Live coverage has concluded, please click here for the full wrap.
Moana Pasifika 12 Chiefs 59
FULLTIME - TRY CHIEFS
Chiefs lineout, should be the last of the game. Reserve hooker Tyrone Thompson throws and Lord wins it as they drive.
Thompson has the ball at the back, and dives for the line to score the Chiefs' ninth!
Ioane to finish the game off with the last kick, and he lands it beautifully. That'll be that.
MP 12 CHI 59
80 mins
Moana Pasifika go to their backs after the scrum, and run inside the Chiefs' half.
Havili bumps off Weber, but the ball's lost forward to give the Chiefs possession again.
Vaa'i kicks through, but Funaki wins it - but gives away another penalty, his side's 15th.
Lineout in the corner for the Chiefs.
78 mins
The Chiefs give away possession inside Moana Pasifika's half, and the hosts look to run out of danger.
Toala puts Enari into space, but the reserve halfback throws a pass inside him that drifts into touch.
But they were playing under advantage, so it's a Moana Pasifika scrum.
74 mins - TRY CHIEFS
Chiefs scrum, Weber feeds after a reset.
They win advantage, as Weber goes to Ioane, who throws a short ball to put Nankivell through and he scores! Straight from the training ground that one! Eight tries for the Chiefs.
Ioane converts from in front.
MP 12 CHI 52
72 mins
Replacement halfback Enari feeds the scrum. The ball goes back to McClutchie to clear, but Lord charges it down and bats it dead.
Chiefs scrum.
71 mins
Havili clears into touch for a Chiefs lineout after the restart.
Narawa runs as first receiver and takes the ball deep into Moana Pasifika territory.
The ball's been lost though and Moana Pasifika have it under advantage. We'll go back for the knock on, and a scrum.
68 mins - TRY MOANA PASIKIFA
Weber clears with a box kick from inside his own half, and Havili wins it for Moana Pasifika.
Advantage for Moana Pasifika, and they'll take a lineout from the penalty.
Moli throws and Slade wins it as Moana Pasifika drive. They take the ball to the 5m line and have advantage, Fomai gets a cutout pass on the left wing, but is tackled.
Moana Pasifika are through 11 phases, another advantage for offside against the Chiefs, but they won't need it as Apikotoa goes over for his side's second try.
Havili to kick, but he hits the post.
MP 12 CHI 45
63 mins - TRY CHIEFS
Chase Tiatia, on as a sub for Tupaea, breaks the line and the Chiefs can attack again.
Nankivell takes the ball to the 10m line, before Tiatia has another go and breaks! He gets an inside pass away to Weber - and he scores unopposed! This could be a cricket score.
Ioane to convert from in front, and does.
MP 7 CHI 45
60 mins - TRY CHIEFS
Chiefs scrum, Weber feeds and they drive before Moana Pasifika give away a penalty for illegal wheeling.
They take another scrum. Weber feeds again, and gets the ball to Ioane, Finau has a go at the line but he's tackled short. Sowakula goes at the line from close ranger - and they can't keep him out! Sowakula scores another for the Chiefs! That's their sixth of the night, with 20 minutes still to play.
Ioane to take the kick with Gatland off. And he has no issue.
MP 7 CHI 38
58 mins
The Chiefs can't win their own lineout as Moana Pasifika have the ball in their own half - or do they?
It's turned over again and the Chiefs have another chance! Lowe comes in from the left wing and the Chiefs build pressure.
Lealiifano gives away another penalty, and he's shown a yellow card.
Moana Pasifika are down to 14 as the Chiefs have a scrum.
56 mins
Josh Ioane replaces Gatland. Moana Pasifika scrum, Taumateine feeds.
Moana Pasifika have it as Taumateine clears. The Chiefs get a touch on it, so Moana Pasifika have a lineout 10m inside their own half.
Moli throws and looks to drive before Moana Pasifika look to use it. But the Chiefs have tuned it over, looks like Burr's done it again.
Ioane clears for a lineout.
54 mins
Gatland kicks for the corner, and the Chiefs have a lineout. Kepu is subbed off for Apikotoa, so Lealiifano takes on captaincy.
Slater throws and Burr wins it as the Chiefs drive. Slater has it at the back, before the Chiefs look to use it.
