Hurricanes Hang On for Tight Win Over Moana Pasifika, Captain Calls for Improvement Ahead of Chiefs Clash
(Wellington, 14 May 2023) – After a tense 32-24 victory over Moana Pasifika on Friday night, Hurricanes captain Brad Shields has urged his team to “tighten the screws” as they prepare for a blockbuster clash with the Chiefs at FMG Stadium next week.
Following their agonizing defeat to the Blues in a top-of-the-table encounter last week, the Hurricanes had to dig deep to overcome a spirited Moana Pasifika side at Wellington’s Sky Stadium. The win keeps the Hurricanes’ hopes of a top-two finish in Super Rugby Pacific alive, though the performance left room for improvement.
The Hurricanes raced out to a 19-0 lead, with tries from front rowers Raymond Tuputupu and Siale Lauaki, as well as a score from halfback Richard Judd. However, Moana Pasifika fought back with 17 unanswered points to reduce the deficit to just two points early in the second half.
Though the Hurricanes never relinquished their lead, an Alamanda Motuga try for Moana Pasifika in the final 10 minutes set up a tense finale. First-five Aidan Morgan’s late penalty eventually sealed the win for the home side.
“That was a crazy game,” Shields said on the Sky Sport NZ broadcast. “I’m really proud of the boys, the way we stuck in there. When we’re going well, it’s because we’re doing the real small things right. We just need to tighten the screws a little bit coming into the next game against the Chiefs.”
The Hurricanes’ next challenge will be a crucial clash with the Chiefs, who can leapfrog them on the Super Rugby Pacific ladder if they secure a bonus-point win and deny the Hurricanes a losing bonus point.
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