SUPER RUGBY PACIFIC SUPER ROUND
SATURDAY MARCH 2nd, 2024 Game 3
For Tana Umaga, there’s more that goes into coaching Moana Pasifika than just making sure the game plan is correct and he makes the right selections.
The former All Blacks captain also needs to show the players what the standards are for being a Super Rugby Pacific team.
A lot of that is a change in behaviour. It’s also that they don’t know what they don’t know. Some players have never been in an environment at this level before.
Last year, set pieces were a big issue for Moana Pasifika; at times it felt like they might as well not bother to have scrums or lineouts, just give the ball straight to the opposition and get on with the game.
But there was a dramatic improvement against the Highlanders last weekend, something which would have delighted Umaga.
We all saw what Fijian Drua did last year and then what Fiji did at the World Cup, they’re leading the way in the Pacific at the moment, so now Pasifika need to show what Samoa and Tonga can do.
Tongan international and former Crusader Sione Havili Talitui is set to captain Moana Pasifika for the first time in his debut for the club. He is a wonderful player and the Crusaders will miss his abilities all over the paddock.
He will start in the No. 7 jersey, after missing last week’s 35-21 loss to the Highlanders, and he’s not the only experienced face set for their first match of the season.
Former Wallabies Christian Lealiifano and Sekope Kepu will come off the bench against the Fijian Drua during the Super Round in Melbourne.
Last week’s captain James Lay will miss Saturday’s match due to injury.
PASIFIKA (1-15):
Abraham Pole, Sama Malolo, Sione Mafileo, Tom Savage, Allan Craig, Jacob Norris, Sione Havili Talitui, Lotu Inisi, Ereatara Enari, William Havili, Viliami Fine, Julian Savea, Henry Taefu, Nigel Ah Wong, Danny Toala
RESERVES: Samiuela Moli, Sateki Latu, Sekope Kepu, Ola Tauelangi, Irie Papuni, Aisea Halo, Christian Lealiifano, Kyren Taumoefolau
DRUA (1-15)
Livai Natave, Tevita Ikanivere, Mesake Doge, Mesake Vocevoce, Isoa Nasilasila, Etonia Waqa, Ella Canakaivata, Meli Derenalagi (c), Frank Lomani, Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, Selestino Ravutaumada, Apisalome Vota, Iosefo Masi, Epeli Momo, Isikeli Rabitu
RESERVES: Mesulame Dolokoto, Haereiti Hetet, Jone Koroiduadua, Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, Vilive Miramira, Simione Kuruvoli, Kemu Valetini, Junior Ratuva
Referee: Paul Williams
Assistant Referees: Damon Murphy, Mike Winter
Would it not be great if Julian Savea playing in the No 12 jersey, for Pasifika, to claim the outright Super Rugby try scoring record with his 61st try.
Fijian Drua Super Rugby Pacific head coach and former All Blacks skills coach Mick Byrne must now believe the benefits of providing a home-grown career path are starting to emerge in the Fijian game.
While going down 10-34 to the Blues on Saturday in Whangārei, I think they are on track to securing a home game in the top eight this year.
The Drua were left to rue the lightning start the side made with 23 phases in the opening burst, only to end when the ball was dropped on the line. They followed that by giving away eight penalties in the next 25 minutes.
That’s something they need to fix. They carried well, they had the momentum going into this first part of the game, and it would have been nice to get across the line after starting the game like that.
I thought they came back in the second half. Some of the tackles started to stick and they carried the ball a bit better. They got back into the game and then for some reason They lost a few players with cramps.
For me winning on the road will be a crucial step for the side; it will be vital if they want to make the top eight.
The Drua have got to win four away games. Each year they have taken a step forward and this year they should be aiming for a home quarter, so away wins is the challenge.
Being down 3-29 at halftime made it a tough challenge for the side, against a good Blues side, even with the second-half advantage of the wind at their backs.
Right now the Fijian Drua travel about as well as Guinness. But, never fear, proving themselves roadworthy is top of Mick Byrne’s fix-it list as he eyes the next frontier for the big improvers of Super Rugby Pacific.
The Drua made history last year when they reached the quarterfinals in just their second season in the franchise competition, improving from 2-12 and 11th spot in their debut campaign to 7th (6-8) in ‘23 when they went 5-2 at home and 1-6 on the road.
And, really, the Blues were the only team to roll the Drua on Fijian soil last year, with their second-round “home” defeat to the Waratahs coming in the super round in Melbourne. They numbered eventual champions the Crusaders among their five victims in the islands.
PREDICTION.
Two tough teams needing to win as many as possible. The tournament’s expansion franchises of 2022 open Super Round’s day 2 action and supporters would be wise to make sure they get to AAMI Park on time to take in this fixture. Moana, as mentioned above, looked like an entirely new, infinitely more cohesive outfit under Tana Umaga last week, and created all sorts of problems for the Highlanders. Had it not been for some desperate defence and key turnovers in the backfield, Moana may well have been coming away with a first-up win. The Drua, meanwhile, paid the price for not striking early against the Blues when they strung together 24 phases of sustained attack, but could no breach their hosts defensive wall. But the Fijians will be better for the hit out and showed glimpses of what they can do in attack, with Iosefo Masi a constant threat with ball in hand; Tevita Ikanivere also picked up from where he left off in a superb 2023 season. These two teams have a habit of playing out tight fixtures and that looms again here. Still, if the game opens up late through fatigue, it will be the Fijians who hold the edge. Both are capable and will try hard I believe, but for me the Drua will sneak a win in this one, by 3 points only though.
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