Moana Pasifika are searching for their first victory over the Drua, after losing to the Nadi-based franchise in 2022 and 2023. Photo: Fijian Drua Media
Moana Pasifika head coach Fa'alogo Tana Umaga has named four-times Super Rugby title winner with the Crusaders, Sione Havili Talitui, as the man to lead his side against the Fijian Drua in round two the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific competition.
The Fijian Drua have named back-from-injury prop Haereiti Hetet and Flying Fijians halfback Simione Kuruvoli on the bench for their debut matches in the new season.
Moana Pasifika coach Umaga, a former All Blacks and Hurricanes captain, said Talitui is the natural choice to replace injured captain James Lay.
Moana and the Drua battle in Melbourne on Saturday in the Super Round, with only 12 teams appearing over Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the same venue.
Umaga said Talitui's resume speaks for itself, as a four-time Super Rugby Pacific champion with the Crusaders and his experience will have a positive influence on the team.
"He's a leader that leads with his actions. He's got so much knowledge and he gives players confidence on the field," Umaga said.
"For him it's just understanding that he's the player first and as we always talk about in terms of captains, you have to be the player first rather than the captain first. He'll do that and then hopefully we'll develop his ability to lead."
Talatui was a key player for Tonga at the World Cup and stood amongst the best flankers in the world.
Moana Pasifika are searching for their first victory over the Drua, after losing to the Nadi-based franchise in 2022 and 2023.
But injuries to some key players has forced Umaga to name a side that will have some tough asks against the Drua.
"Injuries were the catalyst to the majority of our thinking. It would've come down to the last minute decisions and some of the inexperience of some of our group to handle that came into our thinking," Umaga said.
"We talk about trusting our squad all the time and this is an opportunity for us to show that. We have faith in our players and we know they'll give their all. It's a lot earlier than we would've hoped but that's the way rugby is."
After a standout performance in his debut against the Highlanders last week, Jacob Norris earns a starting spot at blindside, along with talented youngster Allan Craig who will start at lock.
Abraham Pole will also replace competition captain Lay at loosehead prop.
Majority of the Moana Pasifika backline remains the same except for one change in the middle, as Henry Taefu comes into the centre position.
Exciting to see that former Australian Wallabies Christian Lealiifano and Sekope Kepu have been named on the bench.
Young fullback Kyren Taumoefolau, who appeared for the 'Ikale Tahi at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, gets his maiden Super Rugby Pacific match at fullback.
Haereiti Hetet, closest to the camera, packs down for the Fijian Drua as he makes his return to Super Rugby this weekend against Moana Pasifika. Photo: Fijian Drua
Drua challenged
Drua head coach Mick Byrne has maintained his front row and the entire starting backline that lost to the Blues in Whangarei last Saturday.
But the biggest news for the Fijians is the return of Hetet, who injured himself before the end of the 2023 season and missed the Rugby World Cup, and nippy halfback Kuruvoli, who missed the whole of the 2023 Super Rugby season.
Byrne said he wants his warriors to focus on winning the set-pieces battle against rivals Moana Pasifika, something he picked up from the 34-10 loss against the Blues.
He said if the players work together as a unit they will be able to dominate.
"Our lineout did well, we missed a couple. We threw to a couple of spots that were probably we could have chosen better. But I thought our lineouts improved," he said.
"Scrums on our ball were good but scrums on their ball, we learnt a valuable lesson about staying in the fight."
He said they need to turn progress and possession into results on the field.
"Our first year, we did a tremendous job, just battling away. We got touched up in a couple of games but we battled away," he said.
"Then last year, we let ourselves down on a couple of occasions during the year but we came back strong and got into the quarter-finals. So we made some progress last year and certainly some over the pre-season with some of the work we've done."
Against the Blues, Drua made a good start but gave away too many penalties that led to the Blues winning points as a result and made too many mistakes with dropped passes or knocked balls in contact.
Captain Meli Derenalagi leads the team again this weekend with young playmaker Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula getting the pivotal playmaker role again at 10.
It will be interesting to see whether the Drua can maintain their winning streak or will if Moana Pasifika can claim their first win over their Fijian neighbours.
The games kicks off at 7pm (NZ time) at Melbourne's AAMI Park on tomorrow.
Other Super Rugby matches, also at the AAMI Park ground, will see in Blues against the at 8pm (NZ time) on Friday followed by the Melbourne Rebels will facing Western Force at 10.10pm.
On Saturday, the Crusaders meet the Waratahs at 9.35pm while on Sunday, the Chiefs battle the Brumbies at 4pm and the Hurricanes take on the Reds at 6:30pm.