Friday Warm Up - Super Rugby Pasifik - Round 7 feat William Havili

0:00I begin this episode by acknowledging the not-a-wall and nambory people, the traditional custodians of the land on which I live and work. I pay respect to their elders, past, present and emerging, and I extend that same respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander listeners of this podcast. Hello LL and welcome to the Doormona Pacifica rugby podcast where we bring you, Pacifica voices talking, Pacifica rugby. I'm your host, Jeremy, and thank you for tuning in to this Friday warm-up episode,

1:02around 7 of the Super Rugby Pacific Comp, and also going over the team lists and team news for the first test rugby of the year in the Southern Hemisphere, being held between the Walleroos and Fijiana for the Vuvale Bowl. Also very lucky to have had a chance to sit down with more on a Pacifica fallback Willie Havillie this week, so I'm really excited to bring you that chat as well. Firstly, just do the around the ground segment, where we go through some of the news from this week. The big one is Tanau Manga, has been rumored for a couple of weeks now. He could be joining the All Blacks coaching staff as an assistant coach, Staben confirmed by the NZAU this week, and he's been brought in as officially signed as the defence coach

2:05for the All Blacks under Dave Rennie's leadership. I also wanted to give a shout out to Tamarie Ellison, who's been signed as the new head coach for the NZAUMODY, so that's excellent news there, and very well-deserved across the board. The other bidding news I wanted to go over for this week is the news that on Wednesday this week, Fiji and Dua announced that they and Angelo Smith, who was one of their development players, was signed the previous offseason, have come to the neutral decision to partway. Angelo has now left the end to a system after taking the field for them on one occasion. This year, while he was with them, he played for the Fiji and Dua development side in round

3:08one in the lead up to the Fiji and Dua, and Moana, Moana Pacifica match in round one at Georgia Park. So look, Angelo is no longer with the Dua, I believe that that was all sort of effective immediately, once I announced it, so I just wanted to raise this because it's already starting to sort of blow up online in the comments sections, and some of the forums and that kind of thing, and I just wanted to sort of remind everyone that very few people actually know the ins and outs of what happened here. There's a lot of sort of room amongering and that kind of thing going on. Like Angelo has spent time at a number of clubs in recent years, and I think people like to sort of like to sort of take guesses or put things out there about this young man.

4:17Look, what I'll say is, whatever the case may be, there's now and who at least as far as we know, doesn't seem to have a job. He's lost his possession with the, he's walked away from his position by mutual consent with the Fiji and Dua, and he's now looking for another place to play, another place to play his straight. So I would urge fans just to keep that in mind. This is a guy who he's still human being, as well as being a rugby player. So it just keeps that in mind when you're sort of putting things out online, I know that a lot of athletes sort of stay off social media and don't engage with it. A lot of them do, and it can be a hard thing to avoid. So when he's already in what could be a stressful situation, I don't know for sure, but it could be a stressful situation for him.

5:19The last thing he needs is outside noise sort of in his ears as well. Look, I would just urge a bit of compassion there. Look at the end of the day, this just sounds like, and again, none of us really know outside of the Fiji and Dua and Angelo and his close family, but it just sounds like two parties, two entities who needed different things that each other were able to provide. And that's okay. That's okay. Better to call the quits now than to both of them sort of try to stick with it until the end of the season and make a possibly ugly split at that stage, because resentments had time to build up and that kind of thing. So look, this could be a blessing in disguise, but in the meantime, I would just, as I said, just urge a little bit of compassion and understanding for Angelo,

6:20because he's been through a bit in his young career and I would just sort of suggest everyone ease up on him a little bit. Now we'll go through the fixtures for this coming round. Kick off with the early game on Friday, which is today, when this drops, the Moana Pasabica, who are 11th on the ladder, hosting the eighth place Highlanders at North Harbour Stadium. The late game on Friday is the ACT Brumbies, who's sitting in third on the ladder, hosting the seventh place Waritas. That's a GIO stadium in Canberra, Bush Capital. This will be taking place after the Walleroo's and Fijana match. So if you're in Canberra in the area, able to travel there for this Friday night fixture, you get a two-for, you get some top-class test rugby, as well as I'm sure some top-class super rugby as well. Two bangs for your buck there.

