Moana Pasifika loose forward and captain Ardie Savea during the Super Rugby Pacific - Moana Pasifika v Waratahs at North Harbour Stadium. Photo: Photosport
Moana Pasifika have gone back to back for the first time in the franchise's history, beating the Waratahs 45-28.
After their historic victory over the Crusaders in Christchurch, Moana continued the hot form at North Harbour Stadium, a stunning hat-trick to prop Feleti Sae-Ta'ufo'ou driving the Pasifika side to victory.
The visitors kicked off the scoring with an acrobatic effort by Triston Reilly in the left corner.
The winger went back to back in cruel fashion, Moana butchering a try for failing to tap the ball, before the Waratahs broke out of their own 22 and Reilly motored away to make it 14-0.
Moana replied from close reange through Sae-Ta'ufo'ou, but with halftime looming, the Waratahs extended their advantage with some slick hands as Andrew Kellaway gave his side a 21-7 half time lead.
The home side came out firing in the second, Sae-Ta'ufo'ou powering his way to the chalk for a brace and just five minutes later the hulking prop barreled over again from close range to complete his treble and reduce the gap to two.
However, some more poor defence allowed Teddy Wilson to stroll over and silence the Albany crowd.
But they were brought back to their feet in thrilling fashion, Willy Havili splitting the line open and chipping ahead for Patrick Pellegrini to score by the sticks.
Havili then put Moana in front for the first time after Fine Inisi sent the fullback away untouched.
Havili would have a hand in the fifth as well, a deft cross field grubber to Inisi as the home side went up by ten.
The result was sealed and the party was underway in the 78th when Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa scored to put it beyond doubt and send Moana into the top six.
Catch up with the action from RNZ's live blog:
Team lists
Moana Pasifika: 1. Tito Tuipulotu, 2. Millennium Sanerivi, 3. Feleti Sae-Ta'ufo'ou, 4. Samuel Slade, 5. Allan Craig, 6. Semisi Paea, 7. Ardie Savea (c), 8. Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa, 9. Jonathan Taumateine, 10. Patrick Pellegrini, 11. Solomon Alaimalo, 12. Danny Toala, 13. Lalomilo Lalomilo, 14. Kyren Taumoefolau, 15. William Havili
Bench: 16. Sama Malolo, 17. Abraham Pole, 18. Chris Apoua, 19. Tom Savage, 20. Ola Tauelangi, 21. Melani Matavao, 22. Jackson Garden-Bachop, 23. Fine Inisi
Waratahs: 1. Angus Bell, 2. Ethan Dobbins, 3. Daniel Botha, 4. Hugh Sinclair (c), 5. Ben Grant, 6. Rob Leota, 7. Charlie Gamble, 8. Langi Gleeson, 9. Teddy Wilson, 10. Lawson Creighton, 11. Triston Reilly, 12. Lalakai Foketi, 13. Henry O'Donnell, 14. Andrew Kellaway, 15. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii
Bench: 16. Julian Heaven, 17. Isaac Kailea, 18. Taniela Tupou, 19. Felix Kalapu, 20. Jamie Adamson, 21. Jack Grant, 22. Jack Bowen, 23. Joey Walton
