Super Rugby Pacific: Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika eye strong starts in 2025 season

Starting well and being consistent throughout the 16 rounds of the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific competition are what both the Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika teams will be focusing on this season.

Drua head coach Glen Jackson and Moana Pasifika scrum coach Pauliasi Manu both acknowledge that their pre-season preparations have been long and challenging at times.

The opportunity to get out and compete in real-time is exciting for both teams, as they prepare for Saturday's first round of matches.

The Drua host the Brumbies in Suva at 3.35pm (Fiji time).

Moana Pasifika meets the Western Force in Perth on Saturday night.

Drua's challenge

Jackson, who takes over the reins from Mick Byrne in the Drua outfit this year, knows the challenge they face.

He said part of that is the demanding fans at home who do not accept a loss on Fijian soil - something the Drua has been able to do well in the past two seasons, both in Suva and Lautoka.

The Drua's first four matches this year see them take on the Brumbies at home this weekend, the Hurricanes in the second round in an away game, the Waratahs in Sydney in round three and hosting the Chiefs at home in round four.

Jackson said the new format, which will see the 11 teams fighting for the six play-off spots, makes their fight tougher.

"Everyone in Fiji just wants to see a winning team," Jackson told reporters in Nadi on Tuesday.

"We are under no illusion that the Drua has done well in the last two years. The changes in the Drua and the organisation of the competition mean it is going to be harder to get into that quarterfinals.

"We know we are going to have very tough four games against quality opposition first up so our preparation has to be spot on to get some good results out of those games."

The Drua did not win any away game in 2024, something that Jackson and his coaching group fully understand, with the pending visits to Napier and Sydney in rounds three and four.

Jackson said the sixteen weeks of off-season training have been great, where they were able to build as a team and work on their fitness and game plans.

He pointed to the make-up of the squad and the inclusion of young talents, making the selections interesting.

"We've got some great young kids. What it creates is very tough selections," he said.

"And we are excited about the opportunity we have been given to host the Brumbies in our first game."

In line with their plans to keep their no-loss record at home and claim their first win over the Brumbies, Jackson and his coaching group have named their best available side, with three debutants included.

Jackson has handed starting debuts to Drua newcomers, Flying Fijians Vuate Karawalevu and Ponipate Loganimasi, who will both be on the wings, and has also named young Suva flanker Isoa Tuwai on the bench.

Flanker Joseva Tamani, who last featured for the Fijian Drua against the Reds in Round 15, 2023, returns to the starting lineup ahead of former captain Ratu Meli Derenalagi, who misses the first match.

An interesting move has also seen two halfbacks named on the bench: Peni Matawalu and co-captain Frank Lomani, who could also double as wing on the day.

The much-awaited clash betweeh the Valetini brothers will not eventuate, with the Brumbies missing out on tough loosie Rob Valetini due to injury. His older brother Kemu has been named at inside centre for the Drua.

Samo says discipline key for Drua

Former Brumbies forward Radike Samo has told FBC Sports in Suva that discipline will be the key for the Drua if they want to beat the Brumbies.

"The Brumbies are always one of the best teams in Australia," he said.

"For the Drua to win, they need to turn up and play the full 80 minutes. Discipline is key - when the pressure comes, we sometimes forget about playing rugby and make mistakes.

"If they stay focused, cut down on errors, and play smart, they have a great chance."

Samo, who began his professional career with the Brumbies in 1999, believes the Drua have what it takes to win, but only if they remain focused and also pointed out the heat and humidity as a potential advantage for the local side.

The key to victory, he added, would be maintaining composure and executing their game plan effectively.

Savea leads Moana

Moana Pasifika have named All Black and new captain Ardie Savea at number eight for the match against the Force.

Savea, who played around 15 minutes in the pre-season clash against the Chiefs last weekend, forms the loose trio with 'Ikale Tahi tough man Sione Havili Talitui and Manu Samoa flanker Miracle Failangi.

Losing out on a quarterfinal spot last year after having been in the race in the last four rounds of the 2024 season, Moana Pasifika are excited about their opportunities as well.

Scrum coach Manu told RNZ Pacific on Tuesday, at the team's home base in North Harbour, that the coaching group is confident of a big showing against the Force and improving throughout the season.

"Us coaches, we believe we can," Manu said in response to whether the team can beat the Force first up on Saturday.

"It is a weekly thing and hopefully we can improve every week. The pre-season games were trial and error and the positive is that we have a week where we can do our prep.

"The boys are ticking the right boxes and we are building on confidence."

Manu said they have done a lot of work during the off-season training period, working on improving their skills, building on endurance and getting their players to bond.

Their focus this week is on the Force, who they have also watched during the pre-season matches.

