Fijian Drua's Selesitino Ravataumada and Frank Lomani prepare for the Rebels clash in Nadi on Thursday. Photo: Fijian Drua
Must win for Drua but Rebels have plans of their own
The Fijian Drua will face more than just the pressure of having to win Saturday's clash against the Melbourne Rebels.
A win - nothing less - will guarantee the team's quarterfinal spot in the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific competition.
A loss will see them bid goodbye to the event - and wait another 10 months at least for the next campaign.
That is the real deal for the Mick Byrne coached side right now.
It demands they start strong, play consistently and finish strong, as Byrne has expounded to his match-day 23 throughout the week.
Now that is a lot of pressure.
Then again, playing at home, in front of highly demanding Fijian fans, can also add to the excitement - which obviously can be an advantage or a disadvantage.
Rebels pressure for Drua
But the added pressure will be a Rebels team fired up by the fact this is their last season in Super Rugby.
And they still have a chance to jump over the Highlanders from seventh to sixth position - and get a better chance of going through the quarterfinals to the last four, by lining up against the Brumbies.
The axing of the Rebels franchise by Australia Rugby on Thursday happened as the team was about to travel across to Nadi.
FBC Sports caught up with former Labasa football goalkeeper and Rebels player Filipo Daugunu at Nadi Airport when the team arrived.
Daugunu, who also played for the Wallabies, said he and the players want to give a lasting impression against the Drua at Churchill Park.
"Yeah is going to like give us courage and motivation to play against the Drua and try to beat them because they play hard in Fiji and yeah we are ready," he told FBC Sports.
Coach Kevin Foote told AAP the players and staff at least now knew where they stood.
"Deadly silent, just absolute devastation, no-one said a word," Foote said of the players' reaction.
He said the playing group and staff got together and spoke about how they would approach the remaining games, starting with Fijian Drua this weekend.
"We said we've really got the opportunity to finish strong and the group and playing staff are really motivated to do that," Foote told AAP.
"We're going to hold our heads high and have a crack."
The decision is especially tough on Foote, who was an assistant coach at the Western Force when they were axed from Super Rugby in 2017.
"It's been so tough, so stressful for all of the families," Foote said.
"I'm motivated for the end of the season and then it's time for a break."
Byrne says destiny in their hands
The possible retaliation against the Drua is not lost on the Fijian franchise's coach Byrne.
He said while they sympathised with the team and its playing and management group, they were also wary of what that could mean on Saturday.
He has basically told captain Meli Derenalagi and the players they will have to be prepared for war and remember their destiny is now in their hands.
"We just got to turn up and be ready to play," he said.
"We were able to do that this year at home. While there's a lot riding on this game, there's no difference with the way we prepared and the way we set up to come on here on Saturday and do what we do at home."
Still reeling from the 39-3 hiding they received in Dunedin at the hands of the Highlanders last Sunday, Byrne says they have to start strong and keep going.
"We need to start well and keep going," he said.
"It is about us this week, focusing on what we need and can do."
He said execution has been a major area they have been let down in.
Being physical against the Rebels is something he had demanded, especially in the breakdowns.
He said it's "now or never" for them.
"It's a game that will determine if we stay alive in the competition," he added.
The two teams have named their lineups, with the Drua returning halfback Frank Lomani to number nine.
Lomani has just ended his suspension, for elbowing a player in their first clash with the Rebels about seven weeks ago.
The equation for 8th spot
The Fijian Drua, Crusaders, Moana Pasifika and the Western Force are all in the running for the 8th spot.
A loss will see the Drua out.
Either way, a Crusaders or Moana Pasifika win will see the winner climb to 8th position on Friday night.
But the Crusaders have the points advantage with 19 while Moana is on 18.
If the Crusaders and the Western Force win their matches, then their positions will be decided by points average.
However, if the Drua team wins then they go straight to number eight, ahead of all other three contenders.
The Drua face the Melbourne Rebels at 2:05pm (Fiji Time) on Saturday at Churchill Park.
Fijian Drua match-day 23: 1. Haereiti Hetet, 2. Tevita Ikanivere,3. Mesake Doge, 4. Mesake Vocevoce, 5. Leone Rotuisolia, 6. Etonia Waqa, 7. Kitione Salawa, 8. Meli Derenalagi (c), 9. Frank Lomani, 10. Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, 11. Waqa Nalaga, 12. Kemu Valetini, 13. Iosefo Masi, 14. Selestino Ravutaumada, 15. Ilaisa Droasese; Reserves: 16. Zuriel Togiatama, 17. Livai Natave, 18. Samu Tawake, 19. Isoa Nasilasila, 20. Motikiai Murray, 21. Elia Canakaivata, 22. Simione Kuruvoli, 23. Caleb Muntz.
Rebels match-day 23: 1. Isaac Kailea, 2. Jordan Uelese, 3. Taniela Tupou, 4. Angelo Smith, 5. Josh Canham, 6. Josh Kemeny, 7. Brad Wilkin, 8. Rob Leota (c), 9. Carter Gordon, 10. Darby Lancaster, 11. David Feiluai, 12. Nick Jooste, 13. Filipo Daugunu, 14.Andrew Kellaway, 15. Mason Gordon; Reserves: 16. Ethan Dobbins, 17. Matt Gibbon, 18. Sam Talakai, 19. Tuaina Taii Tualima, 20. Maciu Nabolakasi, J21. ames Tuttle, 22. David Vaihu, 23. Jake Strachan.
Samoa takes on Tonga in Brisbane on Wednesday. This Sunday Samoa will battle Fiji in the final game of the 2024 competition. Photo: Oceania Rugby
Battle for Oceania women's world cup spot
The third and final round of the Oceania Rugby Women's Championships will go down at the Sunnybank Rugby Union Club field in Brisbane on Sunday.
