Enari blames lack of experience for team’s performance
Former Crusaders No 9 Ereatara Enari is doing his part for the first-year Super Rugby outfit, but some of his team-mates are still coming to terms with the step up.
Enari was again strong for Moana Pasifika during their 37-17 loss to the Highlanders on Friday, sparking the attack with his crisp passing and almost pulling off a remarkable trysaving tackle on Folau Fakatava with a huge shot on his own line.
However, Moana Pasifika conceded 16 penalties – poor discipline has been a recurring issue in their debut year – and Enari said the speed of Super Rugby Pacific had been a jolt to the young side’s system.
‘‘It’s experience at this level, at Super Rugby pace,’’ he said. ‘‘The more games we get, the more exposure we get to this level and I think we’ll be able to take away those penalties.
‘‘Once we get into a normal playing week . . . we’ve had a couple of storm weeks. We’re playing two games a week.
It’s hard to take learnings and move into another game.’’
Moana Pasifika are now heading into another of those storm weeks, with games against the Hurricanes in Wellington on Tuesday, and the Chiefs in Hamilton on Saturday.
It’s an unfortunate reality after Covid-19 swept through the competition last month, and Moana Pasifika have been the undoubted losers out of the rejigged schedule. There needs to be a degree of realism around Moana Pasifika’s performances, therefore, but Enari wasn’t looking for any excuses.
‘‘We’ve got a good system, in terms of players we’ve pulled in to rotate through to another game ... we’re really trying to adapt as quickly as possible,’’ he said.
‘‘In light of the short turnaround from the start of the season to put a team together, I think we’re doing really well. But we definitely need to be better. We want to be winning games.’’
Moana Pasifika’s other weakness is up front. The Highlanders made no secret of their plan to dominate the scrum and lineout, and they did that effectively, despite losing key forwards Shannon Frizell and Manaaki SelbyRickit.
‘‘Holding onto the ball and possession, and playing in the right areas of the field is really key,’’ Enari said. ‘‘And set piece. If we can get the set piece right we’ll have a bit of platform to launch on at the moment. We’re still getting those combinations in those areas.’’
Moana Pasifika may have to scour the player market to bolster the tight-five, but that is easier said
‘‘It’s hard to take learnings and move into another game.’’ Ereatara Enari
than done.
A player such as former Blues lock Gerard Cowley-Tuioti would have been worth his weight in gold, but he was snapped by Kobe in Japan.
‘‘We knew the Highlanders were going to be strong around the piece,’’ Moana Pasifika coach Aaron Mauger said. ‘‘They’ve been outstanding there all year. It’s been a real strength of theirs.
‘‘They’ve gone to the maul, and use the scrum really well. We knew it was going to be a challenge. I thought we actually fronted up reasonably well there, just a couple of technical things. The Highlanders did well to execute the three maul [tries], and ultimately that was the difference.’’
Injured Moana Pasifika captain Sekope Kepu had his right arm in a sling after the game, and is set to miss the Hurricanes game, at the very least.
However, Mauger said that inform No 8 Henry Time-Stowers would be available for the rematch against the side they beat last month.