"We look at ourselves and what they (Force) bring," he said.

"They have played against the Brumbies and we take our learnings and impart it to our training and hopefully we can know what's coming."

Head coach Fa'alogo Tana Umaga has named a strong side for their opening clash.

Savea will lead his first-ever match for the side which boasts a good mixture of experience and fresh talent.

This includes 22-year-old Manawatū tight-head prop Feleti Sae-Ta'ufo'ou, who will make his Super Rugby Pacific and Moana Pasifika debut.

Four other players in the starting lineup will make their Moana Pasifika debuts, including exciting hooker Millennium Sanerivi, dynamic playmaker Jackson Garden-Bachop, Samoa Olympic Sevens star Lalomilo Lalomilo, and former NRL Tigers winger Solomon Alaimalo.

Sanerivi had a baptism of fire making his Super Rugby debut for the Chiefs in the 2024 Grand Final, and will now play in his second game for a new team.

"It is a huge honour to be able to wear the jersey for the first time and start as well so I cannot wait," Sanerivi said.

"I'm grateful that I got an opportunity to come here and learn off these great coaches in a new environment."

Tito Tuipulotu and Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa also have a chance to play their maiden Super Rugby matches coming off the bench.

Two exciting battles are lined up to kick off the competition on Friday night, with the Crusaders hosting the Hurricanes at home in Christchurch in the opening game of the year, before the Waratahs square off against the Highlanders at the Allianz Stadium in Sydney.

The third game on Saturday will feature the Blues against the Chiefs at Eden Park in Auckland, in a repeat of the 2024 final.

The Queensland Reds will have a bye this weekend.

Pacific Islanders colours for Moana

Moana Pasifika has unveiled its new heritage jersey, paying homage to the iconic 2004 Pacific Islanders team, made up of players from Samoa, Fiji and Tonga.

The jersey is a replica of the one worn by the Pacific Islanders who played the All Blacks at North Harbour Stadium, which is now the home base for Moana Pasifika.

Head Coach Umaga and backs coach Vaovasamanaia Seilala Mapusua were both part of that clash, Umaga a centre for the All Blacks and captain as well, while Mapuua was part of the Islanders team.

The new jersey was unveiled at the Moana Pasifika home base on Wednesday.

"When we got together for that campaign, we talked about shocking the world," Mapusua said, reminiscing on that clash.

"We were sick of beating each other up in terms of our Pacific nations, and we finally got the chance to have a crack at the Wallabies, All Blacks and Springboks.

"We never thought we would have our own team. To see this full circle moment come around, it will be pretty special for our people."

Legends Sitiveni Sivivatu and the late Sione Lauaki were part of the Pacific team before they were selected for the All Blacks.

Umaga remembers the game well too.

"They gave us a fright, I think some of our players still have nightmares about that day," Umaga said, referring to the Pacific Islanders player lineup.

"The mindset is the same with our boys that are here. We still want to shock people. [It's the] passing of the baton from one generation to the next.

"Now our boys will get to represent them and remember our past."

Moana Pasifika said the team will wear the heritage jersey in multiple fixtures throughout the season.

Lineups

Fijian Drua: 1 Haereiti Hetet, 2 Tevita Ikanivere (co-captain), 3 Samuela Tawake, 4 Mesake Vocevoce, 5 Leone Rotuisolia, 6 Joseva Tamani, 7 Kitione Salawa, 8 Elia Canakaivata, 9 Simione Kuruvoli, 10 Caleb Muntz, 11 Vuate Karawalevu, 12 Kemu Valetini, 13 Iosefo Masi, 14 Ponipate Loganimasi, 15 Isikeli Rabitu. Reserves: 16 Mesulame Dolokoto, 17 Livai Natave, 18 Meli Tuni, 19 Vilive Miramira, 20 Isoa Tuwai, 21 Frank Lomani, 22 Peni Matawalu, 23 Tuidraki Samusamuvodre

Moana Pasifika: 1 James lay, 2 Millennium Sanerivi, 3 Feleti Sae-Ta'ufo'ou, 4 Samuel Slade, 5 Allan Craig, 6 Miracle Failangi, 7 Sione Havili Talitui, 8 Ardie Savea (captain), 9 Johnathan Taumateine, 10 Jackson Garden-Bachop, 11 Kyren Taumoefolau, 12 Lalomilo Lalomilo, 13 Papesana Patafilo, 14 Solomon Alaimalo, 15 William Havili. Reserves: 16 Sama Malolo, 17 Tito Tuipulotu, 18 Chris Apoua, 19 Tom Savage, 20 Ola Tauelangi, 21 Semisi Tupou Tailoa, 22 Melani Matavao, 23 Danny Toala