Super Rugby Pacific: Drua to stick to basics against undefeated Chiefs

The messages around the Fiji Drua camp have been simple this week.

Play disciplined rugby, do the basics right, take the points, and win the game.

Head coach Glen Jackson has named a team that he and his coaching group believe will do the damage against the undefeated Chiefs in Lautoka on Saturday afternoon.

He said the bottom line is you need to win games if you want to be in the top six at the end of the weekly matches.

"Well, it's pretty important to win most games," he said.

"Of course, the public of Fiji want wins, and we can say how nice we're playing and how unlucky we are.

"But at the end of the day, this business is about winning rugby, and our boys understand that.

"We're not in that must win situation at the moment, but when we turn up at Lautoka, we obviously want to win in front of our fans, and that's extremely important, not only for me, but also for our players.

"I understand playing in front of their friends and family, a big turnout and a lot of support from everyone in Fiji, we just want to make sure that we repay the favor to our wonderful fans."

The former Chiefs player knows what his former side will take to Churchill Park in the fourth round of the Super Rugby Pacific competition.

"The Chiefs have been really good off first phase, scoring a lot of tries off their lineouts," he told reproters in Nadi on Tuesday.

"We've gotta make sure that we look after that. I think one of the best things about the Chiefs is their turnover attack.

"So no matter what, coming to Lautoka will be a great game of rugby in terms of attack footy, but on that case, if we don't look after the ball, then the Chiefs will punish us."

Jackson said the Drua team have scored plenty of points in each of their three matches they have lost so far, but they just need to stick to their basics, keep playing with a lot of discipline, and finish off opportunities, which had cost them games against the Brumbies, Hurricanes, and Waratahs in the last three weeks.

Drua had led in all three games in the last 10 minutes but lost in the end, with five minutes to go, allowing their three opponents to score their winning points just before the final whistle sounded.

Jackson said they have talked about that in camp and the focus is on staying in the game until the final whistle when they face top of the table leaders Chiefs.

"In the last 10 minutes, we actually put the pressure on the teams to take the lead, if you look at how the results have been now," he said.

"Hanging on to the lead has been the problem. So actually getting back into the game in those last 10 minutes has been awesome from our club, and that shows maturity around taking the lead.

"It's not easy in that this competition against people that played a heck of a lot of Super Rugby, but it's just that composure now of having the lead. We've definitely have talked about it and I think it's really important understanding how to close out a game.

"The good thing is, we've had three good opportunities and three good learning points of trying to improve it. So if we're leading by two or three against the Chiefs, mark my word we will be okay after all those learnings."

The use of the bench has been a key part of the Drua game so far, with players coming off taking the pressure up one level and making sure the team is still ticking in the last 10 minutes of the game.

Jackson said this is going to be critical against the Chiefs, who have shown in their three wins so far that they do not let off until the final whistle.

Who is in, who is out

One of the core Drua players in the last three years will return to the field on Saturday.

Jackson has named Flying Fijian winger and club stalwart Selestino Ravutaumada in the starting lineup, following his recovery from a six-month injury layoff this Saturday.

His return has been welcomed by Drua fans, who know the player's talent and abilities on the field.

His return pushes young utility Vuate Karawalevu to full back for the first time in the competition this season, with the Kadavu lad having played on the wing, covering for Ravutaumada.

Expecting a tough forwards battle in the scrums, Jackson has retained prop Haereiti Hetet at loosehead, pairing with the experienced Mesake Doge at tighthead.

The tight five presents the Drua with options in the lineouts and a lot of firepower in the loose battles, with the lock pairing of Mesake Vocevoce and Isoa Nasilasila, complemente by the loose trio of Etonia Waqa (6), Kitione Salawa (7) and Meli Derenalagi (8).

Co-captain Frank Lomani will run out for his 56th Super Rugby Pacific appearance at halfback, partnering with Isaiah Armstrong Ravula at flyhalf, with the two charged with master-minding the backline moves against the experienced Chiefs backline.

Jackson has selected co-captain Tevita Ikanivere as backup hooker, tough Emosi Tuqiri at loosehead, and Peni Ravai covering the tighthead prop position from the bench.

Meanwhile, the Chiefs will be missing star playmaker Damien McKenzie, who sustained a knee injury during the latter stages of the Chiefs' 49-34 victory over the Brumbies in their clash in Hamilton on Saturday.

The 29-year-old hobbled off the field in the 71st minute after All Blacks centre Anton Lienert-Brown's shoulder clattered into McKenzie's right knee.

There were concerned looks on the faces of Chiefs fans as well as the team's coaching staff and players as McKenzie ruptured his ACL in that same knee during the 2019 season and that injury ruled him out of that year's World Cup.

But Chiefs assistant coach Roger Randle said on Tuesday McKenzie's injury was not as bad as initially feared and is understood to be bone bruising.

"He went in for a scan, and fortunately it's not too bad," Randle told Stuff. "He's a tough little bugger.

"I spoke to him the next morning and he said he was feeling pretty good as well, so the scan kind of just confirmed that."

The Chiefs have named a powerful side as well, with former Queen Victoria School rugger Emoni Narawa at fullback and Tonga heritage players Saimoni Taukei'aho (hooker), captain Tupou Vaa'i (locks), Samipeni Finau (flanker) and Jimmy Tupou (8) in the starting lineup as well.

