Moana Pasifika coach Aaron Mauger has voiced frustration with Super Rugby’s scheduling, claiming his team faces a disproportionate burden of travel and short turnarounds, following a 40-24 loss to the Hurricanes in Wellington on Saturday.
The match marked a significant shift in personnel for Moana Pasifika, with eight debutants featuring in the matchday 23 after their opening round victory against the Fijian Drua in Lautoka. Despite the influx of new players, Mauger acknowledged the Hurricanes’ dominance, stating, “Obviously take our hats off for the Hurricanes, they played some great rugby there and kind of showed us when you can get on the front foot, and they kept the ball alive.”
However, Mauger’s post-match comments focused heavily on the logistical challenges faced by his team. He highlighted a recurring pattern of unfavorable scheduling, citing recent trips to Perth and Lautoka followed by quick turnarounds and further travel. “We’re the only team that’s got that kind of two games in a row this year,” Mauger said. “Everyone else either goes to play away in Lautoka and then comes home and plays at home. We didn’t have that, and it’s not on a short turnaround, so I don’t recognize why we got that and no one else did.”
Mauger emphasized that this issue is not new, stating, “This is the third year in a row that that’s happened to us, and yes, we are taking note about it, and so hopefully, maybe next year, we might be lucky enough that it won’t happen to us, but I won’t hold my breath.” He explained that he had attempted to mitigate the impact by selecting a lineup designed for recovery, adding, “So I thought I’d try something else this year, and probably the idea would be just to have a bit longer so our guys can recover, and then who knows what could happen.”
While expressing his concerns, Mauger stopped short of labeling the scheduling system as unfair. “I’m just saying we’re the only team that does this. I’m not saying it’s an unfair system, we just cop it and we’ll do what we have to do and that’s what we did today.”
The Hurricanes, benefiting from a first-round bye, appeared refreshed and capitalized on Moana Pasifika’s travel fatigue, according to reports. Peter Umaga-Jensen recently announced his departure from the Hurricanes, a move that did not factor into Saturday’s match but represents a shift in the Hurricanes’ roster as they continue their Super Rugby campaign.
Moana Pasifika’s next fixture is yet to be announced, leaving the question of scheduling adjustments unresolved.
