ans and families with Moana Pasifika players at Te'ufaiva Stadium in Nuku'alofa ahead of their clash against the Highlanders on Saturday. Photo: Moana Pasifika
Moana want to give children a good 'Fake-Me' present at home
There is some urgency in the Moana Pasifika camp this week.
Children are expected to watch the side in action against the Highlanders at Te'ufaiva Park on Saturday.
It is the first time the Kingdom is hosting a Super Rugby Pacific game.
But more importantly it coincides with an important month of the Tongan calendar.
Tonga kicks of what is called 'Fake-Me' this weekend - with the whole of month of May dedicated to the 'famili' or the family annually.
This Sunday, 5 May, will be Childrens' Sunday, next Sunday is Mother's Sunday, the third Sunday is Father's Sunday and then the Family Sunday on the last weekend.
Playing at home in Nuku'alofa with 12 Tongans named in their match-day 23 signals their intention.
Captain Sione Havili Talitui, a Tongan national rep, leads the side at Te'ufaiva Park on Saturday against the Highlanders.
Their intention is simple - get a win at home for their Tongan families and fans.
Talitui told local media they are excited to be home and want to give their fans something to cheer about.
"It is massive and we are so excited to be playing here, some of us for the very first time," the former Super Rugby winner with the Crusaders said.
"We know the expectations and having seen the receptions we received from the locals here it is so touching.
"And knowing that it is 'faka-me' makes it more exciting. We understand the challenge and it would be nice to give our children something to cheer about."
Moana Pasifika veteran Sekope Kepu meets fans in Nuku'alofa on Thursday. Photo: Moana Pasifika
Head Coach Fa'alogo Tana Umaga told the media at Te'ufaiva Park on Thursday they appreciate the fact that they can play in one of their home nations.
He said getting a win would be great as it would be a bonus for them as a team.
But he said everything will depend on the team on match-day.
"We have all our work done from Sunday to Friday if we play on Saturday," he said. 'We don't have the ability physically to do anything for the game as we don't play.
"But we continue to work on creating good habits and do it consistently.
"And hopefully we have done a good job and wait for Saturday and see what happens."
Umaga said the biggest obstacle for them, as was in Lautoka last weekend against the Fijian Drua, is the heat.
"Obviously we have to see ways to battle the heat. We have to accept it and it has been cold in New Zealand." He said.
"But for us is just making sure that we are able to execute under pressure and sometimes the pressure is not the other team but the environment and the climate we play in."
Highlanders' Tongans named in lineup
Meanwhile, the Highlanders are also acclimitising to the heat in Nuku'alofa.
They have named their two Tongan players for the clash on Saturday.
The team said it is going to be an emotional homecoming for halfback Folau Fakatava and prop, Saula Ma'u - both of whom immigrated to New Zealand aged 15 and 16.
For Ma'u this will only be the second time his parents have watched him play professionally and for both Fakatava and Ma'u the first time they have played professionally in their home country.
This weekend's fixture is also of high importance to the Highlanders season as they compete to maintain their inclusion in the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific play offs.
Clarke Dermody, acknowledged this, during the Highlander's team naming on Wednesday.
"If you look at our and Moana Pasifika's position on the table its clearly an important game for both teams," he said.
"It will be a special occasion, particularly for our Tongan players, and there will be some unique challenges around the game that we have included in our preparation this week."
The two teams will be fighting to see who gets into the top eight after tomorrow's battle has ended.
The Moana Pasifika vs Highlanders game kicks off at 2.05pm (Tonga Time) on Saturday at Te'ufaiva Stadium.
