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. | Position | name |
| 1 | LOOSEHEAD PROP | KALIOPASI ULUILAKEPA * |
| 2 | HOOKER | TEVITA IKANIVERE |
| 3 | TIGHTHEAD PROP | SAMUELA TAWAKE |
| 4 | LEFT LOCK | ISOA NASILASILA |
| 5 | RIGHT LOCK | RATU ROTUISOLIA * |
| 6 | LEFT FLANKER | VILIVE MIRAMIRA |
| 7 | RIGHT FLANKER | KITIONE SALAWA |
| 8 | NUMBER EIGHT | NEMANI NAGUSA © |
| 9 | SCRUMHALF | SIMIONE KURUVOLI |
| 10 | FLYHALF | CALEB MUNTZ |
| 11 | LEFT WING | VINAYA HABOSI |
| 12 | INSIDE CENTRE | KALAVETI RAVOUVOU |
| 13 | OUTSIDE CENTRE | APISALOME VOTA |
| 14 | RIGHT WING | ONISI RATAVE |
| 15 | FULLBACK | BADEN KERR |
| Replacements | ||
| 16. | RESERVE | MESULAME DOLOKOTO |
| 17. | RESERVE | TIMOCI SAUVOLI |
| 18. | RESERVE | MANASA SAULO |
| 19. | RESERVE | TE AHIWARU CIRIKIDAVETA |
| 20. | RESERVE | MELI DERENALAGI |
| 21. | RESERVE | JOSEVA TAMANI ** |
| 22. | RESERVE | PENI MATAWALU |
| 23. | RESERVE | NAPOLIONI BOLACA ** |
*Debut
**Potential debut
