Fijian Drua take on the Waratahs in Sydney on Friday.
Photo: Fijian Drua
There is no other way for the two Pasifika teams in the Super Rugby Pacific competition but win if they want to finish in the top six at the end of Round 16 and qualify for the quarterfinals.
To do that and have a chance of getting in line with contending for the top prize, the two teams must win their third-round matches on Friday night.
Two loses each is what they have to show right now.
The Fijian Drua flew out of Nadi on Wednesday, with the Waratahs on their mind.
Moana Pasifika will host the Highlanders at North Harbour Stadium in Albany in the first game of the Culture Round.
Tough Waratahs clash
Head coach Glen Jackson told reporters in Nadi on Tuesday that he expects the Waratahs to be strong at home.
He said the close losses to the Brumbies in round one and the Hurricanes in Napier last weekend have proven that the Drua players can match anyone on their day.
“The Waratahs kicked very well and they kick chase very well and put us under pressure, and wait for us to make mistakes,” Jackson said, referring to last year’s clash between the two sides.
“I am under no illusion that they will try and play the Fijian flair that we want them to play with.
“I thought we played very well against the Hurricanes and the same sort of application coming into this game, we’ve got to prepare very well.
The Waratahs are a good side and they have a lot of Wallabies in their squad, he said.
He said the Drua will need to finish well against the hosts, something they had not done against the Brumbies and the Hurricanes.
This is an area they have focused on in the past five day, which is a shorter turnaround time than usual.
“You know, both games we could have won and probably should have won, in terms of where we were, especially in the last few minutes, where we should have beaten the best team in the competition,” the Kiwi coach said.
Jackson said the teams in this year’s competition have been very clos, and winning every points possible is critical at this stage for the Drua, who now have two points to their name.
“The teams are close. Every point you get is very important.”
He has made 10 changes to his match-day 23.
Returning to the squad is Etonia Waqa, who is back after a long injury spell.
Jackson has retained the centre pairing of Tuidraki Samusamuvodre and Inia Tabuavou, who looked comfortable together in the middle at McLean park last Saturday.
He has also retained lock forward Isoa Nasilasila, flanker Motikai Murray, and Meli Derenalagi in the pack.
First round try-scorers Vuate Karawalevu (11) and Ponipate Loganimasi (14) have both been recalled for the Sydney game as well.
Notable omission is veteran halfback Frank Lomani, who suffered an ankle injury last weekend and centre Iosefo Masi, who came off the bench in Napier and hobbled around the field without any real power.
Co-captain Tevita Ikanivere has also been recalled to the starting lineup, after running of the bench last week. He is joined by tough prop Haereiti Hetet (1) and Samuela Tawake upfront.
Ikanivere is the first to cross 40 Fijian Drua appearances in the competition and is set to play his 41st game against the Waratahs.
Halfback Peni Matawalu, who is set to come off the bench, will make his 40th appearance in the match.
Flyhalf Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, who had a strong game against the Hurricanes, is set to become the Drua’s highest points scorer if he gets his chance in the game.
Waratahs v Fijian Drua
Kick off: 9.35pm NZ time on 28 February
Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Live blog coverage on RNZ Sport
Drua: 1 Haereiti Hetet, 2 Tevita Ikanivere (c), 3 Samuela Tawake, 4 Isoa Nasilasila, 5 Leone Rotuisolia, 6 Joseva Tamani, 7 Motikiai Murray, 8 Meli Derenalagi, 9 Simione Kuruvoli 10 Caleb Muntz, 11 Vuate Karawalevu, 12 Inia Tabuavou, 13 Tuidraki Samusamuvodre, 14 Ponipate Loganimasi, 15 Ilaisa Droasese; Reserves: 16 Mesulame Dolokoto, 17 Livai Natave, 18 Mesake Doge, 19 Etonia Waqa, 20 Kitione Salawa, 21 Peni Matawalu, 22 Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, 23 Kemu Valetini
Moana Pasifika players during a training session at the North Harbour Stadium on Wednesday, 26 February 2025.
Photo: Moana Pasifika
Exciting backs duo named for debut
Moana Pasifika head coach Fa’alogo Tana Umaga has handed Patrick Pellegrini and Tevita Ofa the opportunity to debut in Friday night’s clash against the Highlanders – both names on the bench.
Sydney-born Pellegrini has represented the ‘Ikale Tahi at the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Pellegrini said he was surprised after being told he would have a chance at his first cap in Super Rugby during Monday’s team meeting.
“I was pretty shocked to be honest,” Pellegrini said.
“It’s always been a dream to play in Super Rugby and I’m very excited and grateful for the opportunity. Going from Australia to England, then getting the opportunity to come back closer to home.
“For a team like Moana closer to my roots and family, it means a lot.”