That will see Tonga's Lofa XV squaring off against the Papua New Guinea Cassowaries in the first game.
Both will be fighting to secure their first win at the event, having lost their opening games.
PNG had their match against Samoa last weekend given away because they were delayed in getting to Brisbane and lost their second game against Fiji.
Tonga were beaten by Fiji and Samoa.
But the attention will be on the second match between former champions Fijiana women and defending champions Manusia.
While the Fijians currently lead by 10 points on the standing, that counts for nothing if they lost against the champions, who have shown a lot of improvements in the past two seasons.
The winner goes direct to the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup in England.
The Manusina XV received good news on Thursday when their captain Sui Pauaraisa, who attended an independent Disciplinary Committee hearing for an offence against a Tongan player on Wednesday, is available to meet Fiji.
The Committee noted that the red card incident on field was overturned on the balance of probabilities that the decision of the referee was incorrect.
As a result, the player has been allowed to play in the next round of the Oceania Rugby Women's Championships on Sunday against Fijiana XV.
In that game against Tonga, Manusina XV won 29-7, scoring four tries.
Manusina played with only 14 players for more than half of the game after their captain was sent off in the final stages of the first half.
Pauraisa said she was proud of the team's resilience against Tonga.
"Very proud of the girls. There's a lot of girls who have put up their hands for Manusina now and there's more opportunities now for our girls so it's great to see our young girls coming and representing our Samoa," she said.
"There's a lot of things we must work on from the game and we have to be just ready for Fiji on Sunday."
Fiji were too strong for Papua New Guinea but vice-captain Merewai Cumu expressed her satisfaction with the team's performance.
"I'm really happy but it's not what we expected, because we know we could do better," she said.
Head coach Mosese Rauluni said they will need to work hard against Samoa.
The former Flying Fijians captain said the defending champions have shown they are tough to beat.
"They are playing very well and they have some very good power players," he said.
"But we just need to focus on our game and play consistently.
"It all depends on how they players go out there and execute on our game."
Team captains from the 32 teams participating at this weekend's Madrid Sevens in Spain. Photo: World Rugby Photo: World Rugby
Teams set for Madrid as dress rehearsal for Paris Olympics
This weekend's Madrid Sevens tournament in Spain will be the final testing ground or rehearsal for teams who will playing at the Paris Olympics in July.
And there is no easy game on the line, as teams will be playing to win every game from the start.
Only eight teams each are in the men's and women's competition.
That's for both the main Series final and the Challenger series categories.
They are divided into four teams each in the two pools, with the top two teams advancing to the semifinals.
World Rugby says the World Rugby Sevens series League Winners New Zealand is in a tough Pool B, with Fiji and South Africa - all previous world series champions.
Pool A will have France, Ireland, Argentina and Australia.
Gold medallists in Singapore, New Zealand will be hoping to inject further momentum into their season ahead of a third consecutive Olympic Games appearance in Paris.
The All Blacks Sevens welcome the return of Akuila Rokolisoa, who missed the last three tournaments through injury, and add experience with the return of Scott Curry, Sam Dickson and Joe Webber.
Head coach Tomasi Cama said the team is motivated by the opportunity to win their 15th world series title.
"The last couple of tournaments have been good, we felt like we got our flow going - even with the squads changing a bit. We've really narrowed down our focus on our game to make sure the players are clear on their jobs and ready to go game one against Fiji."
Tuwai back to boost under-performing Fiji
World Rugby says one man who needs no introduction is Jerry Tuwai. The double Olympic gold medal winner has been recalled to the Fiji squad by head coach Osea Kolinisau having been left out previously on fitness grounds.
Tuwai has been stuck on 63 world series tournament appearances for the last 12 months, having not played since London in May 2023.
Kolinisau, who led Fiji to Olympic glory at Rio 2016, believes winning in Madrid will have massive benefits when it comes to defending their Olympic crown in Paris.
"Our goal when we go to tournaments is to win, so I told the boys we want to win in Madrid because it's the last tournament before the Olympics," Kolinisau said.
"If we win that we will get the mental edge towards the Olympics. That's the focus right now. I told the boys that we need to go and work hard, and to win this because if we do so we get the mental edge over the eight possible quarter-finalists come Olympics."
The women's competition
Meanwhile, in the women's Grand Final fans can look forward to seeing arch rivals Australia and New Zealand do battle along with the likes of reigning Olympic silver medallists France and Ireland who won the Perth SVNS title in January.
Reigning Olympic and Series champions New Zealand are in Pool A with the USA, Canada and Great Britain, while Australia, France, Fiji and Ireland are in a very competitive looking Pool B.
Australia women's captain Charlotte Caslick said they are excited and ready.
"We're feeling really good. We had some disappointing injuries in Singapore but we are really looking forward to seeing how it goes here. It is winner-takes-all so the girls are pumped for a big show-down. Hopefully, we can cross with New Zealand in the final," she said.
"It will be awesome to get as many people there to support. Obviously, the games are going to be very tough with the top eight teams in the tournament. Every game is going to be a cracker."
Fiji will be the lone Pasifika team at the event.
They have spent the past three weeks acclimatising and training up in The United States of America and Spain.
Challenger series
France-based Vaafauese Apelu Maliko has been named in the Lakap Samoa 7s team for this weekend's Madrid Sevens in Spain.
The Stade Olympique Chambery club player has been named by head coach Muliagatele Fata Brian Lima as team captain.
Samoa will play in the Challenger Series play-off, where they will have to finish in the top four to retain their spot as a core team in the World Sevens series.
They face Spain, Kenya and Chile in Pool B.
It will be a tough tournament for the Samoans.
The Madrid Sevens kicks off on 31 May and finals are scheduled for 2 June.