Patrick Pellegrini has come back to haunt his home city.
The Tongan international, who played in the Shute Shield for years and played at three Sydney grade clubs, was instrumental in Moana Pasifika’s 45-28 come-from-behind win over the Waratahs at North Harbour Stadium in Auckland on Saturday afternoon.
Despite leading 21-7 at half-time and having Taniela Tupou to bring off the bench, the Waratahs were steamrolled in the second half by the best finishers in Super Rugby this season.
Inspired by 2023 World Rugby player of the year Ardie Savea, the home side scored six second half tries to one to slaughter Dan McKellar’s side in the end.
Semisi Tupou Taeiloa netted a hat-trick as Moana Pasifika staged a comeback to defeat the Waratahs at North Harbour Stadium on April 5, 2025. (Photograph by Dave Rowland/Getty Images)
Feleti Sar-Ta'ufolau, the strong tight-head prop, scored three tries, with his crucial opening score coming shortly after halftime. However, it was Pellegrini's five-point play around the middle of the second half that turned out to be decisive. He took advantage of a well-placed William Havili kick, evading Henry O'Donnell's attempted tackle following an earlier slip from the fullback.
Afterwards, it became a one-sided affair with Moana Pasifika scoring an additional three tries. They eventually slowed the game down in the last minute to further exacerbate the Waratahs' injury.
This marked the first instance where Moana Pasifيكا achieved consecutive victories since joining the league in 2022. Additionally, this was their third successive victory against the Waratahs.
The 17-point win saw Tana Umaga’s side move temporarily into sixth place on 15 points, with the Waratahs hanging on in fifth on 17 points.
"I am extremely proud of the team, and securing back-to-back victories is truly a significant blessing. We are all very pleased," Savea stated.
Hugh Sinclair, the captain of the Waratahs, stated that his team fails to perform in the second half.
“Look, either they had the special juice at half-time or we stayed in the change-rooms,” Sinclair said.
“They’re dangerous. We said at half-time they can put 40 on in a half and look what they did.
“When they’re on a roll like that they’re very hard to stop. Good ball-carriers, Ardie leads from the front and is a phenomenal player. We fell off tackles. In the first-half we were in control, we were operating well, good phases and scoring some good tries – and the rest is history.”
Asked what the Waratahs could have done to slow down the home side’s momentum, Sinclair lamented a botched lineout early in the second half and added they needed to control the tempo through better kicking.
“It’s tough,” Sinclair responded to former All Black, Jeff Wilson. “Maybe it’s on the game controllers, thinking a bit more territory and plugging it in the corners. We wanted play our footy, but once they got on top of that was hard.
“To be fair, we had our opportunities. Straight after half-time we went straight in their 22 with a lineout and we mucked it up and went down the other end. We can’t complain that we didn’t have our opportunities. It’s going to sting that one.”
Moana Pasifika celebrate winning back-to-back matches for the first time in Super Rugby after beating the Waratahs in Auckland. (Photo by Dave Rowland/Getty Images)
McKellar didn’t beat around the bush either.
“Really poor second half, it’s as simple as that,” he said.
Nor did McKellar get any impetus from his bench, with Taniela Tupou unable to help stop Moana Pasifika’s momentum.
Triston Reilly was one of the few Waratahs who stood up, with the winger grabbing a first half double.
Halfback Teddy Wilson provided strong service while his halves partner Lawson Creighton also enjoyed a strong opening half.
Back-rower Langi Gleeson was also damaging early.
But the Waratahs simply couldn’t get rolling after Ethan Dobbins’ poor lineout throw early in the second half.
The Waratahs host ladder-leaders the Chiefs next Friday in Sydney, while Moana Pasifika travel across town to take on the Blues at Eden Park on Saturday.