Elia Canakaivata of the Drua is tackled by Charlie Cale of the Brumbies during the Super Rugby Pacific Round 5 match between the Brumbies and the Fijian Drua at GIO Stadium in Canberra. 14 March 2025.
Photo: AAP Image/Lukas Coch / Photosport
Super Rugby Pacific’s round 12 matches will be special for both the Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika.
The Drua face the Highlanders in Ba on Saturday afternoon, with looseman Elia Canakaivata back in the starting lineup for his 50th Super Rugby game.
Moana Pasifika host the Blues at home in North Harbour on Saturday evening, and young winger Israel Leota gets his chance to start the match, almost at the end of the regular season.
And the Highlanders, who will be looking to beat the Drua after last weekend’s win over Moana Pasifika in Christchurch, will be auctioning their specially-designed match-day jersey to support the work of the Salvation Army in Fiji.
Fijian Drua v Highlanders
Kick-off: 4pm NZT Saturday 2 May
Venue: Four R Stadium, Ba
Live blog updates on RNZ
Canakaivata, who made the transition into the Drua from sevens rugby in 2023, is set to become just the fourth player to reach 50 caps for the club.
The Flying Fijians rep is Drua’s leading try-scorer, with 13 tries.
Canakaivata started off the bench against the Brumbies and Chiefs in the team’s two recent matches.
His return to the starting lineup means he will team up again with Joseva Tamani and Kitione Salawa, as the loose trio for the clash.
Head Coach Glen Jackson has made a tactical change, switching co-captain Frank Lomani to the right wing this week, a position he is no stranger to.
Lomani pairs former sevens star Joji Nasova, who has had a quiet first Super Rugby Pacific season so far.
Former Wallaby halfback Issak Fines-Leleiwasa returns to the starting lineup and will partner Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula as the halves combination.
Utility backline player Isikeli Rabitu and centre Tuidraki Samusamuvodre have also both recovered from injuries to be included in the starting team.
Jackson has retained consistency in the front row, Haereiti Hetet at loosehead prop with Mesake Doge at tighthead and Zuriel Togiatama at hooker.
One of the notable omission from the match-day 23 is fullback Ilaisa Droasese, whose blunders against the Chiefs last week cost the team two tries.
Jackson told the media in Nadi during the week Droasese is undergoing psychological consultation and was not considered for the match.
Highlanders donation
The Highlanders will be auctioning their special Fiji jersies they will wear in Saturday’s game, and donate proceedings to the Salvation Army.
The Dunedin-based franchise said the jersies have been designed especially for the game, to honour the team’s Fijian connections.
“This design celebrates those enduring bonds of unity, brotherhood and connection that stretch across the Pacific. To show respect and gratitude, the jersey carries the traditional national colours of Fiji – black and white – symbolising the deep relationship and history between the Highlanders and Fiji,” the franchise statement said.
“This jersey is a tribute to the players, the culture and the people who have given so much to the Highlanders story and the game of rugby. It’s our way of saying Vinaka – Thank you.”
Over the years, many proud Fijian players have played for the Highlanders in Super Rugby or Otago in the National Provincial Championship.
That includes Manasa Bari, Aisea Tuilevu, Iliesa Tanivula, Vula Maimuri, the late Seru Rabeni, Vilimoni Delasau, Maritino Nemani, Viliame Waqaseduadua, Patrick Osborne, Waisake Naholo, Tevita Nabura, Mosese Dawai, Jona Nareki, Vilimoni Koroi, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, Timoci Tavatavanawai and Veveni Lasaqa.
Taatavanawai will co-captain team on Saturday, and will be joined by Nareki, Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens and Nareki in the starting lineup.
The Highlanders, currently seventh on the points table with 20 points, three short of the Reds on sixth, will need a win to get them into top six contention.
A Drua win could push them into seventh or eighth position.
Fijian Drua: 1. Haereiti Hetet, 2. Zuriel Togiatama, 3. Mesake Doge, 4. Isoa Nasilasila, 5. Temo Mayanavanua (co-captain), 6. Joseva Tamani, 7. Kitione Salawa, 8. Elia Canakaivata, 9. Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 10. Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, 11. Joji Nasova, 12. Virimi Vakatawa, 13. Tuidraki Samusamuvodre, 14. Frank Lomani (co-captain), 15. Isikeli Rabitu
Bench: 16. Kavaia Tagivetaua, 17. Emosi Tuqiri. 18. Peni Ravai, 19. Mesake Vocevoce, 20. Isoa Tuwai, 21. Philip Baselala, 22. Kemu Valetini, 23. Maika Tuitubou
Highlanders: 1. Ethan de Groot (Co-captain), 2. Jack Taylor, 3. Angus Ta’avao, 4. Oliver Haig, 5. Mitch Dunshea, 6. Te Kamaka Howden, 7. Veveni Lasaqa, 8. Nikora Broughton, 9. Folau Fakatava, 10. Cameron Millar, 11. Jona Nareki, 12. Timoci Tavatavanawai (Co-captain), 13. Tanielu Tele’a, 14. Jonah Lowe, 15. Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens
Bench: 16. Soane Vikena, 17. Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18. Saula Ma’u, 19. Sean Withy, 20. Lucas Casey, 21. Adam Lennox, 22. Taine Robinson, 23. Xavier Tito-Harris
Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens of the Highlanders and Israel Leota of Moana Pasifika contest for the ball in round 11 Super Round of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific competition at One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch, New Zealand. 26 April 2026.
