Moana Pasifika celebrate Fine Inisi's try against the Crusaders. Photo / Photosport
After having their first two matches of the Super Rugby Pacific season postponed due to Covid-19, Moana Pasifika were set to make waves – one way or another.
Making their inaugural appearance against the defending-champion Crusaders, who had already posted double-digit wins over the Hurricanes and Highlanders, many had predicted
the newcomers to be on the wrong end of a walloping.
Instead, Moana Pasifika announced themselves to the competition as a team the rest of their opponents need to be wary of.
Yes, a quick glimpse at the final 33-12 score in favour of the Crusaders can tell one story, but it's not the most accurate. Moana Pasifika were up for the challenge, meeting the Crusaders in the middle and testing the defending champions.
"The Crusaders are a team that can punish you but we kept coming back and showing up for each other, and I think the language that we used out there, we spoke about it all week – being courageous as a group and doing it for our families and our people, and I thought we showed that in parts of the game," Moana Pasifika captain Sekope Kepu said after the game.