7:25The early game on Saturday will be the first-place Hurricanes hosting the fourth-place Reds, bound to be a Cracker, over there it's Wellington Regional Stadium, followed by the the Blues hosting the Fijong Drawer at the Garden of Eden, and then the late game on Saturday and the last game of the round. So Western Force were locked into 10th, hosting the six-place chiefs at HBF Park out there in Perth. So that's all of the games of the round. We'll do the tips at the end, as we always do. But for now, I just want to go through those team lists for Warana, for the Drawer, and then for the test match as well. So kicking off with Warana in the front row is a Abraham Polley, Millennium Sunarevy, for that the Saitalful, and then in the second row we've got Vekoso Polinaiti, he's replacing Tomasi Savage,

8:26who isn't in the team at all this week, joining Storwart Allen Craig there. In the back row is Maricopa Elangi, who'll be Captain of course, joined by Nico Jones and Dominic Ropetti. In the houses, live by Joe Lam, wonderful to see him starting again, as well as Jackson Garden Bushop, who's playing his trade at Fly Half. The wings are Glen Vejo and Solomon Alamelo. In these centers is Lalamillo, Lalamillo, and then Davita Lato, who's coming in for the bus, Julian Savia, who's suffered an injury. Unfortunately, during last week's game, so he'll be out for this match, you're not named on the bench either. But as I said, Abley replaced that by Davita Lato, and then at fullback is of course Mr. Reliable, William Haveli. For the Fijon Dra,

9:27the front row consists of Haireti Hedet, Zuryl Dongitama, Misake Dongit, and so on, Silasila. Misake for the Vodhe, sorry, I drifted into the second row there, Silasila, Silasila, and Vodhe Vodhe are the second rowers. The back row is Etonia Wanga, Kitu Ni Salawa, and then of course, at number 8, Elia Vanacayevata. Halfback is Frank Lemani, and then coming into number 10, Fly Half, instead of as I'm stronger, Voola is getting, he's being given a bit of a rest, he's starting from the bench this week, and he's being replaced in the starting lineup by Gemu Felentini. The wings are the pony express, Bonaparte Lugane Masi, as well as Eppeli Momo, who the coaching staff are showing a lot of faith in, and giving him another opportunity to start. So wonderful to see him back in the starting lineup,

10:32and sure he'll make the most of this opportunity, and the trust that's been placed in him by the coaching staff. Now the centers are yourself for Namo Vodhe, and Tuindraki Samusomu Vondre, and then at the back is Dorsese, Elia Sa Dorsese. Jumping over to the women's teams now, in the Fijiana, we have a front row of Kala Naewesa, Bitala Tawake, who will be the captain for this test match, and then Tiana Robanankando-Kandavu. The second row is Mere Nakesa, and Caletta Yee, and then the back row is Nunea Damoala, Alfreda Fischer, who's one of the vice captains, and Manu Kamayetai. In the halves is Collora Lamani, who is not only a friend of the

11:36show, but also one of the vice captains for this match, and then at Fly Half is Sala Akenita. The wings are Silica Gnallu and Repeka Tove, and then in the halves is Jose Nehamu and Mere Nehova, and then at the back there is the Tiana Vuecki. Jumping over to the Walla Roos, there have been a great support of great driver and supporter of women's rugby, as all of the teams are, and there are also big friends of the show as well, been lucky enough to have a few of the Walla Roos girls on here. If you are attending the match, or even watching from afar, and especially to our Polynesian family out there, if it's a a bit too close to home, to be cheering for the Fijians, considering the rivalries that

