Hurricanes v Moana Pasifika Stat Attack

Round 4 v Moana Pasifika: Lost 31-40

Moana Pasifika was introduced to Super Rugby in 2022 and has now played 46 matches for eight wins and 38 losses.

Their maiden win was against the Hurricanes in March 2022, in their third-ever match at their then home ground Mount Smart Stadium. They have now beaten the Hurricanes two times, the only New Zealand side so far to have lost to Moana Pasifika.

The two sides have now met on six occasions. The Hurricanes have won four times to Moana Pasifika’s twice.

This match was played at Moana Pasifika’s new home ground at North Harbour Stadium in Albany. Their first match had been played against the Highlanders the previous week when they went down to the visitors 29-31.

The Hurricanes played their second match at Albany. The first was back in 2010 against the Blues when they won 34-20. Two of the current Hurricanes coaching staff, Cory Jane and Bryn Evans, appeared in that match.

Moana Pasifika’s 40 points is a new record score against the Hurricanes. Previously they had scored 24 points in their first match (won 24-19 in Golden Point time) and again last year in Wellington losing 24-32.

It is also Moana Pasifika’s highest score against a New Zealand side. The Blues were the previous holder of that unwanted record when they were on the right side of a 31-30 win at Auckland in 2023.

During the match Moana Pasifika brought up 1000 points in Super Rugby. They currently sit on 1035 points.

For their third match in a row, the Hurricanes were awarded two yellow cards. They now have six for the season, after just four matches.

The Hurricanes have conceded 800 tries in all matches played in New Zealand. The actual figure sits on 801.

Of the 1426 tries scored by the Hurricanes, 1002 have now been scored by the backs.

The Hurricanes made seven changes to their starting line-up from the one which started in their previous match against the Blues. There were three changes in the backs and four in the forwards.

Siale Lauaki and Ruben Love both made their first appearance of the season.

Two players made their debut for the Hurricanes. They were Jone Rova (player #322) and Nic Souchon (#323).

After four rounds the Hurricanes have used 29 different players of which seven have been debutants.

Ereatara Enari made his first start for the Hurricanes, in his fourth match.

Brayden Iose scored his 13th try in his 43rd match. It was his first against Moana Pasifika.

Ruben Love’s try was his fifth in 32 matches, and also his first against Moana Pasifika. His was the 1000th try scored by a Hurricanes back.

Peter Lauaki scored his seventh try in 26 appearances: it was his third against Moana Pasifika.

Ngatungane Punivai and Jone Rova both scored their first try for the Hurricanes. Punivai was in his sixth match and Rova was on debut. He is the 31st player to score at least one try in his first match for the Hurricanes.

Harry Godfrey kicked six points to bring up exactly 50 for the season and become the first in 2025 to reach this milestone. He now has 55 points in 15 appearances for the Hurricanes.

Hurricanes Tevita Mafileo is the younger brother of Moana Pasifika’s Sione. Both played in jersey No. 3. For Moana Pasifika Miracle Faiilagi scored three tries thus becoming the first player to do so in any match for the franchise. Previously, the most in a match had been two which had been achieved on 10 occasions.

Faiilagi is the 12th player to score three tries in a match against the Hurricanes. The first two players actually  scored hat-tricks in the same match: Andre Joubert and James Small for Natal in the Hurricanes sixth-ever match, in 1996. There have been three Crusaders players (including Kyle Preston in Round 1 this season), two from the Chiefs and one each from the Cheetahs, the Rebels, the Sharks, the Waratahs and of course Moana Pasifika.

However, two players have each scored four tries in a match against the Hurricanes and both were from the Blues: Doug Howlett (who played five times for the Hurricanes in 1998) at Wellington in 2002 and Mark Tele’a at Auckland in 2023.

Patrick Pellegrini kicked five conversions, a new record for a Moana Pasifika player in all matches. The previous best had been four conversions on six occasions.

Former Hurricanes player Ardie Savea, who played 131 matches between 2013 and 2023 and led the side 30 times, is now the captain of Moana Pasifika. This was his fourth match in charge and his first win.

Coincidentally, his first win with the Hurricanes did not come until his fourth match.

Savea captained the Hurricanes twice against Moana Pasifika winning both times. He is probably unique in that he has led his former side to victory over his current side as well as his current side over his former side. Marcus Playle refereed his first match which involved the Hurricanes.

Overall, the Hurricanes have now played 411 Super Rugby matches. They have won 236 (57.4%), lost 169 and drawn six