Photo: Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz
Moana Pasifika v Blues
Kick-off: 7:05pm NZT Saturday 2 May
Venue: North Harbour Stadium, Auckland
Live blog updates on RNZ
Meanwhile, former Bronocs National Rugby League squad member Israel Leota earns his first start at home when Moana Pasifika face the Blues at North Harbour Stadium on Saturday night.
Head coach Fa’alogo Tana Umaga has rewarded the 21-year-old following his impressive showing off the bench against the Highlanders in Christchurch last Sunday.
Leota, who went in to replace flyhalf Patrick Pellegrini, scored one of the best tries of the weekend’s Super Round, climbing high into the air to pluck the ball and dropping to his feet to score in one motion.
Leota had only played 15 minutes of Super Rugby before that match against the Highlanders, but came out with all guns blazing, showing what he is capable of.
His fellow Australian teammate Glen Vaihu also earns another start, this time shifting to fullback. Vaihu also had an exceptional individual performance last week, scoring a try, carrying 117 metres and beating six defenders.
With Pellegrini out because of concussion protocol, fullback William Havili moves to first five.
He is expected to tussle during the game with flatmate and Blues halfback Finlay Christie, something the Tongan international is looking forward to.
“There’s a rivalry there but at the end of the day, when we go out on the field we’re trying to bash each other up and win, after that it’s all love between us,” Havili told the media on Wednesday.
“They’re a quality side, and they’re a real physical team so we have to be physical as well.”
Captain Miracle Faiilagi will partner with Semesi Paea and Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa once again as the loose trio, while Veikoso Poloniati, Dominic Ropeti, Jackson Garden-Bachop and Tyler Pulini rejoin the matchday 23 to spark energy off the bench.
Umaga knows the pressure off the field, especially after revelations that the club will not be around in 2027 unless a new funder gets to back them, is taking its toll on players.
He said that is something the management understand and he is hopeful the players can still focus on the Blues and play their best, despite the uncertainty surrounding them.
“I’d be lying if I was thinking too far ahead of just ourselves at this time. There’s a lot of people affected by this. That’s where our energy is going to.”
The Blues have made changes to their lineup that won against the Reds in Christchurch last week.
All Black Beauden Barett is on the bench while Stephen Perofeta returns to the starting lineup at flyhalf.
Captain Patrick Tuipulotu pairs Sam Darry at locks, while Hoskin Sotutu, who will be leaving the club for Europe at the end of the season, has been named at number eight.
Moana Pasifika: 1. Malakai Hala-Ngatai, 2. Millennium Sanerivi, 3. Atu Moli, 4. Allan Craig, 5. Jimmy Tupou, 6. Miracle Faiilagi (Captain), 7. Semisi Paea, 8. Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa, 9. Jonathan Taumateine, 10. William Havili, 11. Tuna Tuitama, 12. Tevita Latu, 13. Solomon Alaimalo, 14. Israel Leota, 15. Glen Vaihu
Bench: 16. Mamoru Harada, 17. Abraham Pole, 18. Chris Apoua, 19. Veikoso Poloniati, 20. Dominic Ropeti, 21. Augustine Pulu, 22. Jackson Garden-Bachop, 23. Tyler Pulini
Blues: 1. Ben Ake, 2. Kurt Eklund, 3. Marcel Renata, 4. Patrick Tuipulotu (Captain), 5. Sam Darry, 6. Torian Barnes, 7. Anton Segner, 8. Hoskins Sotutu, 9. Sam Nock, 10. Stephen Perofeta, 11. Caleb Clarke, 12. Pita Ahki, 13. Xavi Taele, 14. Kade Banks, 15. Zarn Sullivan
Bench: 16. James Mullan, 17. Mason Tupaea, 18. Flyn Yates, 19. Josh Beehre, 20. Terrell Peita, 21. Finlay Christie, 22. Beauden Barrett, 23. AJ Lam
