Ardie Savea in a previous match. Photo: Pat Hoelscher/ActionPress
Moana Pasifika achieved what was previously impossible, defeating the Blues 27-21 in a Super Rugby Pacific round 14 game in North Harbour on Saturday evening.
It was a victory that meant a lot more than just the result on the field for the club as a whole, after head coach Fa'alogo Tana Umaga revealed there were some flak thrown at the team from their across-the-bridge opponents, following the team's earlier clash at Eden Park.
And captain Ardie Savea told the media a Biblical verse - which made the comparison of being the light in the darkness of life - was the inspiration the team needed to psyche them up for the historic win.
In the end, the physical and brutal battle ended in victory for the home side, which Savea said were in uncharted waters. Victories over New Zealand premier teams the Crusaders, Hurricanes and Highlanders had preceded Saturday's win.
Facing the media at the post-match conference, both Umaga and Savea fought hard to contain their emotions as they described what the victory meant to them as a club and their family of fans.
"We heard a lot of things after the last game and we had a talk about it, how we motivate ourselves," Umaga revealed.
"We heard some of the narratives coming out of their camp around things. Ardie talked to me and said we look to the light and be the light, and I think tonight we shone bright."
Savea said he used the Bible scripture from John chapter one, verse five to be their motivation.
"Me and [Umaga] talked about it, and I said, 'Let's be the light in the darkness.' Obviously the game, there's a lot of back and forth with both teams. If we shine our light, and we do it in our own way without degrading anyone or any team and just go about our business.
"We talk about our faith and our way and we just need to walk it."
Umaga said the players have built a lot of self-belief and faith, trusting their processes and each other, which helped them get the win.
The former All Black captain said he was excited because he knew the team would keep growing.
"For us, I think we just stuck to the plan," he said. "We had a lot of belief. This week we prepared really well and we've just been building throughout the season.
"We knew these three games are gonna be tough for us. Our guys are really growing and I know they will grow again."
The win pushed Moana Pasifika into sixth spot on the competition table and dropped the Blues down to seventh.
While the Blues have one more game to go, Moana Pasifika have two more - against the Chiefs in Hamilton next weekend and then the Hurricanes in Wellington the weekend after. A win out of the two clashes could cement Moana's berth in the top six.
The Blues will also have to win against the Waratahs on 31 May and hope other results work in their favour to claim a top six spot.
Cotter reacts
Blue head coach Vern Cotter was disappointed with his team's missed opportunities and mistakes committed that saw possession lost and their advantage reduced.
"Frustrating when you scrum five metres from the line and you have an opportunity to take the win, and I thought it was going to be our night where we get a one-point win - and as it turned out we just weren't efficient enough in and around that, five metres from the line and yeah, that was disappointing," Cotter, who coached the side to the title 12 months ago in his first season with the club, explained.
Savea was the Blues' cause of misery, winning a turnover in a tackle after the hooter had sounded and the champion side pushing towards the line.
But as the ball went to ground in a tackle, Savea was on hand, positioned himself and as he had done so many times before, won the tussle and claimed a penalty.
It was an area the Cotter pointed to as a major weakness for his side, who had dominated the same just a few weeks earlier at Eden Park.
"In and around the collisions… they had more horsepower in there," Cotter said. "So I think we had the opportunities, they were there. We have to ask some serious questions on our intent to action.
"In saying that, I would say congratulations to Moana. They played well and had us under pressure."
Cotter also applauded Savea, and said the All Black loosie was on fire. He said the captain inspired the side and he had not seen Savea play that well.
On fire would be an understatement after the former Hurricanes player, who started the game with his older brother Julian, won turnovers, made the hard tackles, chipped and chased and even got a 50-metre touchfinder that relieved the pressure of the Moana line as the Blues were on attack in the second spell.
Learnings
Savea said he had learned so much from the players in the club, who have managed to show an island lifestyle of being 'easy go free' and professional rugby players with a focus.
"That's been an eye opener for me," he said. "Many teams I have been a part, you know, there's too much laughter and we don't play well - it's because of the laughter.
"This team thrives on that. I am slowly learning. It is the happiest I have been in my career. At peace, clear purpose and got family to do it with."
Umaga said the players have also learned from Savea, something that was evident on Saturday, as the players lifted and followed their captain's lead on the field.
He made special mention of Savea's loose trio partners of Miracle Failangi and Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa, who held the upper hand against the more experienced Dalton Papalii and Hoskins Sotutu for the Blues.
Winger Kyren Taumoefolau and flyhalf Patrick Pellegrini also received mentions, both playing well in their positions and assisted in the win.
Taumoefolau scored three tries and Pellegrini commanded the flow of the game, varying his tactics with speed balls for the backs to run and the chip kicks over the defence or touch finders to relieve pressure.
Fans effect
Both Umaga and Savea heaped praise on their fans, who had backed them since they moved into North Harbour as their base.
Moana Pasifika announced in the week that all seats around the grandstand were sold out. They opened up more seats at the open-air grandstand and the embankment.
At game time 12,000 fans who turned up, majority of them with the Moana Pasifika tee shirts. jersies and flags.
Umaga said it has been an emotional experience, walking into the stadium atmosphere, seeing the flags being waved and the cheers going up.
"It's awesome, unbelievable," he said. "Who would have thought coming across here on the North Shore when the Blues are playing and a full crowd? That's what motivates our guys to do the things they do out there."
He said the team does not take the support for granted and they know they have to do the work on the field.
Savea acknowledged the crowd after the final whistle, raising them to cheer and celebrate with the players.
Other results from the weekend: Hurricanes 24 Highlanders 20, Crusaders 48 Waratahs 33, Fijian Drua 38 Western Force 7, Brumbies 24 Reds 14.
The Brumbies now lead the points table with 43 points, while the Chiefs, who were on a bye this weekend, and the Crusaders are tied with 41 points each.
The Reds are at fifth spot, Hurricanes at fifth and Moana Pasifika sixth.
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