Highlanders crush Moana Pasifika 39-19 in chaotic Super Rugby Pacific clash
The Highlanders secured a convincing 39-19 victory over Moana Pasifika in Round 7 of Super Rugby Pacific 2026. The match took an unusual turn when a power outage in Albany halted play, leaving fans without a live broadcast for the remainder of the game. The Highlanders dominated from the start, with Caleb Tangitau breaking through Moana's defence to score the opening try. Jona Nareki added a third, crashing over from close range, while Jack Taylor powered in from a line-out maul. By half-time, the visitors led 27-0.
Moana's struggles worsened after the break, receiving two yellow cards that left them with 13 players. Tangitau capitalised on the gap, scoring his second try in the left corner. Veveni Lasaqa also crossed the line against the weakened defence. With the score at 39-19, the stadium lights and broadcast suddenly failed. Play resumed without Television Match Officials or live coverage, but no further points were added. Moana fans missed seeing their team's sixth consecutive defeat due to the interruption.
The Highlanders' win was built on strong attacking play, with Tangitau's brace and debutant halfback Nic Shearer's playmaking proving decisive. The final score remained 39-19, though the match ended under unusual circumstances after the power failure.