The ball is knocked on by the Trask, so Moana Pasifika have a scrum.
53 mins
Chiefs win their lineout, and win advantage. Gatland has a go at the line, before the Chiefs to wide to Narawa and Burr.
Burr looks for an inside ball to Nankivell, but he throws it forward and we go back for a penalty.
Kepu and Moana Pasifika are warned for repeated infringements, next one's a yellow.
51 mins
Gatland clears downfield from the kickoff, and Lealiifano returns fire from the 22. Trask gathers and kicks back to Lealiifano, who kicks into touch.
Chiefs lineout. Retallick is replaced by Finau.
50 mins - TRY CHIEFS
Tolai throws to McRobbie, but he's knocked on. Chiefs advantage as Sowakula clears with his left foot?
Moana Pasifika kick it back and the Chiefs run this time, and have another advantage.
Retallick runs and isn't tackled so runs again, before the Chiefs go to Gatland. Sowakula runs it up to the 22 and wins another penalty, Trask breaks the line before he's tackled.
Burr gets an inside pass away to Vaa'i, and he runs away to score under the posts!
Gatland to convert from right in front, and does.
MP 7 CHI 31
47 mins
Chiefs knock on, so it'll be a Moana Pasifika scrum.
Taumateine feeds, but Weber stops him from getting it from the back! Moana Pasifika are forced to run inside their own half, but they have advantage.
Taumateine clears with a box kick, but we'll go back for the penalty.
Havili clears for a lineout.
45 mins
Trask looks to clear, but there's trouble as his attempted clearance is charged down.
It falls to Gatland, who clears into touch for a Moana Pasifika lineout in their own half.
43 mins - TRY CHIEFS
The Chiefs clear the ball down to Taumateine, who takes it up to halfway, before Lealiifano goes to the air - as Trask wins it under pressure.
Nankivell goes on a run down the left, before the Chiefs go back infield as Narawa and Tupaea combine in the Moana Pasifika half.
Gatland puts Slater into a gap, and the Chiefs can attack! Sowakula takes the line on, and throws an offload out the back to Lowe on the wing - and he scores in the corner!
Gatland to convert from the left touchline, but just shapes it left of the post.
MP 7 CHI 24
41 mins
We're back for the second half, Alex McRobbie has replaced McKee for Moana Pasifika after the break.
The Chiefs appear to be unchanged. Lealiifano will get us back underway, and does.
HALFTIME - TRY CHIEFS
Slight delay as Kepu is treated for injury, but the Chiefs have a lineout. Slater throws and Retallick wins it.
The Gatland spots a gap and attacks the line before he's tackled. Vaa'i takes the ball to the 5m line and wins advantage.
Nankivell finds Trask, who splits the line, drawing in the last man and getting a pass away to Narawa and he'll run into score before halftime!
Gatland to kick and end the half, and nails it from the right touchline.
MP 7 CHI 19
38 mins
Taumateine feeds, and Moana Pasifika have possession just inside their own half.
Toala does well to make ground, before he's tackled. Burr looks to have turned it over, and he has!
Penalty for the Chiefs as Kepu doesn't release. Gatland kicks for the lineout.
36 mins
The Chiefs go quickly and look to run the ball, before Weber is smashed by Aumua!
Weber knocks on trying to play the ball, and Moana Pasifika have advantage. Toala kicks over the top, and is beaten by the bounce.
Slater knocks on though, so Moana Pasifika have a scrum.
35 mins
Slater to throw and McWhannell wins it.
High kick from Trask and the Chiefs regain possession. Gatland kicks this time, and Fomai returns fire straight into touch.
The Chiefs take it quickly and win advantage. Lowe kicks over the top for Nankivell, but he's beaten by the bounce.
We'll go back for the penalty, not rolling away called. What do the Chiefs do?
They'll take the lineout.
31 mins
Tolai to throw, Slade is also back on the field after his blood bin. McKee wins the throw and Moana Pasifika drive!
They're on the tryline as Lindenmuth has a go, but the Chiefs defence holds.
The Chiefs have turned it over though! Retallick wins a penalty and the Chiefs get out of danger!
Gatland clears for a lineout.
30 mins
Chiefs lineout. Lealiifano is back on the field for Moana Pasifika.
