Tough Tongan Samipeni Finau with the Chiefs this week. Photo: Chiefs
Players with Pacific island heritage make up over a quarter (26 percent) of those contracted to Super Rugby Pacific.
The New Zealand Rugby Pasifika Strategy said this shows the importance of island players or those with links to the Pacific islands in the overall success of the game.
In New Zealand, the highest percentage of players with Pasifika heritage are with the Blues, with 38 percent of their squad linked to the either Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and the Cook Islands.
The Hurricanes have 29 percent while the Chiefs have 26 percent.
As such, all four teams playing in this weekend's 2024 Super Rugby Pacific semifinals will feature players who have links to the islands.
While the injury-plagued captain Patrick Tuipulotu will miss the clash at Eden Park on Friday night, the Auckland Blues have named 10 Pasifika heritage players in their match-day 23.
Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Akira Ioane and Hoskins Sotutu lead the power-pack upfront, and have Caleb Clarke, AJ Lam, Rieko Ioane, Mark Tele'a, Joshua Fusitu'a, Angus Ta'avao and Taufa Funaki all scheduled to come of the bench against the Brumbies.
Captain Allan Alaalatoa and Rob Valetini will lead the lone Australian team's attacks in the forwards, with Noah Lolesio, Tamati Tua, Len Ikitau and Sosefo Kautai being the other players with islanders' links.
On Saturday, the Hurricanes host the Chiefs at the Sky Stadium, with a list of Pasifika heritage players also in both their lineups.
The Hurricanes have Asafo Aumua, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Peter Lakai, Brayden Iose, Salesi Rayasi, Tevita Mafileo, Pasilio Tosi and Du'Plessis Kirifi.
All Black hooker Samisoni Taukei'aho and winger Emoni Narawa herald the Pasifika names in the Chiefs match-day 23.
They also have Jimmy Tupou, Tupou Vaa'i, Samipeni Finau, Naitoa Ah Kuoi and Quinn Tupaea.
All four teams will be chasing wins, with a new Super Rugby champion already guaranteed, following the failure of defending champions, the Crusaders, to qualify for the finals.
The Blues have a number of Pasifika heritage players in their match-day 23 named to face the Brumbies. Photo: Blues
Blues focus on defending home ground
The action begins in Auckland as the Blues host the ACT Brumbies at Eden Park.
Kick off is scheduled for 7.05pm New Zealand time.
It's a rematch of the 2022 semi-final where the Blues hung on for a one-point victory after a late Noah Lolesio drop goal was charged down.
The Blues thrashed the Brumbies 46-7 at the famous ground earlier this year, in what was probably the worst display by the Stephen Larkham coached side in the series.
They have been unbeaten at home this year, winning eight out of eight, including beating the Fijian Drua twice, the Crusaders, Western Force, Hurricanes, Highlanders and Chiefs.
The Blues have made one enforced change to their side.
Lock Sam Darry returns to the starting side after sitting out last week under concussion protocols, replacing skipper Tuipulotu who is sidelined with a knee injury.
Head coach Vern Cotter said an emphasis on rugby basics will ensure the team are in a good position to perform.
"We don't need to do anything drastically different just because we're playing a Semi Final," Cotter said.
"We know what's served us well this season, strong ball carries, breakdown efficiency and astute decision making - nothing changes on Friday night."
It will be a special night for Blues loose forward Akira Ioane who has confirmed this season will be his last in blue before heading overseas.
"Aki is a veteran of this team, a man of action and someone who commands respect from both his team mates and his opposition," Cotter said.
"The boys know this could be the last time he runs out on Eden Park in a Blues jersey and we want to make sure we put in a performance worthy of the occasion. The crowd and atmosphere are everything in these knockout matches."
Brumbies' Noah Lolesio is one of the players with Pasifika link in the side. Photo: Brumbies
Brumbies mentor confident
Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham is confident the side is peaking at the right time to take down the Blues.
They went down 46-7 in April but have not lost a game since as they ride a seven-game winning streak.
As they find themselves in their third-straight semifinal, Larkham believes they are primed to be at their best as they look for a breakthrough finals victory.
"It's not looking back on last year, it's a motivation to win every game," Larkham told Brumbies Media.
"We've been over to Auckland already this year and we didn't have a very successful day so we've learnt some lessons from that.
"We're also on a bit of a roll in terms of our ability to win games. I thought our game on the weekend was pretty spot on first half, one defensive lapse and a few discipline issues around the scrum and breakdown but outside of that, it was a pretty complete game.
"We've been building all year to get our best performances in the finals and we're looking to take it a step further from last week where a few things hurt us. We want to make sure we're a little more clinical in all aspects of our game."
The return of James Slipper is a major boost for their scrum, which was targeted by the Highlanders last weekend.
Larkham believes this along with the absence of Patrick Tuipulotu for the Blues can provide an opportunity for the Brumbies.
"We've worked pretty hard and having James Slipper back in the team is certainly strengthening our prospects at scrum time," Larkham added.
"They've had an injury to their captain and second-rower who is pretty integral to their scrum so we'd like to think we'll have at least parity on the weekend."