Pellegrini’s parents live in Sydney, but he has extended family who are in Auckland.
Umaga said 2024 Counties Manukau Steelers MVP, Ofa is an exciting young winger who joined Moana Pasifika as an injury replacement.
He was part of the Chiefs wider training squad last year and has worked hard in the preseason to earn his spot.
Other changes to the Cultural Round squad see powerful prop Sione Mafile’o, experienced lock Tom Savage and entertaining midfielder Danny Toala earn starting spots.
Southland Stags standout Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa is also rewarded with his second start in the back row, leading the competition in carries (37) after the first two rounds.
Moana Pasifika will don their heritage jersey for the first time this Friday, paying homage to the iconic Pacific Islanders team who faced the All Blacks at North Harbour Stadium in 2004.
Ardie Savea will lead the side again, having stated after the loss to the Reds in Brisbane last week, they will need to start playing smarter rugby.
“The boys have got some fight in us,” he said, referring to the battle against the Reds last Friday night.
“We just need to give us better chances to win the game. I am so proud of them trying to find a way to get closer.
“We just need to be smarter on how we use the ball and how we get the points.”
Coach Umaga said despite the two defeats so far he is confident that they can get the wins they need to be in contention in the competition.
He pointed to inconsistency as a key area they need to iron out.
“It’s just consistency,” he said.
“We work hard to score our points and we give away points very easily. We are scoring points to win games but we are not stopping points being scored against us.
“We have got to make sure that we get ready for the next one when one phase finishes.”
Umaga said watching the team wear the Pacific Islanders colours on Friday night will be an emotional moment for him.
“It is a tribute to our beginnings,” he said, referring to the Pacific Islanders idea, which he said started the Moana Pasifika legacy.
Umaga was captain of the All Blacks in that clash at the North Harbour Stadium, where he faced two players who became All Blacks, the late Sione Lauaki and Sitiveni Sivivatu.
Unavailable due to injuries are key players Alamanda Motuga, Fine Inisi, Julian Savea, Lalomilo Lalomilo, Lotu Inisi, Semisi Paea and 2024 captain Sione Havili Talitui (ankle).
Moana Pasifika v Highlanders
Kick-off: 7:05pm Friday 28 February
North Harbour Stadium, Albany
Live blog coverage on RNZ Sport
Moana: 1 James Lay, 2 Millennium Sanerivi, 3 Sione Mafile’o, 4 Tom Savage, 5 Allan Craig, 6 Miracle Faiilagi, 7 Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa, 8 Ardie Savea (c), 9 Jonathan Taumateine, 10 Jackson Garden-Bachop, 11 Kyren Taumoefolau, 12 Danny Toala, 13 Pepesana Patafilo, 14 Solomon Alaimalo, 15 William Havili; Reserves: 16 Sama Malolo, 17 Tito Tuipulotu, 18 Chris Apoua, 19 Samuel Slade, 20 Ola Tauelangi, 21 Melani Matavao, 22 Patrick Pellegrini, 23 Tevita Ofa
Fijian Drua Women team at a training session. 14 February 2025
Photo: Fijian Drua
Fijian Drua Women name six debutants in first match
The Fijian Drua Women face the NSW Waratahs in a repeat of the 2024 Super W Rugby final when the two teams meet in Sydney on Friday night.
The clash will be the curtain-raiser to the Fiji Drua vs Waratahs men’s clash at the Allianz Stadium.
Waratahs dethroned the Drua last year to claim the Super W title, previously kept by the Fijian side over two seasons: in 2022 and 2023.
Head coach Ifereimi Rawaqa has named a strong line-up to take on the defending champions, and has handed the captaincy reins to seasoned campaigner Vika Matarugu.
Rawaqa has named six debutants in the first match, with Fijiana reps Alfreda Fisher, Josivini Naihamu and Alowesi Nakoci listed in the starting 15 alongside Salaseini Railumu. The side also sees the return of Vitalina Naikore, Kolora Lomani and Ema Adivitaloga.
Drua Women: 1 Salanieta Nabuli, 2 Keleni Marawa, 3 Vika Matarugu (c), 4 Mereoni Nakesa, 5 Asinate Serevi, 6 Alfreda Fisher, 7 Salaseini Railumu, 8 Karalaini Naisewa, 9 Kolora Lomani, 10 Salanieta Kinita, 11 Alowesi Nakoci, 12 Josivini Naihamu, 13 Vitalina Naikore, 14 Repeka Tove, 15 Luisa Tisolo; Reserves: 16 Isabella Koi, 17 Loraini Senivutu, 18 Ana Korovata, 19 Ema Adivitaloga, 20. Bitila Tawake, 21 Evivi Senikarivi, 22. Litiana Vueti, 23 Merewairita Neivosa
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