Slater throws, but it's over the top and Tolai runs - but we go back for a short arm penalty.
The Chiefs go quickly and have the ball on their left. Norris runs at the line, but Moana Pasifika have stolen it, Stowers the hero. Havili clears downfield - and comes away with a 50-22!
Moana Pasifika lineout!
27 mins
Chiefs scrum, Weber feeds. They've got advantage as Sowakula runs off the back.
Nankivell makes ground inside the Moana Pasifika half, but we'll go back for the penalty.
26 mins
McClutchie kicks off for Moana Pasifika, Lealiifano still off the field.
Vaa'i gives away a penalty for dangerous play in the air, and Moana Pasifika want the points.
McClutchie to kick, but he's hit the posts! The ball's still live as Trask clears it.
Lindemuth loses the ball forwads though, and the Chiefs have a scrum.
24 mins - TRY CHIEFS
Lineout on the 5m line. Slater throws and the Chiefs drive their way to the line - and score! Who got it down though? It looks like Hamilton Burr? Confirmed, Burr scores on debut!
Gatland to convert, this time from the right hand side. He slices it across the face, and away to the left though.
MP 7 CHI 12
23 mins
Lealiifano has to leave the field for a blood bin, as does Slade. Gatland clears for a Chiefs lineout after the penalty.
Slater throws and they can attack from inside the Moana Pasifika half. Vaa'i makes ground to take the ball to the 22, before Gatland is taken high - nothing from the ref though.
McWhannell runs as Moana Pasifika give away advantage for offside. They go wide to Narawa, who shows great strength to take the ball to the tryline, but he's held up.
So we go back for the penalty. Chiefs lineout.
21 mins
The Chiefs keep the ball from the kickoff, and work inside Moana Pasifika's half.
Tupaea drops a pass, but keeps it backwards, before Trask loses the ball in contact.
Aumua loses the ball in Lowe's tackle, Chiefs in possession again.
But Slade doesn't roll away in the tackle, so the Chiefs have another penalty.
19 mins - TRY MOANA PASIFIKA
Taumateine feeds, inside the Chiefs' 22. They go to the backs, but the Chiefs defend well.
Moana Pasifika go wide to Fomai - and he skins Gatland and Narawa to score! Brilliant! A great finish from Fomai, but credit to Lealiifano for finding him with the pass!
Lealiifano to convert from the left touchline, and he does! Scores level!
MP 7 CHI 7
17 mins
Tolai throws, but he overcooks it and Sowakula nabs it. The ball goes back to Gatland, who clears for another Moana Pasifika lineout just in from the 22.
Tolai throws again, and this time Moana Pasifika have it. The Chiefs look to have turned it over, but then knocked on.
Moana Pasifika scrum in the Chiefs half.
15 mins
Taumateine feeds, and they get a free kick. Stowers goes quickly and they're on the tryline with advantage, Sowakula leaving his feet.
We'll for back for the penalty, and this time Moana Pasifika want the lineout.
13 mins
Lealiifano to restart, and Moana Pasifika win the kickoff.
They've got advantage as Lealiifano breaks and gets to the 5m line. Fainga'anuku has a go but loses the ball, so we go back for the penalty.
Tupaea is down hurt for the Chiefs, and Moana Pasifika have a 5m scrum.
10 mins - TRY CHIEFS
Slater throws, and Sowakula wins it at the front as they drive again. The ball comes loose as Weber feeds Lowe, and the Chiefs can work towards the 5m line.
Weber goes himself, as does Retallick. The Chiefs are close, and Weber goes to the backs.
He finds Gatland, who dives for the line and scores the opener! Gatland lines up to convert his own try, and does.
MP 0 CHI 7
9 mins
Slater throws and McWhannell wins it as the Chiefs have advantage, and go for the lineout drive.
Tupaea stabs a kick through for Nankivell, but he can't get there so we go back for the penalty.
Will they take the points? Nope, another lineout.
8 mins
Slater throws, but the Chiefs pass forward after winning the lineout. Moana Pasifika scrum.
Taumateine feeds, but the Chiefs front row goes down. Reset. Taumateine feeds again, and this time Moana Pasifika's front row goes down. Kepu the culprit.
Penalty for the Chiefs, and they want the lineout.