The Hurricanes with their own team of Pasifika players will be out to beat the Chiefs at home. Photo: Hurricanes Rugby
Hurricanes expect tough battle
The second semifinal is followed by the top-ranked Hurricanes taking on the Chiefs in Wellington.
It will be the 46th time the Hurricanes and Chiefs go head-to-head.
The Hurricanes were made to work hard in the quarters, as the Melbourne Rebels held out valiantly in the first half before the Hurricanes prevailed seven tries to two.
Head coach Clark Laidlaw said a new challenge awaits the side.
"The Rebels really came out and took it to us with their physicality which is what we had expected," he told the Hurricanes media.
"We obviously have a lot of empathy toward their players, staff and fans. The Chiefs will provide another tough challenge for us, and one we are really excited for."
With more than 25,000 people expected at Sky Stadium, Laidlaw says the side are embracing the challenge of finals rugby, at home.
"There's a level of excitement in the group, another week for us to improve and grow together, and put out a performance for our fans, which we can all be proud of," he said.
"The energy that our fans bring to Our House, gives the team that extra push, and we can feel the energy when we're out there, representing you."
Chiefs keep momentum
Backing the form and synergy of that team, Chiefs head coach Clayton McMillan will field the same group for their semifinal clash.
"Our key focus is accuracy and discipline," he told Chiefs Media.
"We improved significantly against the Reds, and that alone enabled us to play the type of game we know we have always been capable of playing. It is also encouraging that we have a fit and fresh squad who are chomping at the bit, and for the first time this year, we are able to name an unchanged matchday 23."
Many standout performances happened across the park last week to cement this week's team selection.
In particular, hooker Samisoni Taukei'aho who scored two tries in the first half and first-five Damian McKenzie continued his strong form, adding another 13 points to his competition-leading point-scorer tally of 157 so far this season.
"The Hurricanes have set the pace in this year's DHL Super Rugby Pacific competition, have earned the right to get the home advantage through the finals, and will be formidable opposition again in front of a large and expectant home crowd," McMillan said.
"They are a well-balanced team, riding high on confidence. They will be a tough nut to crack as we have already experienced twice this year.
"Playing each other for a third time creates new opportunities. I imagine both teams will draw on previous experiences to understand where the gains can be made."
That game gets underway early on Saturday, with a 4.35pm kick-off time.
Match-day 23s for all teams:
Blues: 1. Ofa Tu'ungafasi, 2. Ricky Riccitelli, 3. Marcel Renata, 4. Sam Darry, 5. Josh Beehre, 6. Akira Ioane, 7. Dalton Papali'i (c), 8. Hoskins Sotutu, 9. Finlay Christie, 10. Harry Plummer, 11. Caleb Clarke, 12. AJ Lam, 13. Rieko Ioane, 14. Mark Tele'a, 15. Stephen Perofeta; Reserves: 16. Kurt Eklund, 17. Joshua Fusitu'a, 18. Angus Ta'avao, 19. James Thompson, 20. Adrian Choat, 21. Taufa Funaki, 22. Corey Evans, 23. Cole Forbes.
Brumbies: 1. James Slipper, 2. Billy Pollard, 3. Allan Alaalatoa (c), 4. Darcy Swain, 5. Tom Hooper, 6. Rob Valetini, 7. Rory Scott, 8. Charlie Cale, 9. Ryan Lonergan, 10. Noah Lolesio, 11. Corey Toole, 12. Tamati Tua, 13. Len Ikitau, 14. Andy Muirhead, 15. Tom Wright; Reserves: 16. Liam Bowron, 17. Rhys van Nek, 18. Sosefo Kautai, 19. Nick Frost, 20. Jahrome Brown,21. Luke Reimer, 22. Harrison Goddard, 23. Ollie Sapsford.
Hurricanes: 1. Pouri-Rakete-Stones, 2. Aumua, 3. Tyrel Lomax, 4. Justin Sangster, 5. Isaia Walker-Leawere, 6. Brad Shields (c), 7. Peter Lakai, 8. Brayden Iose, 9. TJ Perenara, 10. Brett Cameron, 11. Salesi Rayasi, 12. Jordie Barrett, 13. Billy Proctor, 14. Josh Moorby, 15. Ruben Love; Reserves: 16. James O'Reilly, 17. Tevita Mafileo, 18. Pasilio Tosi, 19. James Tucker, 20. Devan Flanders, 21. Du'Plessis Kirifi, 22. Richard Judd, 23. Bailyn Sullivan.
Chiefs: 1. Aidan Ross, 2. Samisoni Taukei'aho, 3. George Dyer, 4. Jimmy Tupou, 5. Tupou Vaa'i, 6. Samipeni Finau, 7. Luke Jacobson (c), 8. Wallace Sititi, 9. Cortez Ratima, 10. Damian McKenzie, 11. Etene Nanai Seturo, 12. Rameka Poihipi, 13. Anton Lienert-Brown, 14. Emoni Narawa, 15. Shaun Stevenson; Reserves: 16. Bradley Slater, 17. Jared Proffit, 18. Reuben O'Neill, 19. Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20. Simon Parker, 21. Xavier Roe, 22. Quinn Tupaea, 23. Daniel Rona.