Super Rugby Pacific: Blues wake up in time to bank bonus point over Moana Pasifika

Saturday, 2 May 2026

Blues first five Stephen Perofeta runs in his try in Saturday’s victory over Moana Pasifika in Albany.

At North Harbour Stadium, Auckland: Blues 45 (Marcel Renata try 24min, Kade Banks try 39min, Patrick Tuipulotu try 41min, James Mullan try 48min, Stephen Perofeta try 58min, Beauden Barrett try 67min, Terrell Peita try 77min; Perofeta 4 cons, Barrett con), Moana Pasifika 19 (Millennium Sanerivi 2 tries 14min, 35min, Chris Apoua try 72min; William Havili 2 cons). HT: 14-12.

With Stern Vern Cotter’s uncomplicated words ringing in their ears, the Blues came out after halftime on Saturday night in Albany and played some rugby worthy of their spot at the pointy end of the Super Rugby Pacific standings.

Not before time, their critics would probably say. Right in the nick of time, their fans would probably respond.

Either way, Cotter’s men shook off a somnolent first half at North Harbour Stadium, which they were lucky to shade 14-12, to break out their A-game in the second spell to run in five second-term tries and bank the bonus-point victory that had looked in grave doubt at the break.

It was the great Split Enz who sang, History Never Repeats, and sure enough, despite a quite courageous and committed opening 40, Tana Umaga’s Moana Pasifika were not able to back up their heroics of last year when they secured a memorable historic victory over their crosstown rivals.

Truth is the Blues only played 40 minutes of quality footy, but it was more than enough to secure the result they needed. They got a sharp effort from Sam Nock at halfback, something similar from Stephen Perofeta at No 10 and Kade Banks got through his work mostly nicely out on the right wing. Up front it was good to see Patrick Tuipulotu rumbling into some form over the second 40, Anton Segner continued his stellar play this season and hooker James Mullan led a nice bench effort with his first try for the franchise.

Moana toiled hard, especially in a stirring first-half effort, but were well and truly outgunned over the run home. As usual loose forwards Miracle Faiilagi and Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa were to the fore up front, while hard-nosed hooker Millennium Sanerivi bagged a try double to showcase a quality effort. Glen Vaihu and Israel Leota flashed their speed in the backs, but saw too little quality ball to do too much with it.

Miracle Faiilagi carries hard for Moana Pasifika in their Super Rugby clash against the Blues at North Harbour Stadium.

At the end of this likely final meeting between Auckland’s crosstown rivals, the Blues chalked up their seventh win in eight matchups, backing up their 43-7 victory at Eden Park in round 5, and exacting a degree of revenge for last year’s historic 27-21 defeat to Moana at this same stadium.

The Blues also improved their season record to 8-3, with their 38 points good enough for second on the standings, behind the pacesetting Hurricanes (40). As much as their recent rugby has had an unconvincing nature to it, Cotter’s men have now won seven of their last eight, and three on the bounce as they approach a testing finishing burst of the Crusaders (away), Hurricanes (home) and Chiefs (away) that should tell us all we need to know about their title ambitions.

For poor old Moana a 10th defeat in a row, since that flatter-to-deceive opening-round victory over the Drua in Lautoka, represents a sad final chapter in their Super Rugby existence, with the struggling club set to drop out of the competition at season-end, and only a miracle able to save them now.

It was a messy opening 40 by the Blues who came out flat and lethargic and saw a more urgent and dialled-in Moana outfit dictate terms to them for much of the opening spell. Truth be told, they were fortunate indeed to take a 14-12 advantage, two tries apiece, into the sheds.

Moana’s opening score, for the 7-0 lead nearly a quarter of an hour in, came straight out of the South Africa playbook off a tap penalty deep in Blues territory. Lock Allan Craig was hoisted high, lineout-style, to receive the pass, and from the resultant drive, which rather took the Blues by surprise, hooker Sanerivi powered over the line.

The Blues answered 10 minutes later when Marcel Renata drove over to reward the visitors’ decision to kick for the corner, though their lead was short-lived as Sanerivi notched his double via a similar inventive move from tapped penalty, with a crisp switch in play creating an advantage the powerful hooker lapped up.

But the Blues had the final say of the spell when they again finished well off an all-too-rare incursion into the Moana 22. The drive was initially halted, but when ball was shifted right lively wing Banks did well to jink inside and finish in traffic.

Something had to change, from a Blues’ perspective, and sure enough they came out after the break, and Cotter’s much-needed rark-up, to take a firm grip on this match. Tuipulotu, Mullan and Perofeta crossed through the third quarter to ease the visitors out to 33-12, replacement Beauden Barrett got in on the act to make it 38-12, with time at the end for big Chris Apoua to notch a late consolation score for Moana and sub Terrell Peita to grab a meat pie on debut for the victors.