Blues leapfrog Moana Pasifika, Highlanders get crucial win

WRAP: The Blues have maintained their perfect record over neighbouring Moana Pasifika after a 36-17 win in Auckland.

It continues the defending champions’ mid-season push for the finals with a fifth straight win over Moana Pasifika.

The Blues were up for the challenge instantly in a dominant first-half display.

Hooker Ricky Riccitelli got the hosts rolling after just four minutes before Beauden Barrett delivered a wonder try.

Stuck out on the wing, Barrett showed his incredible skills to chip over the top for himself, collecting and grounding the ball for the try.

Fixture

Investec Champions Cup

Bordeaux

47 - 29

Full-time

Munster

All Stats and Data

Fellow All Blacks Patrick Tuipulotu and Mark Tele’a crossed shortly afterward as the visitors struggled to fire a shot.

Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa was the lone try-scorer for Moana Pasifika but it was all the Blues as Hoskins Sotutu added to the onslaught after the break.

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— The Blues (@BluesRugbyTeam) April 12, 2025

It gave them a 31-5 lead that proved too hard for the visitors to reel in, despite their heroics last week against the Waratahs.

Miracle Faiʻilagi gave Moana Pasifika something to celebrate, but the Blues’ second rolling maul answered his five-pointer try, this time Kurt Eklund the man to salute.

Winger Kyren Taumouefolau got a late try for the visitors but it wasn’t enough to stop the Blues from collecting full points for the win.

It means the Blues leap Moana Pasifika into eight on the ladder, on the same points as the Hurricanes.

They face a blockbuster trip to Christchurch next week to take on a Crusaders side cemented on top of the ladder.

Meanwhile, Moana Pasifika welcomes the Brumbies to Pukekohe, needing a win to keep in touch with the top six.

*The Highlanders have held off a second-half comeback for a 43-20 win over the Fijian Drua.

Fixture

Investec Champions Cup

Bordeaux

47 - 29

Full-time

Munster

All Stats and Data

The hosts started and finished the game emphatically but had to survive a fierce comeback from the Fijians to claim maximum points.

25-year-old winger Taniela Filimone had a dream debut to Super Rugby action for the hosts.

The Tongan international scored twice, including from one of his first touches in Super Rugby when Jona Nareki burst through the line inside two minutes.

He added his second in the 12th minute as the Highlanders kept the pressure on the Drua throughout the first half.

The Drua held out and eventually had their first points through Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula’s boot.

But Thomas Umaga-Jensen’s try at half-time threatened to blow open the game before the visitors rallied.

Isikeli Rabitu got the Drua off to the perfect start in the second half, only to be answered by Fijian-born Highlanders backrower Veveni Lasaqa.

This failed to quell their spirit for the time being, as Simione Kuruvoli backed up Inia Tabuavou’s break for the five-pointer.

Ponipate Loganimasi then produced a special play to reduce the margin to four. The former Sevens star collected the ball at halfway before grubbering and recollecting for a crucial try.

At this point, the Drua were full of running, but their momentum was halted when Kuruvoli went to the bin for a deliberate knockdown.

Hooker Jack Taylor crossed for the hosts a minute after the yellow card and the Highlanders used this shift to close out the game.

Tanielu Tele’a crossed with six minutes to go before Sam Gilbert ensured full points with a last minute try.

The win sees the Highlanders maintain pace with the top six, sitting two points behind the Brumbies in seventh place.

Meanwhile, the Drua’s tough season continues as they prepare to face the NSW Waratahs next week in Lautoka.

All Saturday’s scores and scorers:

Blues 36-17 Moana Pasifika

For Blues:
Tries: Riccitelli, Barrett, Tuipulotu, Tele’a, Sotutu, Eklund
Cons: Barrett 3

For Moana Pasifika:
Tries: Tupou Ta’eiloa, Faiilagi, Taumoefolau
Con: Pellegrini

Teams

Blues: 15 Corey Evans, 14 Mark Tele’a, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 AJ Lam, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Finlay Christie, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Dalton Papali’i, 6 Anton Segner, 5 Josh Beehre, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (captain), 3 Angus Ta’avao, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Joshua Fusitu’a.
Replacements: 16 Kurt Eklund, 17 Mason Tupaea, 18 PJ Sheck, 19 Cam Christie, 20 Adrian Choat, 21 Taufa Funaki, 22 Harry Plummer, 23 Stephen Perofeta.

