Moana Pasifika captain Ardie Savea and Laomilo Laomilo celebrate with fans after their win in the Super Rugby Pacific - Moana Pasifika v Hurricanes at North Harbour Stadium. Photo: Photosport
Blues v Moana Pasifika
Kick-off: 4:35pm Saturday 12 April
Eden Park, Auckland
Live blog updates on RNZ Sport
While the Blues are playing it down, Moana Pasifika are embracing the rivalry with their cross-city brothers.
The two Auckland-based sides are fighting for fans with Moana now laying claim to both the south and north.
Saturday's clash at Eden Park may give a glimpse as to who Aucklanders truly see as their side.
Moana head coach Tana Umaga said there's no doubt the match has some extra heat behind it.
"We are the new kids on the block and we've set up shop just across the bridge from the recent winners of this competition and that's something that should be celebrated in terms of having a new rivalry. It's great for our region and it's great for the game."
Often dubbed the 'little brothers' of the Blues, while Moana respect their success, they resent the tag.
"We're another team in Super Rugby that's working towards gaining respect from everybody and that's no matter who we play. The Blues have a great history. They're the previous champions of Super Rugby, we've won a couple of games but we haven't done what they've done. But I don't think we've ever thought we were the little brothers. "
Umaga served as head coach of the Blues from 2016-18, while several players also have close connections with the defending champions.
"I have personal ties to the Blues, as does a lot of our group and there's brothers in either club. There's great friendships so there's a lot of interacting. I'm sure that's going on behind the scenes, but in the end we want to do what's best for our club and focus on those little things that we can control."
Moana Pasifika head coach Fa’alogo Tana Umaga before the Super Rugby Pacific - Moana Pasifika v Waratahs at North Harbour Stadium, Auckland - on Saturday 5th April 2025. Photo credit: Brett Phibbs / www.photosport.nz Photo: Brett Phibbs / www.photosport.nz
Promoted to start this weekend, first-five Jackson Garden-Bachop said they are eyeing another upset and a first ever win over the Blues.
"We have spice in every game because we're probably underestimated by everyone up until this point. That extra spice just comes through geography of the Blues being in the same city, but they're a hugely successful club and a massive scalp that we'd like to take."
He said they have effectively taken over former Blues territory.
"I definitely think out south is our home and now on the shore, now that we've found a consistent base out here. The stands have been filling up every week and they we're making heaps of noise for us. It definitely feels like home out here now."
Garden-Bachop said with any grudge match comes a need to control emotions.
"That is going to come naturally on the night as it does in any game. So with all that sort of going on on the outside, we've just really tried to focus on our process."
Asked for his take on the rivalry, Blues coach Vern Cotter was quick to dismiss the idea.
"We are just looking after Blues, there is a rivalry with every team in this competition.
Fero Lini is unofficially referred to as Moana Pasifika's number one fan and she believes plenty of Aucklanders have shifted allegiances to Moana and anticipates Moana supporters to out-number the home side's.
"The fandom is building rapidly. I think even more so from around globally. A Pacific Islanders, they would probably be more in touch with the cultural side. So I really think some Blues fans might turn over to be Moana fans. Culturally, this is bigger. There might be even more Moana fans out in the stadium than the Blues."
Ardie Savea of Moana Pasifika with fans after winning the Super Rugby Pacific - Crusaders v Moana Pasifika at Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch, New Zealand, 29th March 2025. Copyright photo: John Davidson / www.photosport.nz Photo: © Photosport Ltd 2025 www.photosport.nz
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