Moana Pasifika vs Highlanders Prediction: Handicap can help Moana over the line

Round Seven of the Super Rugby season kicks off on Friday, when Moana Pasifika seek to get off the bottom in a home clash against the Highlanders (06:05am - Live on Sky Sports+).

Both teams have struggled in the early part of the campaign, racking up just three wins between them and both have suffered heavy defeats last week.

Moana Pasifika vs Highlanders Odds

The hosts, who haven’t won since the opening game of the Super Rugby season, can be backed at 4/1 to collect a success on Friday.

Meanwhile, the Highlanders are 1/5 to claim a victory in Auckland, while the draw is available to back at 22/1.

Team News

Moana Pasifika make seven changes to the starting XV that lost to Crusaders last week, including the recall of veteran duo Jackson Garden-Bachop and Solomon Alaimalo in the backline.

Quartet Feleti Sae-Ta’ufo’ou, Dominic Ropeti, Abraham Pole and Veikoso Poloniati are selected to start in the forwards.

The hosts are also set to hand a Super Rugby debut to Tongan prop Paula Latu, with the 30-year-old named amongst the replacements.

Highlanders make three changes to the team that lost 7-50 at home to leaders Hurricanes in Week Six, including a start for Argentinian lock Tomas Lavanini.

Veveni Lasaqa comes in at flanker, while young scrum-half Nic Shearer will wear the number nine jersey.

Handicap 3-Way: Moana Pasifika +14 @ 20/21

A 29-point defeat to Crusaders last week was frustrating for Moana Pasifika, but it is worth noting that they were 14-12 up after half an hour.

Tana Umaga’s men will know they need to bounce back and they will be able to take positives from their most recent clash against Friday’s opponents.

The Highlanders had won the first four head-to-head meetings between the sides, but Moana Pasifika ran out 29-34 victors in their most recent clash, in May 2025.

The last three fixtures between the pair have also been tight affairs, with a five-point victory for Moana Pasifika following on from three and 11-point successes for Highlanders.

Anytime Tryscorer - Joel Lam @ 23/10

Joel Lam has arguably been the bright spark of the Moana Pasifika season to date, highlighted by the fact that the scrum-half is handed another start on Friday.

The 23-year-old is in the running for the Super Rugby Pacific Rookie of the Year, with Lam currently level on votes with the Waratahs’ winger Sid Harvey.

The Moana Pasifika star made 13 tackles, beat five players and scored a try against the Crusaders and can play a key role again in this clash.

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