for younger players.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
Yes, well, I guess well all of the teams, all
of the teams have got under twenty programs and they've
all got pathway programs and their players outside of the
top twenty three will have to be will have to
be in the system somewhere, So he would be Tana
will be very mindful. They would be very mindful of
that as well. But the bottom line and professional sport
(07:13):
is that you paid to win. Tanna understands that more
than anyone, and based on how they've started the twenty
twenty five campaign, they're well on true, they're well on
track to make the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (07:24):
I look at the stat that jumps out at me
ken Mina Pacific I have scored the most points this season,
but they've also conceded the most points. So if you're
a neutral going along to a Malana PACIFICA game, you're
going to get entertainment. Is that something though that Tina
will have to look at the number of points they
have conceded.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Yeah, potentially, Although I did read a stat a couple
of years ago, Jason, where at one point it was
something like seventy two percent of Super Rugby titles had
been one with the team with the best attack at
the end of the Super Rugby round robin, and the
Crusaders particularly, they've probably never got the credit for how
(08:03):
good they were on attack. They were somehow type cast
of some kind of dour side who played this brand
of South Island rugby with the natal figure. You look
closely at the numbers, they scored more tries and more
points than anyone right through the around rights through their heyday.
So obviously will have some concerns about defensively how many
(08:24):
points they can see, but he'd be very happy that
they're the best attacking side of the comp knowing what
influence that has had in terms of success for other
teams in the past.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
Do you think they are a Super Rugby title contender
this year?
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Well, they've beaten in the Crusaders, who are going to
be you know, they're everybody's spect to be in the
top four. They beat the Hurricanes who won the round
robin last year, and they beat the Warritas who by
some measure, you know, some people would ever believe that
they're the best Australian franchise given they benefited the most
from the demise of the Rebels. So based on their
(08:59):
three victories against teams ahead of them on the table,
all favored to be in and around the top four,
they are capable of making some noise and twenty twenty.
Speaker 3 (09:06):
Five and just to finish, what about the hearts and
minds of rugby fans in Auckland Ken because this weekend
it's Blues the Mona Pacifica at Eden Park. Are we
in a situation where there might be more support for
Morena Pacifica than the Blues on Saturday?
Speaker 2 (09:23):
Yeah, well, no franchise has done more for Pacifica rugby
than the Blues and Auckland historically they've always had a
fabulous Pasifika base. Then I think that what Moana, what
Mina have done all, you know, I think they're just crystallized,
crystallized that support. And you know half half of both
(09:45):
teams are related to each other anyway, that's the irony
of it all, you know, That's that's the thing we
love about support. There's no family, no friends on the field.
You know, you're best at crap out of each other
and hug it out after. So it'll be a great
event on the on the weekend for sure.
Speaker 3 (09:59):
Absolutely great catching up with you Ken, thanks for leading
us your insight. Really appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (10:04):
It was a pleasure mate.
Speaker 3 (10:04):
Good on you, Ken, Ken Laban there joining us on
Sports Talk with some really interesting thought teen. Perhaps a
little bit of a scoop there as well, just on
the Richie more on the thing. I'd heard those rumors.
I think we probably all have. You hear stuff like
that all the time. Don't you always going to go
to Mona Pacific, Ken Laban saying it gives it a
(10:25):
lot more credibility.
Speaker 1 (10:27):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to News Talks
it'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildegrave
from News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Slader's had a good game on to Tyler, Oh my
goodness made the numbs got all away, So me see
du pot dayla straight through past four defenders and.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
The number eight dots down.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
The crown of loving it times up.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
There goes to honer and the touch from Pellequini and
the WAA have won back to back Super Rugby games
for the first time.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
In franchise history. They blitzed the task in the second
half to win forty five twenty eight at North Harber Stadium.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
Here Nathan Linn with the call on Saturday afternoon Onana
Pacifica have won consecutive games for the first time in
their history. They now sit on the cusp of Super
Rugby's top six after their historic win over the Crusaders
and christ Church last weekend. They came back from twenty
one to seven down at halftime on the weekend to
beat the Waratars forty five twenty eight. Let's bring in
(01:05):
long time common Tata Ken Laban, who has a particular
expertise in Pacifica rugby can thanks for joining us this evening.