Moana Pasifika Match-day 23: 1.Abraham Pole, 2. Samiuela Moli, 3. Sione Mafileo, 4. Tom Savage,5. Allan Craig, 6. Jacob Norris, 7.Sione Havili Talitui (c), 8.Lotu Inisi, 9. Jonathan Taumateine, 10.Christian Lealiifano, 11. Fine Inisi, 12. Julian Savea, 13. Henry Taefu, 14. Viliami Fine, 15. William Havili; RESERVES: 16. Sama Malolo, 17. Sateki Latu, 18. Sekope Kepu, 19. Ola Tauelangi, 12. Solomone Funaki, 13. Ereatara Enari, 14. Danny Toala, 15. Neria Fomai.
Highlanders Match-day 23: 1. Daniel Lienert-Brown, 2. Henry Bell, 3. Saula Ma'u, 4. Mitch Dunshea, 5. Fabian Holland, 6. Oliver Haig, 7. Sean Withy,8. Billy Harmon (c), 9. Folau Fakatava, 10. Cameron Millar, 11. Connor Garden-Bachop, 12. Jake Te Hiwi, 13. Tanielu Tele'a, 14. Timoci Tavatavanawai, 15. Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens; RESERVES: 16. Jack Taylor, 17.Ayden Johnstone, 18. Jermaine Ainsley, 19. Will Tucker, 20. Nikora Broughton, 21. James Arscott, 23. Sam Gilbert, 24. Martin Bogodo.
Drua players preparing for their clash against the Brumbies on Saturday. Photo: Fijian Drua Photo: Fijian Drua
Winning every game critical for Drua - Bryne
The Fijian Drua can be counted as Super Rugby Pacific's most inconsistent team.
Having won four out of their five games at home so far this year, the side has failed to register an away win.
They even lost to Moana Pasifika, a team they had held the upper hand with, in the last two seasons.
Coach Mick Byrne acknowledges their inability to win away and says that needs to change this weekend against the Brumbies in Canberra.
Basically, to ensure they get to the top four, if they want a home quarterfinal, they will need to beat the Brumbies and keep winning their remaining games.
The Fijian Drua side has been gearing up well for their next outing against the Brumbies on Saturday night.
Byrne says every win is important now.
"This time of the year every win is important at this stage," he said.
"If you are in the top eight you have to keep on winning, If you do that then your futute is in your hands and you don't have to rely on anyone else to beat anyone else.
"We are seventh and if we can win three more games that can gurantee ourselves in the finals and if we get that it would put us in a good spot."
He said the competition is going to get tougher as there are top sides all fighting to finish in the top eight.
Bryne has kept the core of his forward pack that played Moana Pasifika last weekend in Lautoka plus the halves combination of Peni Matawalu and Isaiah Washington-Ravula.
A tactical change sees star winger Selesitioni Ravutaumada moving to fullback, in expectation of high balls and usage of his counter-attacking abilities.
Brumbies lose some players
Brumbies hooker Billy Pollard has been ruled out of this Saturday's Round 11 fixture.
The team said Pollard pulled up with soreness in his knee at the completion of the squad's field session on Thursday.
After defeating Super Rugby Pacific ladder leaders the Hurricanes 27-19 last weekend, the Brumbies look forward to hosting another home fixture in the Capital.
Canberra local Connal McInerney has been named to make his first start this season. He will partner James Slipper and Allan Alaalatoa in the front row. Alaalatoa leading the Brumbies line-up onto the paddock this Saturday for the first time after returning from injury last weekend.
Nick Frost also makes a return for this weekend's clash, linking with Tom Hooper who has also been named in the second-row. Jahrome Brown will start, with Rory Scott and Rob Valetini completing the back-row.
Head Coach Stephen Larkham has named a 5-3 split for his interchange bench this weekend.
An interesting fixture of the game will be the expected clash of Fijian brothers, Brumbies' Rob Valetini and his older brother Kemu for the Drua.
Kemu is expected on the field in the second half to fire up the Fijians' attack while Rob will start off for the home side.
The two teams clash at 7.35pm (NZ Time) at Gio Stadium.
