The Fijian Drua are currently ninth in the competition.
Photo: Facebook / Fijian Drua
Pride, more than anything else, is what the Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika will be playing for in Saturday’s Super Rugby Pacific Round 14 matches.
Out of contention for a top-six finish in the competition, both the Pasifika clubs need to win for their fans, families and stakeholders.
The Fijian Drua are currently ninth, while Moana Pasifika are languishing at the bottom of the competition’s points table.
This weekend, the North Harbour-based side will host the Queensland Reds in Albany, while Fijians face the Western Force in Perth.
Western Force v Fijian Drua
Kickoff: 7:35pm, Saturday 23 May
HBF Park, Perth
Drua head coach Glen Jackson knows how tough the Force will be at home.
Perth has not been a good hunting ground for the Drua, who struggled to win away from home until three weekends ago when they beat the ACT Brumbies in Canberra.
That win came three years late, their first on the road since 2023.
Having gone under in Suva last weekend, dismantled at home by the NSW Waratahs, the Drua will have a tougher fight on the cards than usual with a number of their top players, especially finishers, unavailable due to injury.
But Jackson has named a lineup that could still spring a surprise, but only if they get their act together and start playing rugby from the opening whistle, keep possession, take their chances and play on the right end of the field.
He told reporters this week he wants his players to return to the high work rate and defensive intensity that sparked the wins they managed midway through the competition.
He said the team needs to work on making sure they nail their key moments in key areas around the field.
“What we had done really well was our work rate,” he said, which led to wins against the Brumbies and the Highlanders in Ba, plus the Western Force in Lautoka.
“You can’t go away from what we’ve done in the last four or five weeks where we’ve been doing really good stuff.”
Key areas he wants the players to focus on include defence, winning the gain line, and protecting possession.
Tough flanker Kitione Salawa will play his 50th game for the side, becoming the fifth player in club history to reach the milestone.
Meli Tuni is set to make his first appearance of the season after recovering from injury, starting at prop.
Lanky Mesake Vocevoce will start at lock partnering co-captain Temo Mayanavanua in the middle-row, with a new set of loose forwards featuring Vilive Miramira (6), Salawa (7) and Isoa Tuwai at number eight.
Issak Fines-Leleiwasa will run the backline from halfback, pairing with the big-booted Kemu Valetini at fly-half, with former French international Virimi Vakatawa at inside centre.
The hosts Western Force have named their strongest team available, featuring key players such as captain Jeremy Williams, Darcy Swain and Argentinian Nick Champion de Crespigny up front, while Dylan Pietsch, Zac Lomax and Max Burey will hold the key in the backline.
Veteran Kurtley Beale is expected to make his appearance in the second half off the bench.
Fijian Drua: 1. Meli Tuni, 2. Zuriel Togiatama, 3. Samuela Tawake, 4. Mesake Vocevoce, 5. Temo Mayanavanua (captain), 6. Vilive Miramira, 7. Kitione Salawa, 8. Isoa Tuwai, 9. Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 10. Kemu Valetini, 11. Manasa Mataele, 12. Virimi Vakatawa, 13. Maika Tuitubou, 14. Taniela Rakuro, 15. Isikeli Rabitu
Bench: 16. Sairusi Ravudi, 17. Penaia Cakobau, 18. Mesake Doge, 19. Isoa Nasilasila, 20. Elia Canakaivata, 21. Simione Kuruvoli, 22. Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula; 23. Iosefo Namoce
Western Force: 1. Harry Johnson-Holmes, 2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 3. Misinale Epenisa, 4. Jeremy Williams (captain), 5. Darcy Swain, 6. Nick Champion de Crespigny, 7. Carlo Tizzano, 8. Vailoni Ekuasi, 9. Nathan Hastie, 10. Max Burey, 11. Dylan Pietsch, 12. Hamish Stewart, 13. Bayley Kuenzle, 14. Zac Lomax, 15. Mac Grealy
Bench: 16. Nic Dolly, 17. Marley Pearce, 18. Sef Fa’agase, 19. Franco Molina, 20. Will Harris, 21. Agustin Moyano, 22. Boston Fakafanua, 23. Kurtley Beale
Moana Pasifika will play their last home game against the Queensland Reds.
Photo: Brett Phibbs / www.photosport.nz
Moana Pasifika vs Reds
Kickoff: 4:35 Saturday 23 May
QBE Stadium, Albany
Live blog updates on RNZ
Moana Pasifika will play their last home game against the Queensland Reds.
The match will see the return of Patrick Pellegrini, who was injured during the Super Round in Christchurch.
He will return to fly-half, moving William Havili back to fullback.
The duo’s partnership has been key for the side, especially their kicking game, an area Havili has mastered since his debut in 2022.
Havili has made three 50/22 kicks in play this Super Rugby Pacific season, the joint-most of any player in the competition. He has also made at least one tackle break in each of his last eight games (totalling 13).
The 27-year-old has been a constant for Moana Pasifika this season, leading by example and putting his body on the line with courageous tackles to show for it.
Head coach Fa’alogo Tana Umaga has again named a changed front-row, with Malakai Hala-Ngatai, Millennium Sanerivi and Atu Moli.
The loose trio of captain Miracle Failagii, Semisi Paea and Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa gets another chance to prove themselves while veteran Augustine Pulu will command play at nine.
Glen Vaihu and Israel Leota have shown they have the power and the speed to do damage when they can out wide.
The Reds have named a strong lineup, with a mobile front row that includes Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Joe Brial, Fraser McReight and Harry Wilson.
Tate McDermott leads the backline that also includes Carter Gordon, Tim Ryan, Filipo Daugunu, Josh Flook, Treyvon Pritchard and Jock Campbell.
Moana Pasifika: 1. Malakai Hala-Ngatai,2. Millennium Sanerivi, 3. Atu Moli, 4. Allan Craig, 5. Veikoso Poloniati, 6. Miracle Faiilagi (captain ), 7. Semisi Paea, 8. Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa, 9. Augustine Pulu, 10. Patrick Pellegrini, 11. Glen Vaihu, 12. Tevita Latu, 13. Solomon Alaimalo, 14. Israel Leota, 15. William Havili
Bench: 16. Mamoru Harada, 17. Abraham Pole, 18. Paula Latu, 19. Alefosio Aho, 20. Dominic Ropeti, 21. Siaosi Nginingini, 22. Faletoi Peni, 23. Tuna Tuitama
Reds: 1. George Blake, 2. Josh Nasser, 3. Massimo De Lutiis, 4. Josh Canham, 5. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 6. Joe Brial, 7. Fraser McReight (captain), 8. Harry Wilson, 9. Tate McDermott, 10. Carter Gordon, 11. Tim Ryan, 12. Filipo Daugunu, 13. Josh Flook, 14. Treyvon Pritchard, 15. Jock Campbell
Bench: 16. Matt Faessler, 17. Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 18. Zane Nonggorr, 19. Seru Uru, 20. Vaiuta Latu, 21. Kalani Thomas, 22. Ben Volavola, 23. Lachie Anderson
