Moana Pasifika and Drua upset the odds in dramatic clashes

It was a massive weekend for the small but mighty Pacific teams in Super Rugby Pacific. The Kiwi teams struggled against Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika, with both Pacific franchises delivering unforgettable performances to secure their first wins of the 2025 season.

Moana Pasifika stunned the Hurricanes 40-31 at North Harbour Stadium on Saturday, while the Fijian Drua toppled the previously unbeaten Waikato Chiefs 28-24 at Churchill Park in Lautoka. The victories marked a statement round for the competition, showcasing the strength and progress of the Pacific teams.

For Moana, the win was particularly significant as they fought back without their captain, Ardie Savea, who left the field just before halftime due to injury. In his first match against his former team since joining Moana Pasifika, Savea expressed his pride in his teammates.

"I'm proud of the boys to get across the line and get the dub. They showed true heart and effort, and it shows that when we get it right, we can get it right," Savea told Sky SportNZ’s Jeff Wilson after the game.

"Our backs controlled the game, put us in the right areas of the field, which is what we talked about last week. And when we got to those positions, our forwards rolled their sleeves up and they put us over the line."

Despite watching from the sidelines, Savea soaked in the atmosphere, feeling the support from the crowd. "Sitting on the sideline, I got to experience the fans and the crowd. Man, shout out to the fans out there. I'm home."

Fijian Drua co-captain and halfback Frank Lomani also reflected on the importance of their win after a tough road trip.

"It's special to this group because three weeks ago, we could have won three games," Lomani said in a post-match interview on Stan Sports. "We built this momentum starting from the first game against the Brumbies and never got to win in the last games."

Lomani acknowledged the support from their fans, saying, "It's about time we owe our fans, our supporters that turned up today, and we came to do the job today. The goal never changes. We turn up every day to work hard so we turn up on the weekend, and we were able to do what we said we were going to do."

Moana Pasifika had come close in previous rounds, suffering narrow defeats to the Force (45-44), Reds (56-36), and Highlanders (31-29). However, their breakthrough performance against the Hurricanes was fueled by an outstanding display from backrower Miracle Faiʻilagi, who stole the show with a hat-trick.

Faiʻilagi responded to Hurricanes No.8 Brayden Iose’s try in the 15th minute with a score of his own three minutes later. Moana then went on a scoring spree, piling on 28 unanswered points. No.8 Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa powered over to give the hosts the lead before the Hurricanes lost Iose to a yellow card, shifting momentum firmly in Moana’s favor.

The Hurricanes mounted a late comeback, but Moana Pasifika held their ground to secure an emotional and well-deserved victory. Even Hurricanes coach Clark Laidlaw acknowledged the positive impact of Moana’s win on the competition.

"It does feel like there's been a shift and long may it continue. The last thing we want is a competition where there's runaway teams," Laidlaw said. "Moana winning and the Drua, it's what the competition needs and wants. It's frustrating as hell for us tonight, but fair play to Moana. They took their chances, they deserved their win. They've improved a lot."

With both Pacific teams proving they can take down Super Rugby’s biggest franchises, this weekend was a reminder of just how competitive the competition has become. As Savea said, "They showed true heart and effort," and that effort is starting to pay off in a big way.