6 mins
Slater's second throw, and this one's better as McWhannell brings it down and the Chiefs drive.
The Chiefs go wide as Nankivell stabs a kick through, but Taumateine reads it, and lets Danny Toala clear it for another lineout.
4 mins
Taumateine feeds, and the Moana Pasifika front row collapses. Taumateine gets the ball free though, and Moana Pasifika can run.
Leali'ifano puts a kick up and Trask brings it down. The Chiefs have the ball just inside their own half.
Tupaea does well to take the ball to halfway before Weber kicks to the 22. Leali'ifano returns fire to Narawa, before Trask puts a kick up that Taumateine kicks.
The Chiefs have the ball, and advantage, so we stop for the penalty. Gatland clears for a lineout.
2 mins
Sione Havili clears the ball into touch and the Chiefs will have the first lineout.
Slater throws, but it's not straight and Moana Pasifika have it through Funaki. Advantage being played, but we'll go back for the knock-on at the lineout.
Moana Pasifika scrum.
KICKOFF
Right then! We're ready to go - and Bryn Gatland kicks off to get us underway at Mt Smart Stadium!
7:05pm
And Sekope Kepu leads Moana Pasifika out, lots of support for the home team!
7:03pm
The Chiefs are the first team out of the tunnel, led by captain Brad Weber.
7:00pm
Just five minutes to kick off, both sides are getting ready to come out onto the field.
6:40pm
Some late changes for the Chiefs. No word on if they're COVID-enforced or not.
Quinn Tupaea has moved into the starting side in place of Rameka Poihipi. Elsewhere, Josh Lord and Chase Tiatia come onto the bench. Lord swaps in for Mitch Brown, while Tiatia takes the place vacated by Tupaea's move into the starting XV.
Here's the new-look side:
Chiefs: 1-Ollie Norris, 2-Bradley Slater, 3-Sione Mafileo, 4-Laghlan McWhannell, 5-Brodie Retallick, 6-Tupou Vaa'i, 7-Hamilton Burr, 8-Pita Gus Sowakula, 9-Brad Weber, 10-Bryn Gatland, 11-Jonah Lowe, 12-Quinn Tupaea, 13-Alex Nankivell, 14-Emoni Narawa, 15-Kaleb Trask
Reserves: 16-Tyrone Thompson, 17-Atu Moli, 18-Solomone Tukuafu, 19-Samipeni Finau, 20- Josh Lord, 21-Rivez Reihana, 22-Josh Ioane, 23-Chase Tiatia
6:30pm
Good evening! What a chance Moana Pasifika have to notch their first victory here tonight.
Super Rugby's newbies are playing just their second match, thanks to COVID, but find themselves up against a weakened Chiefs side.
What's more, they'll be turning out on their home ground of Mt Smart Stadium for the first time, all the motivation they'll need in front of a small gathering of fans.
Kick off is around 35 minutes away.
*******
Kia ora, good evening and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of the Super Rugby Pacific clash between Moana Pasifika and Chiefs at Mt Smart Stadium.
Round five of the NZ conference has been decimated by COVID-19 cases this week, with none of the scheduled fixtures proceeding as planned.
Instead, NZ Rugby has taken the opportunity to match two teams relatively unscathed by the latest bout of omnicron, but who had their round two clash postponed, as the Moana Pasifika camp recovered from illness.
The expansion team have only played once this season - a clinical 33-12 defeat to a second-string Crusaders outfit, which was a tough baptism to the big time. Crusaders coach Scott Robertson took the opportunity to rest most of his frontline players, but still had too much firepower for the newcomers.
After inflicting the Crusaders with their first loss of the season last week, Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan has taken a similar approach, although the COVID presence makes it unclear just how many of the notable absences are through illness, injury or simply load management.
All Blacks captain Sam Cane has been stood down, with debutant Hamilton Burr in his place, along with fellow internationals Anton Lienert-Brown, Samisoni Taukei'aho, Angus Ta'avao and Josh Lord. Midfielder Quinn Tupaea will come off the bench, with last week's matchwinner Rameka Poihipi promoted into the starting XV.
The most notable change to the Moana Pasifika line-up sees 26-test Wallaby Christian Lealiifano in the No.10 jersey, replacing Lincoln McClutchie.
