All Blacks star Ardie Savea says he would not remorse signing for Moana Pasifika regardless of the Tremendous Rugby aspect opening their season with three successive defeats.
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The Moana captain was an inspirational determine as his aspect went down preventing 31-29 to the Otago Highlanders in Auckland on Saturday, having fought again from a 21-point half-time deficit.
Nevertheless, the previous world participant of the yr was pissed off after a efficiency that mirrored encouraging losses in Australia to the Western Pressure and Queensland Reds.
“At the end of the day we’ve got to win games,” Savea advised journalists.
“As much as there were great moments for our team, we still lost.
“We have been down by 21 and we bought again within the sport, however we have got to cease placing ourselves in these positions.”
The dynamic loose forward scored the first of his team’s three unanswered tries in the second half and his ability to regularly turn over possession at the breakdown nearly set up victory in front of a vocal home crowd.
Many of the Auckland spectators were drawn to watch Savea play in Moana’s first home game since his surprising off-season signing.
After more than a decade representing the Wellington Hurricanes, the 31-year-old had expressed a desire to honour his Samoan heritage.
It was hoped he could invigorate the fortunes of Moana Pasifika, a team who entered the competition in 2022, comprising players from various Pacific Island nations as well as New Zealand or Australian born players of Pasifika heritage.
They have failed to challenge for the play-offs in three seasons, winning just seven of 42 competition matches.
Savea said it was his goal to inspire a new generation of Pasifika rugby players.
“We have a good time tradition day by day, each second on this staff,” he said.
“That is been actually stunning for me, being New Zealand born, to be alongside Pasifika and Pacific brothers.
“Someone asked me if I miss the Hurricanes, I said ‘what would I miss? I’m here with my people’.
“We have nonetheless bought a whole lot of work to do on the rugby entrance. We’re 0-3, that is not one thing I am happy with.”
A smiling Savea said he will have “a goal on my head” when Moana host the Hurricanes subsequent week.
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