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Crusaders mainstay Michael Alaalatoa will be captain Moana Pasifika on Saturday and seasoned forward Nasi Manu coming off the bench.
Pasifika’s coach Tana Umaga’s squad includes 66 international test matches and she will have to draw on all that experience to overcome a strong Māori All Blacks team in Hamilton on Saturday.
The first five eighths Josh Ioane will be a key man in Moana Pasifika’s cause and if his front group can throw a front ball, Ioane has multiple attacking weapons out of him.
MARK TAYLOR
03122020 NewsPhoto: MARK TAYLOR / STUFF Tana Umaga, New Zealand The rugby teams M ?? ori and Moana Pasifika visit Turangawaewae Marae ahead of Saturday night’s game against in Hamilton.
Tasman’s pairing, freshly defended from his 10 Miter Cup premier crown, of Fetuli Paea (center) and Leicester Fainga’anuku (far right) will likely cause headaches for the Māori All Blacks, as will the latter. -fifth eighth Vince Aso and left- winger Salesi Rayasi.
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Up front, Alaalatoa will join Daniel Lienert-Brown and Blues prostitute Leni Apisai in what seems like a more practical front row.
Hawke’s Bay running back Folau Fakatava has been rewarded for his good form in the Magpies’ championship-winning season in jersey number 9.
Phil Walter / Getty Images
Michael Alaalatoa will be the captain of Moana Pasifika against the MÄ ?? ori All Blacks.
For Umaga, the contest on Saturday and the week before is bigger than rugby, but it’s not a festival match either, and she believes her team can take it to the Māori All Blacks.
“This is a really special match and it has been a very special week. We really enjoy being able to bond with common cultures, common histories and rugby, ”he said.
“We believe we have chosen a team that can do the job, but the reality is that we chose from a strong team and we know that all the players chose to be here, and that is a big problem.
“We have a total of 66 international test matches on the wing, these guys know how to play rugby, so our focus this week has been on our purpose as a group,” said Umaga.
Joe Allison / Getty Images
The experienced Nasi Manu will come off the bench against the MÄ ?? ori All Blacks.
Despite having several experienced heads at his side, Umaga is more than confident that Alaalatoa is the right man to lead the team.
“We are very happy to appoint Michael (Alaalatoa) as our captain. On the field, Mike works hard on his rugby, and he works hard for whatever team he’s on. He is a calm but formidable figure for the Crusaders and a stalwart for Manawatu. Mike is someone who is a Pasifika man at his heart, and I know that he and his family were very proud when he was selected for the 2019 Samoa Rugby World Cup in Japan last year, ”said Umaga.
Pacific Ocean: Stephen Nabi, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Fetuli Paea, Vince Aso, Salesi Rayasi, Josh Ioane, Folau Fakatava, Pita-Gus Sowakula, Alamanda Motuga, Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, Michael Alaalatoa ( C), Leni Apisai, Daniel Lienert-Brown. Bookings: Samisoni Taukie’aho, Jordan Lay, Sione Mafileo, Samipeni Finau, Nasi Manu, Dwayne Polataivao, Asaeli Tikoirotuma, Etene Nanai-Seturo.