TAB Odds: Chiefs $1.04, Moana Pasifika $9
Moana Pasifika: 1-Ezekiel Lindenmuth, 2-Luteru Tolai, 3-Sekope Kepu, 4-Mike McKee, 5-Samuel Slade, 6-Sione Tu'ipulotu, 7-Solomone Funaki, 8-Henry Time-Stowers, 9-Jonathan Taumateine, 10-Christian Leali'ifano, 11-Neria Fomai, 12-Danny Toala, 13-Levi Aumua, 14-Tima Fainga’anuku, 15-William Havili
Reserves: 16-Samiuela Moli, 17-Taukiha’amea Koloamatangi, 18-Joe Apikotoa, 19-Alex McRobbie, 20-Josh Kaifa, 21-Ereatara Enari, 22-Lincoln McClutchie, 23-Fine Inisi
Chiefs: 1-Ollie Norris, 2-Bradley Slater, 3-Sione Mafileo, 4-Laghlan McWhannell, 5-Brodie Retallick, 6-Tupou Vaa’i, 7-Hamilton Burr, 8-Pita Gus Sowakula, 9-Brad Weber, 10-Bryn Gatland, 11-Jonah Lowe, 12-Rameka Poihipi, 13-Alex Nankivell, 14-Emoni Narawa, 15-Kaleb Trask
Reserves: 16-Tyrone Thompson, 17-Atu Moli, 18-Solomone Tukuafu, 19-Samipeni Finau, 20- Mitch Brown, 21-Rivez Reihana, 22-Josh Ioane, 23-Quinn Tupaea
Blues call for urgent change on 'frustrating' Super Rugby crowd situation
Stephen Foote
The chorus of discontent from Super Rugby franchises towards the Government's outdoor events policy continues to grow, with Blues chief executive Andrew Hore calling for urgent clarification on an increasingly "frustrating" situation.
The first four rounds of Super Rugby Pacific have gone ahead with virtually no spectators, while the Women's Cricket World Cup has been allowed to host up to 10 percent of the crowd capacity across the venues.
At Auckland's Eden Park, fans will attend the White Ferns' crucial World Cup match against England on Sunday, but the Blues still aren't allowed a single spectator at the same venue.
Earlier this week, Hore and his counterparts from the other four NZ Super Rugby franchises wrote a letter to Deputy Prime Minister and Sports Minister Grant Robertson to simplify attendance regulations.
Hore says Robertson's response stressed the decision laid with the Ministry of Health, whose guidelines he describes as "vague".
"That's where we're at a loss," Hore has told AM. "How we can't have up to even 20 percent in a stadium of up to 45,000-plus.
"It's exactly the same rules. That's where it sits at this stage and what's been incredibly frustrating."
Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield says: "We will be looking really quickly at the opportunities to look at bigger crowds for Super Rugby and other outdoor sporting events, again based on that information we know that outdoors is a much lower risk setting than indoor."
Eden Park chief executive Nick Sautner says the venue is losing $500,000 in fixed costs per month, while nearby businesses in Kingsland and Dominion Rd are also feeling the pinch.
"We just want consistency," Sautner says. "We have all the mechanisms in place.
"We can isolate the people in the crowds, we can do additional cleaning requirements, if necessary. We can do click and collect on our catering outlets
"We want to minimise the risk, but we also know that life needs to go on."
Hore insists the success of the Women's Cricket World Cup has proven how safely outdoor events can operate with crowds, and wants spectators allowed at Hamilton's FMG Stadium this weekend when the inaugural Super Rugby Aupiki competition is decided between Chiefs Manawa and the Blues.
"[The Cricket World Cup] has done wonderfully well," he says. "We see that as a signal that things could, would, should change pretty quickly.
"We don't begrudge that in any way, but we'd also like it for our women's teams this weekend in Hamilton.
"It would be wonderful to see crowds like that there as well and we're just wondering why we can't."
Only one ad-hoc Super Rugby Pacific fixture will proceed this weekend, with the Chiefs and Moana Pasifika - the only squads not experiencing a COVID-19 outbreak - squaring off at Auckland's Mt Smart Stadium.
Hore is confident the Blues will be fit and ready to return for their round-five showdown against the Highlanders at Dunedin.