Fijian Drua v Chiefs

Kick-off: 3.35pm (Fiji Time) Saturday 8 March

Churchill Park, Lautoka

Fiji Drua: 1. Haereiti Hetet, 2. Zuriel Togiatama, 3. Mesake Doge, 4. Mesake Vocevoce, 5. Isoa Nasilasila, 6. Etonia Waqa, 7. Kitione Salawa, 8. Meli Derenalagi, 9. Frank Lomani (c), 10. Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, 11. Ponipate Loganimasi, 12. Inia Tabuavou, 13. Tuidraki Samusamuvodre, 14. Selestino Ravutaumada, 15. Vuate Karawalevu; Reserves: 16. Tevita Ikanivere, 17. Emosi Tuqiri, 18. Peni Ravai, 19. Elia Canakaivata, 20. Motikiai Murray, 21. Simione Kuruvoli, 22. Isikeli Rabitu, 23. Taniela Rakuro.

Chiefs: 1.Ollie Norris, 2. Samisoni Taukei'aho, 3. George Dyer, 4. Manaaki Selby Rickit, 5. Tupou Vaa'i (c), 6. Samipeni Finau, 7. Kaylum Boshier, 8. Jimmy Tupou, 9. Cortez Ratima, 10. Josh Jacomb, 11. Leroy Carter, 12. Quinn Tupaea, 13. Anton Lienert-Brown, 14. Daniel Rona, 15. Emoni Narawa; Reserves: 16. Bradley Slater, 17. Jared Proffit, 18. Reuben O'Neill, 19. Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20. Simon Parker, 21. Malachi Wrampling, 22. Xavier Roe, 23. Shaun Stevenson.

Referee: Damon Murphy; Assistant Referees: George Myers, Jordan Kaminski; TMO: James Leckie

Fijiana retain team for Reds clash

In the women's Super W competition, the Fijiana Drua will be starting off the double-header clash in Lautoka on Saturday when they host the Reds.

Head coach Ifereimi Rawaqa has retained the core of his team that defeated the Waratahs in Sydney last weekend for the clash.

Rawaqa has kept faith in the same starting line-up and made four changes to the reserve bench.

The Drua will also feature two sets of sisters in the matchday 23, with Karalaini Naisewa and Keleni Marawa featuring alongside Salaseini and Setaita Railumu.

A heavy but mobile forward pack set the groundwork for a lot of the team's attacking opportunities upfront against the Waratahs, that pack featuring prop Salanieta Nabuli at loosehead, captain Vika Matarugu at tighthead prop and Keleni Marawa at hooker.

Mereoni Nakesa (4) partners Asinate Serevi (5) at locks, with rookie flankers Alfreda Fisher (6) and Salaseini Railumu (7) retain their spots as well.

Vice-captain Vitalina Naikore continues at outside centre, with key kicker Luisa Tisolo named at fullback again.

Rawaqa told the media he was happy with the team's start against the Waratahs last weekend and expects the same against the Reds on Saturday.

Twenty year old Alfreda Fisher, who made her debut against the Waratahs, said she is excited for the opportunity to play at home in front of her families and friends.

"I did not expect to be named in that match (Waratahs) because I did not play in our preseason match against the Brumbies," she told FBC Sports.

"It was exciting. It gives us that competitive spirit to do our best against the best. I learned so much from the game."

She said she is focused on improving key aspects of her game to maintain her spot in the squad.

Meanwhile, the Reds have also named a strong lineup for their match.

Fijian Jiowana Sauto has been named on the bench.

She says she is excited to be playing at home against the Drua.

"I am very excited to be playing for the Reds this Saturday and my families are coming from the island," the Vuna village native from Taveuni told The Fiji Times in Nadi.

"We are looking forward to a tough game against the home team."

Sauto played for the Fijiana and also the Fiji Bulikula in rugby league, representing the country to the 2016 Olympic Games as well with the Fiji sevens team.

She scored the Fijiana Drua's first try in the Super W competition in 2022 against the Melbourne Rebels, and joined the Reds for this season.

The side will be boosted by the inclusion of sevens stars Bella Nasser, Kahli Henwood and Teagan Levi.

All three will make their Super Rugby W debuts from the reserves, with Nasser set to cover the back-row whilst Henwood and Levi join Nat Wright as the backs replacements.

Wallaroos front-rowers Tiarna Molloy and Eva Karpani come into the starting side from the team that thumped Penina Pasifika last weekend.

Drua Women v Reds

Kick off: 1.05pm (Fiji Time) Saturday 8 March

Churchill Park, Lautoka

Fijian Drua Women: 1. Salanieta Nabuli, 2. Keleni Marawa, 3. Vika Matarugu (c), 4. Mereoni Nakesa, 5. Asinate Serevi, 6. Alfreda Fisher, 7. Salaseini Railumu, 8. Karalaini Naisewa, 9. Kolora Lomani, 10. Salanieta Kinita, 11. Alowesi Nakoci, 12. Josivini Naihamu, 13. Vitalina Naikore (vc), 14. Repeka Tove, 15. Luisa Tisolo; Reserves: 16. Loraini Senivutu, 17. Ana Korovata, 18. Tiana Robanakadavu, 19. Merevesi Ofakimalino, 20. Nunia Daunimoala, 21. Setaita Railumu, 22. Litiana Vueti, 23. Merewairita Neivosa.

Reds: 1. Bree-Anna Browne, 2. Tiarna Molloy, 3.Eva Karpani, 4. Deni Ross, 5. Tiarah Minns, 6. Jemma Bemrose (cc), 7.Carola Kreis, 8. Sarah Riordan, 9. Layne Morgan, 10. Carys Dallinger, 11. Ivania Wong (cc), 12. Shalom Sauaso, 13. Faythe Manera, 14. Caitlin Urwin, 15. Lori Cramer; Reserves: 16. Cristo Taufua, 17. Sky-Yvette Faimalie, 18. Jiowana Sauto, 19. Vineta Teutau, 20. Bella Nasser, 21. Nat Wright, 22. Kahli Henwood, 23. Teagan Levi.