Moana Pasifika captain Ardie Savea says they want to win the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific title, but to do so they will need to win their next matches\u00a0one at a time.<\/p>\n
That was his message after Melani Matavao scored the decider to give the side a 34-29 win over the Highlanders at the Forsyth Barr stadium in Dunedin.<\/p>\n
The Sunday afternoon clash ended after Matavo charged down a clearing kick close to the Highlanders tryline, collected the bouncing ball and dived over to score.<\/p>\n
It gave the visitors their first win over the Highlanders in the series since 2022.<\/p>\n
The win shoots the North Harbour side into sixth spot on the Super Rugby Pacific competition standings with 24 points.<\/p>\n
That is two points fewer than the Hurricanes who sit in fifth place and four points behind the Reds in fourth.<\/p>\n
Moana will have a bye week next weekend, play the Blues at home the weekend after, then take on the Chiefs in Hamilton and the Hurricanes in Wellington for their last two matches.<\/p>\n
Savea said the pathway was clear for them.<\/p>\n
“We want to win the championship but first we gotta make the top six,” Savea said.<\/p>\n
“And to make the top six we gotta win each week. We did that today, still think it can be better even on my behalf as a leader. I put the team under pressure by giving penalties away so I need to reflect on that myself.<\/p>\n
“We take the dub [win] today, we go home, hug our loved ones, spend some quality time with our families, reset away from footy and we come back to play the Blues at home.”<\/p>\n
He thanked divine intervention and praised the players for staying in the game.<\/p>\n
“First and foremost would like to thank the Lord Jesus Christ, would not be here if not for him,” Savea said.<\/p>\n
“I am exhausted and tired but also satisfied.<\/p>\n
“It’s not nice playing the game when it is going back and forth. We’d rather be in a good lead but that’s the beauty of footy and that’s credit to the Landers boys who every year, every season, every game never give up.<\/p>\n
“I am just proud of my boys who against all odds, you know we have faith as small as a seed and that seed can move mountains and like what I have said the belief and confidence in the boys is just awesome.”<\/p>\n
RNZ<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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