What have you seen in overall terms from Mowana Pacifica
this season that's seen them pick up three wins, including
the last two back to back.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
Well, they were the biggest story in the off season
Windey Jason when they signed Ardie Savia arg you bled
the top loose forward in the world and also spent
some time with captain Emie or Blacks as well when
Scott Berrat was unavailable, so you know his influence on
the field and particularly Monday to Friday bring around some
(01:45):
of those players and giving them a necessary belief alongside
has very very experienced for the IQ. You put that
together with a with a very good first five eight
that tanu Umanga has has recruited as well, and they're
getting good decisions made at the contact zone with they're
being dominant man, very good, very good decessions on the edge.
(02:07):
That with the five eight Perolin who's been fabulous.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
What about the way that they're applying in terms of
meshing the typical and traditional sorry Polynesian flare with ball
in hand with the structure needed to consistently compete with
the best sides in Super rugby.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Well, they've beaten three teams that are ahead of them
on a table and that doesn't happen unless you can
dominate the middle, dominate the line or whatever you want
to call it, will dominate the contact area. So that's
the first thing is that they need to take care
of business around there, whether they take the ball into
contact and where the opposition take the ball into contact.
And they have been very aggressive and very physical, in fact,
(02:48):
almost a carbon copy of what the Blues were last year.
And it's working from one plus second. And on the
back end of that they're having some very very smart
decisions made about when they kick and when they run
in their pass selection as well. And as you know,
coming down coming from twenty one to seven, down again
the team with the experience of the Warriorts, what have
(03:08):
they got fourteen internationals yep, and the team is as
a fabulous performance and they are probably you know, they're
not they're not there by a long shot, but they're
definitely building for the future.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
What have you made of kind of Umanu's development as
a rugby coach, Well.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
You know, the brutal world of assessment of professional sport pony,
as you know, Well, it's all about the numbers. Then
as you say, they sit you know, so they're three wins,
am I reckoning six wins? Six wins will give you
inside the six seven, eight wins potentially will we'll get
you will get you into the top four. So based
(03:52):
on based on how they're tracking, on how they're tracking,
now he's doing he's doing a terrific job. And you've
got to understand as well, people forget pretty quickly that
they were in they you know, they weren't always able
to get ECO access to every player on the market
when they came into the competition. So it wasn't like
the Phoenix or Auckland FC, or the Melbourne Storm or
(04:14):
the Dolphins, who essentially if they had the money they
could buy whoever they want. They were denied the players
that were already contracted to Super Rugby, so they had
to start a long way back behind the apel. Obviously,
the exception to that has been the recruitment of of
Ardie Savia and and if the rumors that we hear
(04:34):
a true about what Richie Moong is going to do
when he's done in Japan, you know they had they
could potentially be at the beginning of something very very special.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
Are you hearing Richie Mwonga to Mowana Pacifica. Yeah we
did that, mate, Well I have, but I just wondered
how much credence there was to it. But if you're
saying it, then it adds a lot more weight to it.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
Well, if you'd ask me, if you ask, if you
would ask anybody minu plus figure, if you had the
recruit a player, who would you go for? Will it
beat him? Wouldn't it?
Speaker 3 (05:00):
Well? Absolutely? I just I didn't know whether the whether
everything would match up to make can happen? I guess
I just assumed the Crusaders would be the team that
he would go back to. But goodness make can you
imagine Rochie Moore hunger and the more round the pacifica ship?