Moana Pasifika: 15 William Havili, 14 Kyren Taumoefolau, 13 Lalomilo Lalomilo, 12 Danny Toala, 11 Pepesana Patafilo, 10 Jackson Garden-Bachop, 9 Melani Matavao, 8 Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa, 7 Ardie Savea (captain), 6 Miracle Faiilagi, 5 Allan Craig, 4 Samuel Slade, 3 Feleti Sae-Ta’ufo’ou, 2 Millennium Sanerivi, 1 Abraham Pole.
Replacements: 16 Sama Malolo, 17 James Lay, 18 Chris Apoua, 19 Tom Savage, 20 Sione Havili Talitui, 21 Aisea Halo, 22 Patrick Pellegrini, 23 Fine Inisi.

Referee: Paul Williams
Assistant referees: Mike Winter, Warwick Lahmert
TMO: Richard Kelly

Highlanders 43-20 Fijian Drua

For Highlanders:
Tries: Filimone 2, Umaga-Jensen, Lasaqa, Taylor, Tele’a, Gilbert
Cons: Millar 3

For Fijian Drua:
Tries: Rabitu, Kuruvoli, Longanimasi
Cons: Armstrong-Ravula
Pens: Armstrong-Ravula

Teams

Highlanders: 15 Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, 14 Taniela Filimone, 13 Thomas Umaga-Jensen, 12 Timoci Tavatavanawai (co-captain), 11 Jona Nareki, 10 Cameron Millar, 9 Folau Fakatava, 8 Hugh Renton (co-captain), 7 Veveni Lasaqa, 6 Oliver Haig, 5 Fabian Holland, 4 Will Stodart, 3 Sosefo Kautai, 2 Henry Bell, 1 Ethan de Groot.
Replacements: 16 Jack Taylor, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Saula Ma’u, 19 Tai Cribb, 20 Nikora Broughton, 21 Adam Lennox, 22 Sam Gilbert, 23 Tanielu Tele’a.

Fiji Drua: 15 Caleb Muntz, 14 Selestino Ravutaumada, 13 Iosefo Masi (co-captain), 12 Inia Tabuavou, 11 Ponipate Longanimasi, 10 Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, 9 Simione Kuruvoli, 8 Elia Canakaivata, 7 Isoa Tuwai, 6 Joseva Tamani, 5 Isoa Nasilasila, 4 Mesake Vocevoce, 3 Mesake Doge, 2 Mesulame Dolokoto (co-captain), 1 Haereiti Hetet.
Replacements: 16 Zuriel Togiatama, 17 Peni Ravai, 18 Samuela Tawake, 19 Leone Rotuisolia, 20 Vilive Miramira, 21 Philip Baselala, 22 Isikeli Rabitu, 23 Tuidraki Samusamuvodre.

Referee: Nic Berry
Assistant referees: Jordan Way, Jeremy Markey
TMO: Brett Cronan

Reds 26-39 Brumbies

For Reds:
Tries: Paisami, Asiata 2, Pakeho
Cons: Lynagh 2, Gibbs

For Brumbies:
Tries: Valetini, Alaalatoa, Tualima, Pollard 2, Toole
Cons: Lolesio 3
Pens: Lonergan

Teams

Reds: 15 Heremaia Murray, 14 Lachie Anderson, 13 Dre Pakeho, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Tim Ryan, 10 Tom Lynagh, 9 Tate McDermott (captain), 8 Joe Brial, 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Seru Uru, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4 Josh Canham, 3 Zane Nonggorr, 2 Matt Feassler, 1 Sef Fa’agase.
Replacements: 16 Richie Asaita, 17 Alex Hodgman, 18 Jeffery Toomana-Allen, 19 Angus Blyth, 20 John Bryant, 21 Kalani Thomas, 22 Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, 23 Jock Campbell.

Brumbies: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Andy Muirhead, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 David Feliuai, 11 Corey Toole, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Ryan Lonergan, 8 Tuanina Taii Tualima, 7 Rory Scott, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Tom Hooper, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Allan Alaalatoa (captain), 2 Billy Pollard, 1 James Slipper.
Replacements: 16 Lachlan Lonergan, 17 Blake Schoupp, 18 Feao Fotuaika, 19 Lachlan Shaw, 20 Luke Reimer, 21 Harrison Goddard, 22 Declan Meredith, 23 Ollie Sapsford.

Referee: Angus Gardner
Assistant referees: Matt Kellahan, Damon Murphy
TMO: Graham Cooper