12:41exist between the islands, and you still want to support someone, please support the Walla Roos, because they'd be lucky to have you. A lot of our Pacifico queens in this representing in the in the green gold jerseys this weekend. But there the team list is, in the front row is Brianna Hoi, Andiana Talaqai, Birdie, sorry, Bridee O'Gorman. In the second row is Caitlyn Lini, and Ashley Fernandez. In the back row is Captain Pessi Palo, and Emily Chancellor, and then at number eight is Papa Duck. Number nine is Samantha Wood. Number ten is Deb, one of the debutants Nicole Lettington. Congratulations to her. And the wings, Brooklyn Deke Joyce, another debutant. Congratulations to you, Brooklyn, and Sydney, sorry, no, Maya Stewart is the other winger. In the centers is Sydney Taylor, another debutant. So

13:47congratulations to Sydney, and Cecilia Smith. And at the back, of course, is Fatella Malacca, so I'll look big, big shout out to everyone who will be representing the countries tomorrow night, and and best of luck to everyone involved. Now, we'll, I'll just take a pause now and bring you that chat that I had with Willie Hervilly, just reflecting on the season, such as it is, and also what's coming up in round seven for Moana as well. So I'll stop chattering and let you enjoy that chat, and I'll I'll be back with you after that. I hope you enjoy it. Welcome back listeners on Blessed and Privileged to be joined on the podcast today, but Moana Pacifica, full back, Willie Malacca, Willie, thank you so much for making the time, brother. It's, it's a pleasure to have you on and welcome to the podcast.

14:47Cheers. Thanks for having me guys. Really appreciate it. Just to just to come things started off, we sort of go into the season now. How are you going? The body's feeling okay? You're doing well? Yeah, body's a little bit, a little bit banged up to snuggle to your knee, but we got a bar week coming up after this week. So I think we've much needed for the boys. Ah, the best, the best. Now, obviously the team does have been through a string of losses lately, but, you know, I think something about the fans are really picking up on that's giving a lot of hope, is that we, you know, the teams obviously still digging in and playing right to the end, right to the final whistle in each match, you know, scoring late tries and working hard in defence. How much pride do you guys as a group take out of the fact that you are sort of staying in the contest right up until the final bell, and you're never sort of rolling over at throwing in the towel, but like that. Yeah, that's, it's important for us to, like,

15:49obviously we don't want to be in that position to start with, but obviously on the weekend, though, we showed that we can be 30 phases until they finally broke a lot there, it's given a minute, but you're just, if it's there, I think we're just not quite executing on on the tech, tech was. Yeah, sure. Now, although it was a tough loss in round suits, it's clear from, like, a lot of the vision of the team and, and, and, and the media stuff that was going out throughout the week leading up to the other team is really happy to be back, playing it at North Harbour. So, for you guys, like, is it a bit of a different vibe running out in front of the fans there on the North Shore? Yeah, bro, it's, it's real awesome, I think it took us about six weeks to actually get our first game here, but the, the crowd in the atmosphere is awesome, it's something else like the culture around it. There's all sorts of different ethnicities that come through our game and they get a little tailgating going on in

16:52the car park. Real awesome initiative, but like, just the, the vibe and the crowds are real good, but yeah, that's awesome for us to come here. We're really, well, it's pretty much our, our home now. Yeah, yeah, beautiful. They're just shining the light on you, personally, for a second. You recently celebrated 50 caps, four more, and up as a guard, which is, yeah, huge achievement and incorrect, congratulations, of course. How important of a milestone was that for you and the breath ignition that you got from the team? Yeah, after that match as well. Yeah, it's pretty special. I didn't really, when I first came into Moana, I was only on a development contract, so I was just trying to work hard to get my head down and try and start, but playing one game was awesome, but playing 50 was even better for me because they gave me an opportunity and just hope if I repaid the 5th bar, put in good performances every week, show those 50 games.

