this is correct

A game well played and excellent skills, great to see such emotion on both teams.

I was in tears when my lil cousin crossed for a good try for Fijiana, the emotion she showed after all her hard work and after playing all of this seasons Super W in the back row with the Brumbies a tremendous effort in playing her 2nd test at 13, well done Talei.

Anyone know where I can find a full stats list tackles line breaks etc?

A Great decision by Twiggy, it was unlike many things in rugby “clear and obvious” that Sampson lacked what it takes to take the Force to the next level. A fine job so far though.

Now for the deadwood still left in the playing squad to join Jake McIntyre elsewhere , Andrew Ready, Ian Prior, Jack McGregor and Brad Lacy. The need for an oustanding 7 standsout like a wart on a nose.

Plus possibly 2 games in Apia.

Makes sense, the same as the Drua having a small number of Fijians in their squad who have played for other nations, for example the likes of Semesa Rokoduguni and Nathan Hughes. It sounds similar to the conditions of World Rugby’s funding for the Drua.

RA initially looked at having the Drua play as the 6th side in this year’s Super Rugby AU late last year, it was decided by both parties that 2022 was a more feasible option.

I know that World Rugby placed certain conditions on the Drua in regard to the funding they received when playing in the NRC and that many of the conditions remain in place for Super Rugby, let us hope they have placed similar conditions on MP and NZRU.

Morgan Turinui’s warning that this can’t be allowed to provide NZRU a mechanism in creating itself a new feeder team at the expense of Samoa and Tonga is more than valid.

Who the MP team actually is, owned by, run by and for, is very much like looking into a pond of muddy water. The fact that Sir Michael Jones a current NZRU board member has stated ”It doesn’t mean if you put your colours to Moana Pasifika that you can’t necessarily still pursue the All Blacks dream”, very muddy waters indeed. That statement there seems to back up Turinui’s fear.

Sounds like an apologist to me and Rugby Au hater.

There are no RULES in rugby union

Oh contraire, l certainly do understand the NZ standing in the Pacific and also how they are seen rightly or wrongly outside the NZ environs, remember the NZRU had to be shamed into playing a test in Apia by John Campbell, both Australia and NZ rugby should have done far more historically.
However you seem to unfortunately have not understood the point l was making, perhaps my fault in not being concise enough.
Unlike the Drua and its verified status as a going concern and it being part of the Fijian rugby Union, Moana Pasifika status is very much up in the air at his point in time.
Let us look at the Drua first. What is known of the Drua is very much open and on public record, this is supported by the following FRU statements, firstly the statement today via FRU high-performance manager and former Fijian and Pacific Islands captain, Wallabies assistant coach and Manly Marlins player amongst others Simon Raiwalui saying ” players in the 37-member Fijian Drua squad, which will be announced in June, would include some Fijian players playing overseas, some former internationals with Fijian heritage and local-based players “.
They have also confirmed that it has also been contacted by a number of Fijian players who have represented other countries but want to come back and represent the Fijian Drua. Further statements include the Drua will play a minimum of five matches in Fiji and players we would have lost after the Olympics now wish to stay in Fiji and switch to fifteens.
in regards to the Pasifika side from the outside looking in, it is very unclear as to what it actually is, what actual status does it hold? Yes it is a team for Tongans and Samoan players, the question is do the Tongan and Samoan Rugby Unions have any say in it and who plays for it? Or is is just another NZ Super Rugby franchise based on cultural heritage. is it a private equity venture, or by Tongan RU and Lakapi Samoa, or combination of all 3.
It is all very vague at this point in time, with both TRU and Lakapi Samoa making statements supporting the franchise, but not actually not knowing their own involvement. To further add to the confusion we have Sir Michael Jones a current NZRU board member not only backing the Franchise but then stating ”It doesn’t mean if you put your colours to Moana Pasifika that you can’t necessarily still pursue the All Blacks dream”, Confusing yes, it speaks of NZ rugby having its cake and eating it too. And that is a slap in the face l spoke about.
The two things we do know are, firstly is that they have funding from World Rugby subject to certain conditions, I know that most conditions with a few variants placed on the Drua for the NRC by World Rugby World Rugby are in place for Super Rugby, but are the funding conditions for Moana Pasifika comparable to that of the Drua? Secondly all home games in 2022 will be in Auckland and yes, this is justified when Tonga can still not hold home test matches due to not having a suitable ground to play at and to keep costs down.
Food for thought.

don’t forget Wales and rugby union is decreed by law in Namibia as their National sport

FYI Super Rugby history

in 1992 the original Super 6 competition consisted of three provincial teams from New Zealand: Auckland, Canterbury, Wellington; along with two Australian state teams: Queensland and New South Wales; and also the Fiji national team.

In 1993, the Super Six competition was revamped and expanded into the Super 10 tournament. The inaugural competition featured the following teams: Waikato, Auckland, Otago and North Harbour (New Zealand); Natal, Transvaal and Northern Transvaal (South Africa); Queensland and New South Wales (Australia) and Western Samoa (Pacific Tri-Nations winner) 93-94 Tonga 95

It is great news and a massive step forward for Rugby, thanks World Rugby for coming to the party, their involvement l believe is/was crucial in this development. As a rugby fan l can see more bums on seats and eyes on the box when these teams are playing, no more 1am 3am South African games.

Some points if l may

* These 2 sides from World Rugby’s point of view are to develop the Pacific Island nations talent specifically Fiji, Tonga and Samoa, and to try to reduce the number of players leaving home to play elsewhere in the world and then jumping ship to play international rugby for other nations, with Fiji being the Drua and Tonga and Samoa the Pasifika.

