‘THEY’RE LEARNING WHAT IT TAKES TO BE PROFESSIONAL’: PASIFIKA COACH UMAGA
Coach Tana Umaga of Moana Pasifika acknowledges the daunting challenge his team faces as they aim to climb from the bottom of the Super Rugby standings, following their recent sixth consecutive defeat. In a match against the Otago Highlanders in Auckland, Moana fell to a disappointing 39-19 loss, further jeopardizing their chances of reaching the play-offs for the first time in their five-season history.
Despite a promising start to the second half where they managed to register three tries in response to being 32-0 down, the defeat left Moana in a dire position. This disappointing performance comes after their only victory of the season against Fijian Drua in the opening round, highlighting a worrying trend of heavy losses.
Umaga reflected on the challenges his team faces, noting a significant decrease in experience compared to the previous year. The absence of Ardie Savea, a key player and leader who had inspired the team to their best record with six wins last season, has been particularly felt. Savea’s move to Japan, along with the loss of several other pivotal players, has diminished the overall expertise within the squad, leading to the current struggles.
“The players that are here, they’re learning what it takes to be a professional rugby player and it’s more than just playing and training,” Umaga stated, emphasizing the importance of diet, sleep, and maintaining a professional attitude in all aspects of their lives. “You still have to be professional in all those things.”
He stressed the rigorous nature of the tournament, underscoring that many do not comprehend the high attrition rates and the necessity of performing consistently week after week. With this being his final season in charge, Umaga has also been appointed as an assistant coach under the new All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie, and he remains committed to guiding Moana Pasifika, which consists of players representing Pacific heritage.
The Highlanders, who secured their third victory, dominated large portions of the match. Coach Jamie Joseph remarked that their momentum was disrupted due to a power outage at North Harbour Stadium, which halted play for some time, leading to the last 20 minutes being played without the oversight of a television match official, thus not broadcasted.
