Fijian Drua's Selestino Ravutaumada in action during the Day 2 of the Super Round Melbourne 2024, Moana Pasifika v Fijian Drua at AAMI Park in Melbourne Australia. Saturday 2 March 2024. Photo: Raghavan Venugopal / www.photosport.nz
The battle of the Pacific comes to North Harbour Stadium this weekend.
Moana Pasifika, with players of Samoan and Tongan origin, will host their Fijian rivals in the Drua outfit in a Super Rugby Pacific round 11 clash.
Both camps know that a lot will depend on the outcome once the dust has settled at the Albany ground.
Moana Pasifika sit at 10th position on the competition's points standing, with 15 points to their name - six points off sixth placed Waratahs and three off Hurricanes at seventh spot.
The Drua sit at the bottom of the table, with 11 points, and a tougher road to a potential top six at the moment.
A win for the host will see them move up the ladder, with a possible climb to seventh position - if the other teams above them - the Highlanders, the Blues and the Hurricanes all lose their matches.
Defeat will mean no chance of the Fijian side finishing in the top eight, and the top six out of the equation altogether.
A Drua victory will see the teams draw level on points, but make both their chances of getting into the top six slimmer.
Both head coaches, Fa'alogo Tana Umaga and Glen Jackson, understand the urgency of getting a win.
Not looking too far ahead, they have also acknowledged that the overall competition has been tight, with majority of the teams having mixed results week in, week out.
That understanding has seen the two coaches name their match-day 23s, centred around players they believe will be able to produce the respective results they want.
Jackson has shown faith in the versatility of young Isikeli Rabitu, naming the player at inside centre, while retaining the core of the team which defeated the Waratahs in Lautoka.
Blockbusting loosie Elia Canakaivata, has been moved to the bench for a rest, and will run off the bench in the second half, opting to start Kitione Salawa at number eight.
Club captain Tevita Ikanivere and Vuate Karawalevu have also found their way back to the bench, both players expected to play big roles in the second half against Moana.
Jackson said their opponents this weekend have a strong scrum, been good in the lineouts and pack a loose trio that have done damage to many teams in the recent weeks.
That loose trio will feature Ardie Savea, Miracle Failangi and Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa.
Jackson said they have opted for players who he believes will be fit and ready for the battle.
"Our scrum against the Waratahs was outstanding," he said on Tuesday during a media briefing at the team's Nadi base.
"Certainly will have to be a strength against Moana. They will be hurting from being nilled, because they have been awesome this year, especially inside the 22.
"I think they have been the best team getting into the 22 and then scoring points and I know they will be pretty fired up for this game. So, again we just need to make sure we've got the fittest guys that are ready to play rugby away in Auckland."
Jackson said they are wary of Moana Pasifika's second half showing, where they have dominated teams in most of their recent matches.
He hopes his warriors will be able to produce their last quarter performance against the Waratahs in Lautoka last weekend.
"I think the team has been training really well," he said.
"Sometimes a win can just get a little bit of a snowball effect and carry on. We knew the Waratahs was a big game for us and I thought the way the boys handled the last 15 minutes where they had a real good crack at our line and we held them out.
"That is certainly something that we have to do against Moana to be able to carry on."
To consolidate their scrummaging, Jackson has retained veteran Peni Ravai at loosehead prop, pairing Samuela Tawake, who runs in at tighthead, while stand-in captain Mesulame Dolokoto gets the nod for his third start at hooker.
Halves combination will feature Simione Kuruvoli at halfback, partnering Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, who has established himself in the flyhalf berth.
Drua will have a lot of speed out wide, with speedster Ponipate Loganimasi on the left wing and Taniela Rakuro making his second consecutive start on the right wing.
Savea brothers named for Moana Pasifika
Savea brothers Ardie and Julian have both been named by Umaga in Moana Pasifika's match-day 23.
While Ardie returns as captain, his older brother is expected to come off the bench, with the two brothers set to play together for the first time in the Moana Pasifika colours.
The two had played together for the Hurricanes before they separately made the move up North, Julian in 2023 and Ardie at the end of 2024.
Umaga said at the weekend they were disappointed with the loss to the Brumbies last weekend, where the team were also not able to score a single point.
He said while they had made a number of forays into the Brumbies 22 last Saturday, they were not able to score points, something they can not afford against the Drua.
He said the team will need to ensure they get points every time they get into the Drua 22 metre zone this weekend.
"We entered their 22 nine times and we usually come away with points," Usage told the media at the post-match conference in Pukekohe.
"For us it's a learning for us you know. We can't take things for granted and we still have to understand the detail that gives us opportunities.
"I cant fault the effort and the heart and I think it was probably one of our most defensive efforts."
Moana Pasifika managed to hold the Brumbies scoreless for almost 35 minutes in the first half before a Correy Toole try sent the visitors to a 5-0 lead at halftime.
Umaga said they will need to ensure that area is well looked after again against the Drua, who he expects to be fast and physical.
"We're expecting a fast and physical game on Saturday. The Drua are coming off a good win and will be confident," he said.
"We have to be decisive and have some urgency in the way we play from the outset. We're also set to have our biggest crowd so the fans will be loud and passionate, and we're hoping to put up a great performance for them."
The battle of the Pacific clash between Moana Pasifika and Fijian Drua is always an entertaining spectacle and three out of five of their previous contests have been decided by three points or less.
Fullback William Havili returns to the starting XV after missing last week's clash.
Tito Tuipulotu is back at loosehead prop, with Millennium Sanerivi and Feleti Sae-Ta'ufo'ou joining him in the front row.
Samuel Slade rejoins the starting 15 while in the backline, Danny Toala and Lalomilo Lalomilo pair up in the midfield again.
Umaga has given young hooker Tomasi Maka the chance to start off the bench, filling in for the injured Sama Malolo.
Fijian Drua: 1. Peni Ravai, 2. Mesulame Dolokoto (c), 3. Samuela Tawake, 4. Isoa Nasilasila, 5. Leone Rotuisolia, 6. Etonia Waqa, 7. Motikiai Murray, 8. Kitione Salawa, 9. Simione Kuruvoli, 10. Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, 11. Ponipate Loganimasi, 12. Isikeli Rabitu, 13. Inia Tabuavou, 14. Taniela Rakuro, 15. Vuate Karawalevu
Bench: 16. Tevita Ikanivere, 17. Meli Tuni, 18. Mesake Doge, 19. Mesake Vocevoce, 20. Elia Canakaivata, 21. Leone Nawai, 22. Kemu Valetini, 23. Selestino Ravutaumada.
Moana Pasifika: 1. Tito Tuipulotu, 2. Millennium Sanerivi, 3. Feleti Sae-Ta'ufo'ou, 4. Tom Savage, 5. Samuel Slade, 6. Miracle Faiilagi, 7. Ardie Savea (c), 8. Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa, 9. Jonathan Taumateine, 10. Jackson Garden-Bachop, 11. Fine Inisi, 12. Danny Toala, 13. Lalomilo Lalomilo, 14. Tevita Ofa, 15. William Havili
Bench: 16. Tomasi Maka, 17. Monu Moli, 18. Chris Apoua, 19. Allan Craig, 20. Sione Havili Talitui, 21. Melani Matavao, 22. Patrick Pellegrini, 23. Julian Savea
Moana Pasifika v Fijian Drua
Kick-off: 4:35pm Saturday 26 April
North Harbour Stadium, Albany
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