Fijian Drua: Byrne rings the changes for Brumbies clash

February 24, 2022

Fijian Drua head coach Mick Byrne has retained nine players – five in the forwards and four in the backline – from the run-on team that took on Waratahs for their Super Rugby Pacific round two clash against the Brumbies in two days.

Byrne made a number of positional changes, calling three players who started off the bench in their 40-10 defeat to the Waratahs last week for this match, where two players are set to make their debut and two others including Fiji 7s’ Napolioni Bolaca could make their debut having been named on the bench.

In the front row, Tevita Ikanivere and Samuela Tawake are joined by Kaliopasi Uluilakepa who makes his Super Rugby Pacific debut at loosehead prop.

Isoa Nasilasila retains his place in the second row, where he will be joined by debutant Ratu Rotuisolia.

In the back row, Vilive Miramira gets called off the bench to start to man the flanks alongside Kitione Salawa who was named Drua man of the match against the Waratahs. Captain Nemani Nagusa returns at No.8.

The halves pairing this week sees Simione Kuruvoli return at no. 9 with Caleb Muntz starting at flyhalf in place of Baden Kerr. Kerr has been moved to fullback. In the midfield, Byrne has retained the pairing of Kalaveti Ravouvou and Apisalome Vota. Onisi Ratave makes his first start on the wing alongside Vinaya Habosi.

The match is scheduled to kick off at 3.35 pm (Fiji Time) on Saturday, 26 February at GIO Stadium in Canberra.

Byrne says: “We have been continuing to work on our game and looking to be more accurate with ball in hand. we have now experienced the pace of Super rugby and are excited and looking forward to going again this weekend.”

SWIRE SHIPPING FIJIAN DRUA MATCHDAY 23

No.Positionname
1LOOSEHEAD PROPKALIOPASI ULUILAKEPA *
2HOOKERTEVITA IKANIVERE
3TIGHTHEAD PROPSAMUELA TAWAKE
4LEFT LOCKISOA NASILASILA
5RIGHT LOCKRATU ROTUISOLIA *
6LEFT FLANKERVILIVE MIRAMIRA
7RIGHT FLANKERKITIONE SALAWA
8NUMBER EIGHTNEMANI NAGUSA ©
9SCRUMHALFSIMIONE KURUVOLI
10FLYHALFCALEB MUNTZ
11LEFT WINGVINAYA HABOSI
12INSIDE CENTREKALAVETI RAVOUVOU
13OUTSIDE CENTREAPISALOME VOTA
14RIGHT WINGONISI RATAVE
15FULLBACKBADEN KERR
Replacements 
16.RESERVEMESULAME DOLOKOTO
17.RESERVETIMOCI SAUVOLI
18.RESERVEMANASA SAULO
19.RESERVETE AHIWARU CIRIKIDAVETA
20.RESERVEMELI DERENALAGI
21.RESERVEJOSEVA TAMANI **
22.RESERVEPENI MATAWALU
23.RESERVENAPOLIONI BOLACA **

*Debut

**Potential debut

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