Photo: RNZ
Fijian Drua v Blues
Kick-off: 7:05pm Friday 9 May
HFC Bank Park, Suva
Live blog updates on RNZ Sport
One down, three to go - that's the equation for the defending Super Rugby Pacific champs as they head towards the business end of the season. The Blues head up to Suva this weekend for a welcome evening kick-off and with a solid win under their belts against the Force, but have to contend with a Drua team who also tasted victory in their last outing.
The Drua's good win against the Reds makes this match up even more intriguing, as the Blues can't afford to drop a game from here on out.
Adrian Choat and Beauden Barrett of the Blues, 2025. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Team lists
Fijian Drua: 1. Haereiti Hetet, 2. Zuriel Togiatama, 3. Mesake Doge (c), 4. Mesake Vocevoce, 5. Isoa Nasilasila, 6. Joseva Tamani, 7. Isoa Tuwai, 8. Kitione Salawa, 9. Simione Kuruvoli, 10. Kemu Valetini, 11. Taniela Rakuro, 12. Inia Tabuavou, 13. Vuate Karawalevu, 14. Ponipate Loganimasi, 15. Selestino Ravutaumada
Bench: 16. Tevita Ikanivere, 17. Peni Ravai, 18. Samuela Tawake, 19. Sailosi Vukalokalo, 20. Elia Canakiavata, 21. Philip Baselala, 22. Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, 23. Isikeli Rabitu
Blues: 1. Joshua Fusitu'a, 2. Ricky Riccitelli, 3. Marcel Renata, 4. Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 5. Laghlan McWhannell, 6. Anton Segner, 7. Dalton Papali'i, 8. Hoskins Sotutu, 9. Taufa Funaki, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. AJ Lam, 12. Xavi Taele, 13. Rieko Ioane, 14. Cole Forbes, 15. Corey Evans
Bench: 16. Kurt Eklund, 17. Mason Tupaea, 18. Angus Ta'avao, 19. Josh Beehre, 20. Adrian Choat, 21. Finlay Christie, 22. Harry Plummer, 23. Zarn Sullivan
Drua selections
Selestino Ravutaumada of Fijian Drua. Photo: Joel Carrett / www.photosport.nz
Glen Jackson's side has suffered a significant loss with Etonia Waqa forced out with injury. The flanker has been arguably the Drua's player of the season, he's replaced by Josefa Tamani. Selestino Ravutaumada shifts to fullback, with Taniela Rakuro and Ponipate Loganimasi on the wings.
Blues selections
AJ Lam makes a break for the Blues in their Super Rugby Pacific semi-final against the Brumbies in Auckland. Photo: photosport
AJ Lam is back in the starting lineup after being a late scratching last weekend, then coming off the bench to score two very good tries. He's on one wing while Cole Forbes is on the other, with Caleb Clarke still injured and Mark Tele'a suspended. Finlay Christie and Zarn Sullivan come back onto the bench.
Key stats
Dalton Papali'i of the Blues. Blues v Western Force, round 7 of the Super Rugby Pacific competition at Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand on Friday 5 March 2024. Photo by Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
The Blues have won all their four Super Rugby Pacific matches against Fiji an Drua by an average margin of 22 points per game, conceding just 11.8 points per game across that span.
The Fijian Drua have scored 11 tries after forcing a turnover this season, the most of any team in the competition.
Dalton Papali'i has scored a try in each of his three games against the Drua.
What they're saying
"They don't like being taken to dark places very much, although they have improved a lot this year. It'll be about our tempo, our strong points in the game and momentum shifts. We have to be prepared to accept linebreaks, but scramble hard to get back." - Blues coach Vern Cotter.
The last time they met
Blues 36 - 5 Drua (Super Rugby Pacific quarterfinal 2024)
By this stage of last season, no one was beating the Blues on Eden Park - let alone a Drua side that has only won one game in New Zealand in the last three seasons. That didn't stop Selestino Ravutaumada scoring one of the best individual tries of the year, sadly it was the only points the Drua could muster against a rampant Blues team that had the result settled well before halftime.
What's going to happen
On paper the Blues should take this one, given that the Drua are giving up at least a bit of the heat and humidity advantage due to the late kick-off. But their inconsistency this season means that nothing can be taken for granted, as they found out in Brisbane against the Reds. As per usual, the Drua will try and run it from everywhere as they try and salvage something from their campaign.