Yes there are arguments whether
1. will it actually work or
2 are there better alternatives, however this is the intent from World Rugby.

My personal belief is a further change in eligibility laws would better influence this.

* Essentially the Drua are just continuing as an entity, moving from a team in Australia’s National Rugby Championship (NRC) and becoming part of Super Rugby Au

*Fijian Drua’s funding and participation in NRC came with certain conditions attached, and those conditions will remain in place for World Rugby’s continued funding of the team.

* The Fijian Drua at this stage is an entity wholly owned by Fijian Rugby as per their involvement in the NRC with sponsorship from Fiji Airways and Paradise Beverages. This is not to say Private equity may not be involved down the track or sponsors change, but the Drua’s majority owner will be Fijian Rugby.

*All players who played for them had to be eligible for selection in the Fijian National team and they were ALL required to sign a letter of commitment as such, preventing them from jumping ship to another nation.

*The Drua did play the majority of their NRC home games at home in Fiji at ANZ Stadium in Suva and Churchill Park in Lautoka with the odd game each season in Australia due to logistics reasons, and this will continue to be the status quo.

* A small number (1-3) marquee players maybe allowed to play, either established foreign national team players, or Nationals returning home after playing for other national teams to enrich the development of the home based players, this would wholly depend on the acquisition of appropriate funding.

In regard to World Rugby’s funding of Moana Pasifika I believe very similar conditions will be set for the side, however the waters here maybe a little muddied, dependent on who will actually own the club. Is it NZ rugby, the Samoan & Tongan Rugby Unions, or a private consortium. All 3 have there fors and againsts, and serious answers need to given to hard questions regarding all threes involvement.

Can the Tongan and Samoan Rugby unions work together and have enough trust to work with each other and not feel onr body is gaining more than the other, this was one reason the Pacific Islands team fell apart with where unions argued the best approach, select the best players in line with the British and Irish Lions or have a minimum player quota for each union?

What are the NZRU motives in running the team, is it a genuine attempt to strengthen Samoan and Tongan rugby, or are they there for their own benefit. These and many other questions need to be answered before June 30 in a transparent way for all stakeholders, including and most importantly for the fans.

The Drua seem to be a clear case going forward, a team for Fijians owned by Fijians, the Pasifika could go either way a team for Tonga and Samoa will be embraced on both sides of the Tasman, but just another NZ team in fancy dress will be a slap in the face to all involved.

20 mins, same as kayo

FYI
Stan already has the minis, it is under mini matches, been up all week btw

Time for the Force to ask their heroes to take a spot on the bench

This is very much true, l think you can throw in Chris Heiburg and Marcel Brache too, as long as he is starting in any Force side they will continue to be also-rans. Let’s hope they do snare Jake Ball to add some grunt to the lock position for later in the season.

I hope you are not saying Warren is a good commentator… terrible he is, from when he 1st started doing the Amco cup

Your DREAMING or have never heard anyone else commentate.

Cam Smith is a golfer

don’t forget his 2 sun shines from where boys 😂 😛

Poor commentary makes you turn it off though

REALLY! They are kidding themselves,

Horan, whilst he was a damn fine player is a terrible damn commentator, he is a deer without eyes when it comes to commentary, as are the 2 Ms Mitchell and Mehrtens.

Having Mitchell, trying to be Mr funny alongside Mehrtens, another wannabe comedian is a joke, why do we need to hear from a Kiwi, we have them as coaches, we have them as administrators and now commentators, this is Super rugby AU predominantly. The for-mentioned are 3 of the reasons why many had gone off Fox rugby, along with Clarke (who always seemed to being calling rugby using league terminology) good riddance to him and Kearns.

l am contemplating cancelling my free 30 day trial l have organised. I am sure Horan will still somehow work in his favorite golden child of QLD rugby Chris Feauai-Sautia and how much potential he has even though he is no longer with the Reds and his new boy love Jordan Petaia.

Bravo to both McArdle and Harrison who both bring a lot of credence to the team, while Sean Maloney has certainly lost the comedic focus thankfully, since joining the World Rugby 7’s commentary team full-time. Not sure about Morgan, personally he does nothing for me, and l am bloody glad there is no Sonny Bill, l never rated him as a rugby player, and can see him being about as good as Horan Mitchell and Kearns combined at best.

l don’t know much of the others mainly the girls, while Swain is a work in progress.

l hope they ALL leave the comedic antics aside, call the game as it is, along with providing informed, relevant and insightful analysis and information.

ls that too much to ask?

if anyone is over reaching it is you, and no one said anything about birth being a criteria

Victoria has a relative rich history of producing both Super Rugby and Wallaby players since the game went professional, with many players forced to move away from Vic to further their rugby, just ask the Brumbies who raided Victoria prior to the Rebels birth and Qld schools offering scholarships ti Vic kids.

It is a list of players and a national team coach that would make for a more than credible side, including 4 Wallaby props from the same school Scotch College in Richard Harry, David Fitter, Andrew Heath and Wallaby coach Ewen McKenzie. Throw in World Rugby’s Brett Gosper as well.

It does read a little like the top 30 list of all time Georgian rugby players, 25 are front rowers (tongue in cheek), but add in the likes of

John Ulugia H/Prop
David Palavi H
Ole Avei H
Tetera Faulkner prop
Siliva Siliva Hooker
Tala Gray Flanker
Tamaiti Horua 8
Rocky Elsom 8
Vitori Buatava (Fiji and Western Force) 9
Matt Toomoa FH
Christian Lealiifano FH
Lloyd Johansson Centre
Ben Tapuai Centre
Rex Tapuai Aust 7’s Centre
Monty Ioane wing Italy
Digby Ioane wing.

notably no locks, all playing Aust rules I guess.