17:52Yeah, no, absolutely. So the team, obviously, yeah, you guys are working towards, you know, the turning things around and bringing those wins, which we all know will come, but yeah, from a technical standpoint, I guess, in looking at turning the results around, has there been more of a focus for you guys on reflecting on past matches and sort of whether it can improve or are you sort of looking forward and prepping more for the challenges coming up each week in your upcoming matches? Yeah, we reveal a lot of the good things we do, we know we get into the 22, we're a pretty dominant fallback. Yeah, it's just how we conservative in those middle parts of the field with our kicking game, but also we've sort of spoke about just how it's our own little ears and I'm doing all no good work and putting us under a lot of pressure. So, and then also staying in the fight for for 80 minutes, we're good to half time, but we just, there's little laps and constant

18:57changements in our game that sort of cost us sometimes. Yeah, no, I mean, there's obviously plenty there to take hope, hope from as well. Just finishing up here, obviously, as always, the fans have been sort of subtly behind the team this season. How much does that sort of help you guys as a team, especially going through a rough patch like this, knowing that the fans are behind you the way they have been? Yeah, it's awesome to know that they're there supporting us and they have our backs and especially when they get out in North Harbour and the crowd, it really gives us the boys a boost and we're just trying to, we're trying to repay the faith while putting out a good performance that we're proud of and also that our people are proud of. Yeah, beautiful. Look, William, I want to thank you so much for your time and wish you on the boys all the luck in the world. Not only in this week, there's the Highlanders,

19:58but the rest of the season as well. Thank you so much. It is. Cheers. Thank you. Thanks to Willie for his time and of course, one up his regard for, as always, making their plays available for interview opportunities like this. It's always wonderful to be able to just hear it from inside the team and hear how things are going there. We'll close now with my tips for this, for this round, round seven of the Super Rugby. Going to, and look, as always, just caution you, I'm hopeless and I don't know what I'm talking about, despite the fact that I host a rugby podcast. So look, please don't, if you are a betting man or woman, please don't use my bets as any kind of guide because I don't know what I'm doing and my various tipping comps that I'm involved

21:00can certainly reflect that. But with without further ado, I'll go through my tips for this round. Now, one up Pacifica hosting the Highlanders and home, I think they're breaking that losing streak and they're going to pip the Highlanders by eight points at home in front of a no doubt, raucous North Harbour crowd. The ACT Brumbies vs Warrantars, I've got the Brumbies being too strong for the Tarzae and getting away by 12 points. The Hurricanes vs Reds, I've got the the hosts, the Canes winning list by two tries, 14 points. The Blues vs Fiji and Dua. Now, this is an interesting one because I'm actually, for those of you who've been listening for a while and you, you might have heard in the Fiji and Dua Super Rugby season preview episode that I did, just before the start of the season, with my good friend Michael, I actually made a bet with Michael

22:04who joined me for that episode that the Fiji and Dua would get away wins this year and one of them would be the Blues at Eden Park. So, accordingly, I've got the Fiji and Dua beating the Blues at Eden Park by three points. And then the last game of the round, I've got the Western Force and Chiefs. I love the Force. I love everything that they've been doing over there in the West. I do think that they're building something great, but I think the Chiefs coming off a tough loss away from home in Canberra last week, which, you know, they looked like they'd won for about 90% of that match. I just think the Chiefs are going to come out with a point to prove in Perth, and they're probably going to pip the force there by 15 points. Look, that's it from me for this Friday. Hopefully, I didn't take up too much of you Friday. You enjoy your weekends. Look, however you spend it, whether it be watching plenty of rugby or just spending time with yourself

23:08or your friends, please look after yourselves. And I'll catch you back on Monday for the reviews and reactions episode where we'll see how wrong all of my tips were. I'll catch you later. Thank you so much. Well, guys, it's Jeremy coming in at the end of the episode. First and foremost, to thank you for tuning in to listen to the stories that are shared here. If you enjoy the Dua Moana podcast and you like what we do here, then the best way to help is firstly by following and reviewing or writing the podcast wherever you listen to it. The more reviews, we get, the more visible the podcast becomes for people who haven't found us yet, but maybe search him for something you'll listen to and might enjoy the Dua Moana podcast. The other way you can help is just by spreading the word about us. Tell your friends, your family, teammates, strangers on the street. Anyone you think would get something out of this platform and the stories of the shared here. We'll be back with another episode soon, but until then, please be good to yourselves, be good to each other, and I'll catch you next time. Thank you so much.