Brumbies Match-day 23: 1. James Slipper, 2. Connal McInerney, 3. Allan Alaalatoa (C), 4. Nick Frost, 5. Tom Hooper, 6. Jahrome Brown, 7. Rory Scott, 8. Rob Valetini, 9. Harrison Goddard, 10. Noah Lolesio, 11. Ollie Sapsford, 12. Tamati Tua, 13. Len Ikitau, 14. Andy Muirhead, 15. Tom Wright; RESERVES: 16. Billy Pollard, 17. Harry Vella, 18. Sefo Kautai, 19. Darcy Swain, 20. Luke Reimer, 21. Ryan Lonergan, 22. Declan Meredith, 23. Hudson Creighton.
Fijian Drua Match-day 23: 1. Haereiti Hetet, 2. Tevita Ikanivere, 3. Mesake Doge, 4. Mesake Vocevoce, 5. Isoa Nasilasila, 6. Vilive Miramira, 7. Kitione Salawa, 8. Meli Derenalagi (c), 9. Peni Matawalu, 10. Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, 11. Taniela Rakuro, 12. Michael Naitokani, 13. Iosefo Masi, 14. Junior Ratvua, 15. Selestino Ravutaumada; RESERVES: 16. Mesu Dolokoto, 17. Livai Natave, 18. Samu Tawake, 19. Leone Rotuisolia, 20. Motikiai Murray, 21. Simione Kuruvoli, 22. Kemu Valetini, 23. Ilaisa Droasese.
The Fijiana 7s team in Singapore for this weekend's tournament. Photo: Fiji Rugby
Singapore 7s battle to close off regular season finale
The Osea Kolinisau coached Fijian men's sevens team is still in the running to win the Singapore Sevens this weekend.
And claim a top-two finish if they can claim the gold medal.
Sitting at third position currently, the side will need to finish top of their pool.
Fiji is pooled with USA, Great Britain and Ireland.
Kolinisau has retained veteran Vatemo Ravouvou to lead the side.
He said they will give it their best.
"It is going to be a tough one again but we hope to get better here," he said.
"There were things we worked on back home and we will try and put those into practise and take it one game a time."
On the points standing Argentina still leads with 94 points, Ireland on 86, Fiji on 76, France on 74 and New Zealand on 73.
For Fiji to win the series title they will have to win the Singapore event and secure the full 20 points, taking their tally to 96.
But it looks like the Pumas and Ireland will be the teams that will fight to claim the title.
Argentina hold an eight-point cushion over second-place Ireland in the men's standings ahead of HSBC SVNS Singapore.
World Rugby said that means, Los Pumas Sevens will be sure of the League Winners title if they reach at least the Cup semi-finals at Singapore National Stadium.
Los Pumas Sevens' points difference is 298 points better than Ireland's, which means they are also likely to finish the regular season top of the standings if they finish fifth in Singapore - regardless of what Ireland do.
Should Argentina fail to reach the Cup quarter-finals for the second successive tournament, however, Ireland would leapfrog them in the standings if they qualify for the Cup semi-finals.
Samoa is also in the tournament and they look set to be playing in the promotion-relegation series next to determine if they keep their status as a core team to fall out of favour.
The four bottom placed team in the current series will meet the top four teams from the Tier 2 competition next month to decide which four teams go up and which four falls off to the lower competition.
Also competing are the Fijiana sevens team in the women's competition.
They are sixth and will be looking to better their standings.
The Fijiana are pooled with Australia, Brazil and Great Britain.
The two Fijian teams and Samoa are all set to play at the Paris Olympics in July.
World Rugby said New Zealand and Australia head to the Singapore National Stadium locked on 106 points and separated at the top of the women's standings by points difference alone, the Black Ferns Sevens holding a 57-point advantage in that metric.
It means that whoever performs best in the heat and humidity this weekend will finish the regular season as League Winners.
The Black Ferns Sevens are the form team having reeled off three successive tournament victories in Vancouver, Los Angeles and Hong Kong while Australia are yet to win a title since the turn of the year.