Moana Pasifika

However for young loose forward Miracle Fai’ilagi, the trip home is more than just a game for him.

Having been signed by Moana Pasifka straight out of Samoa at the start of the year, the youngster from Vailele has gone on to impress on the Super Rugby stage.

Fai’ilagi has been a key asset in the team impressing not only rugby pundits but the coaching staff of Moana Pasifika.

“We had ten boys from Lakapi Samoa (Samoa Rugby Union) come and train with us,” says Mauger.

Head coach Aaron Mauger is counting on the noise of the partisan crowd to get his players over the line in a historic match, the first Moana Pasiifka has played in any of its base countries.

RNZ Pacific reports Mauger hopes that home advantage will give his warriors their first win of the season.

"It has been exciting. The fans are excited. The players are excited," he told RNZ Pacific.

"We have had a good week [in Apia] and the players are focused on the job at hand."

A welcoming reception was hosted for the team by Samoa's Minister of Tourism, Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster at the STA Fale last night..

The team will host its first ever match in Samoa against the Queensland Reds on 14 April at Apia Park.

"I’m sure there’s plenty of excitement building in Samoa for the game on Friday," said Head Coach Aaron Mauger.

"The team is very excited to play in Samoa, especially our local players who will be able to introduce the team to our aiga in Samoa.

With an early penalty by Mounga and a try to hooker Codie Taylor, the home team looked to be cruising. However, Moana found their way back into the game with in-form centre Levi Aumua crossing for two tries, giving them a 14-10 lead. 

Tagata Pasifika reports Taylor secured another try for the Crusaders pushing out their lead to 17-14. 

But it didn’t last long for the home team, as Timoci Tamatamanawai scored in the corner just before half time, edging the visitors ahead. The try was converted by Lincoln McClutchie, giving Moana a 21-17 lead at the break. 

The All Blacks first-five Richie Mo'unga played a big hand in his 100th match for the Crusaders by converting all five of his side's tries and nailing a penalty.

Moana Pasifika scored three tries to the Crusaders two in the first half to take a 21-17 lead at half time.

Codie Taylor crossed the line twice for the home side, while Levi Aumua also scored a double in the first 40 minutes for Moana Pasifika.

The team travels to Christchurch to take on the defending Super Rugby Pacific champions in round seven of the competition.

Fading off in the last quarter of the game has become a big problem for the side, something they repeated against the Highlanders last weekend in losing 45-17.

RNZ Pacific reports head coach Aaron Mauger said despite the fact that they had limited the Highlanders big ball runners for 60 minutes, the side lost their way in the last 20 minutes.

They're also seeking first win of the season following five defeats. The Highlanders, on the other hand, enter the game on a two-game winning streak including their most recent one, a 57-24 drubbing of the Fijian Drua.

"We are very aware of the Highlanders' strength," said Moana Pasifika head coach Aaron Mauger.

"You can see the confidence building in their game, but for us the actual focus has been ourselves...we need to be decisive, we lacked that last week and that's the big message: be decisive."

RNZ reports the Drua tackle the Highlanders in Dunedin on Saturday and Pasifika face the Hurricanes at Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland later on the same day.

Both teams are coming off defeats last weekend, albeit in very different ways.

Drua needs focus to win

Keeping the focus and playing basics rugby right are keys to the Drua's campaign if they want to contest the play-offs.

That plus discipline could be the difference of a win or loss against the Highlanders, who are also fighting to keep their hopes alive.

The ACT side eventually ran out 62-36 winner in Canberra on Saturday.

The match saw the lead change five times until the Brumbies, on the back of a strong lineout, took control of the game in the final quarter.

The Brumbies put on four late tries and Moana Pasifika ran out of steam in the final 20 minutes.

New flanker Miracle Fa'ailagi set the tone in in the second minute when he took an intercept and galloped 70 metres to score.

Pasifika lost beyond the final siren, 21-18 at HBF Park in Perth.

Western Force were awarded a scrum penalty after the final siren which Bryce Hegarty from eight metres in front off the sticks, scored to give the Western Australia side the victory.

"It's one we let slip," Moana Pasifika coach Aaron Mauger admitted.

"We've got to be better in those moments. We couldn't execute our basics. It's hard to play when you're not catching the ball."