And what about yeah, what about others? Can? I mean
there must be others who see what's happening there and think, wow,
maybe I want a piece of that.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Yeah, exactly. Well, you know, you look at the likes
of Sean Stevenson, Mark Taltava Tava Nahai, Peter and Thomas
u Munger Jensen, Richie, you know Titi, you know Dalton, Dalton,
Papali Topolotu, Isaac Walker, Leo Wedde. Who's party g and
(05:46):
Parmari from Marti Purou. You know, you're limited by image
stuff more, you're limited by imagination potentially on on what
they could have if they're able to secure the resources
and the necessary money to make it attractive. And obviously
we're tana being the conduit near his knowledge of the game,
his knowledge of the bold and put speaker communities, as
(06:08):
well as the access to the players and the status
in the games, all of those things in this faithor
and of course Adie Savia wouldn't have find a minor
PAS speaker if it wasn't for Tanner. So if there's
anybody in there's anybody in world rugby that can secure
an opportunity for Richie Munger when he's done in Japan,
Tana Umanga will be in that conversation.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
I guess they also too have to have to find
the balance, don't they can? And that they are also
a side that develops young emerging pacifica talent. And I
look at Miracle Fight Alungi as an example of that.
I mean, I know he's not you know, he's emerged already,
hasn't he. But they'll they'll have to still find the
balance between providing opportunities for younger players.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
Yes, well, I guess well all of the teams, all
of the teams have got under twenty programs and they've
all got pathway programs and their players outside of the
top twenty three will have to be will have to
be in the system somewhere, So he would be Tana
will be very mindful. They would be very mindful of
that as well. But the bottom line and professional sport
(07:13):
is that you paid to win. Tanna understands that more
than anyone, and based on how they've started the twenty
twenty five campaign, they're well on true, they're well on
track to make the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (07:24):
I look at the stat that jumps out at me
ken Mina Pacific I have scored the most points this season,
but they've also conceded the most points. So if you're
a neutral going along to a Malana PACIFICA game, you're
going to get entertainment. Is that something though that Tina
will have to look at the number of points they
have conceded.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Yeah, potentially, Although I did read a stat a couple
of years ago, Jason, where at one point it was
something like seventy two percent of Super Rugby titles had
been one with the team with the best attack at
the end of the Super Rugby round robin, and the
Crusaders particularly, they've probably never got the credit for how
(08:03):
good they were on attack. They were somehow type cast
of some kind of dour side who played this brand
of South Island rugby with the natal figure. You look
closely at the numbers, they scored more tries and more
points than anyone right through the around rights through their heyday.
So obviously will have some concerns about defensively how many
(08:24):
points they can see, but he'd be very happy that
they're the best attacking side of the comp knowing what
influence that has had in terms of success for other
teams in the past.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
Do you think they are a Super Rugby title contender
this year?
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Well, they've beaten in the Crusaders, who are going to
be you know, they're everybody's spect to be in the
top four. They beat the Hurricanes who won the round
robin last year, and they beat the Warritas who by
some measure, you know, some people would ever believe that
they're the best Australian franchise given they benefited the most
from the demise of the Rebels. So based on their
(08:59):
three victories against teams ahead of them on the table,
all favored to be in and around the top four,
they are capable of making some noise and twenty twenty.
Speaker 3 (09:06):
Five and just to finish, what about the hearts and
minds of rugby fans in Auckland Ken because this weekend
it's Blues the Mona Pacifica at Eden Park. Are we
in a situation where there might be more support for
Morena Pacifica than the Blues on Saturday?
Speaker 2 (09:23):
Yeah, well, no franchise has done more for Pacifica rugby
than the Blues and Auckland historically they've always had a
fabulous Pasifika base. Then I think that what Moana, what
Mina have done all, you know, I think they're just crystallized,
crystallized that support. And you know half half of both
(09:45):
teams are related to each other anyway, that's the irony
of it all, you know, That's that's the thing we
love about support. There's no family, no friends on the field.
You know, you're best at crap out of each other
and hug it out after. So it'll be a great
event on the on the weekend for sure.
Speaker 3 (09:59):
Absolutely great catching up with you Ken, thanks for leading
us your insight. Really appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (10:04):
It was a pleasure mate.
Speaker 3 (10:04):
Good on you, Ken, Ken Laban there joining us on
Sports Talk with some really interesting thought teen. Perhaps a
little bit of a scoop there as well, just on
the Richie more on the thing. I'd heard those rumors.
I think we probably all have. You hear stuff like
that all the time. Don't you always going to go
to Mona Pacific, Ken Laban saying it gives it a
(10:25):
lot more credibility.
Speaker 1 (10:27):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to News Talks
it'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
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