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Captain Meli Derenalagi returns for Drua’s clash with Melbourne Rebels
After missing the Fijian Drua’s win over the Western Force in Lautoka, team captain Meli Derenalagi has been named to return at No. 8 against the Melbourne Rebels on Friday night.
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Coach Mick Byrne has made a couple of changes to the starting side, with Vilive Miramira’s inclusion at blindside flanker the only other change in the forward pack. Miramira comes into the starting side as a replacement for the injured Etonia Waqa.
The rest of the starting side remains unchanged, including the same backline that helped the Drua claim their third win over the season on a wet Saturday afternoon against the Western Force at Churchill Park.
Flying Fijians star Tevita Ikanivere has been cleared to play and will pack down in the front row along with Haereiti Hetet and Mesake Doge. Locks Mesake Vocevoce and Leone Rotuisolia complete the Drua’s tight five for the round seven clash.
Head-to-Head
Last 4 Meetings
Wins
2
Draws
0
Wins
2
Average Points scored
34
29
First try wins
50%
Home team wins
100%
Vilive Miramira will take his place at blindside flanker, while Kitione Salawa lines up at openside. Then there’s captain Derenalagi who rounds out a formidable Fijian Drua forward pack.
In-form halfback Frank Lomani joins rising star Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula in the halves again this week, while Apisalome Vota and try-scoring machine Iosefo Masi are just outside them in the midfield.
Masi has been especially impressive this season. The outside centre is equal-first for tries scored this season with six to his name.
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Epeli Momo and Selestino Ravutaumada have been named on the wings while fullback Ilaisa Droasese will line up with the No. 15 jersey on his back once again on Friday night.
On the bench, outside back Taniela Rakuro is certainly one to watch.
This clash at Melbourne’s AAMI Park is scheduled to get off at 7:35 pm AEDT on Friday night.
Fijian Drua to take on Melbourne Rebels
- Haereiti Hetet
- Tevita Ikanivere
- Mesake Doge
- Mesake Vocevoce
- Leone Rotuisolia
- Vilive Miramira
- Kitione Salawa
- Meli Derenalagi
- Frank Lomani
- Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula
- Epeli Momo
- Apisalome Vota
- Iosefo Masi
- Selestino Ravutaumada
- Ilaisa Droasese
Reserves
- Zuriel Togiatama
- Livai Natave
- Jone Koroiduadua
- Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta
- Elia Canakaivata
- Simione Kuruvoli
- Waqa Nalaga
- Taniela Rakuro
Comments on RugbyPass
Most underrated player in world rugby.
1 Go to commentsHow many fans will travel to Qatar to watch these games ? because if they dont, it will be played in front of a few disinterested unknowledgeable Qataris and then just becomes media ‘content’. Thats what Test rugby will be reduced to.
1 Go to commentsSo as long as the playmaker still has the ball IN his hands, its OK. Otherwise the timing is wrong and he’s a liability. No grey line there. Thats the rule he is advocating ? Got it.
3 Go to commentsWrite them off at your peril
8 Go to commentsJust fantastic that the professional game is finally being taken to the Pacific islands. Not before time. It justifies the mere existence of Moana as a club, hopefully they can start to get some positive results too. Check out the sheer joy of the crowds in Fiji and the buzz that having a home team creates. Tonga always had (has ?) issues with their ground not complying with International rugby standards, which NZ always used as an excuse for many years not bringing the All Blacks over. Hopefully this match is the first of many. Would be great to see some tourism grow on the back of it. I once went to the Cook Islands Sevens in Rarotonga - tiny island nation but man did they turn it on. Tonga and Samoa will too given half a chance.
1 Go to commentsQuite right. Punish the time wasters. Its BS these time delays for non-injuries. The Boks have been using it for years now to slow down opposition and now its a scourge on the game. Put players like DeGroot on the sideline and restart play immediately. Watch how 5-6 min to fix your boots quickly becomes 1-2 minutes. Better still how about some personal professional management and you check the conditions/turf beforehand and get yourself better prepared. It might even help your team.
1 Go to commentsWhat drivel. Rugby as a contact sport should not be further diminished by crying over legal hard tackles. Take on the line? Be ready to take the hit. This is PC nonsense.
3 Go to commentsGregor Paul is going to be proved totally wrong. The Crusaders will get in the top 8 and are capable of winning this comp. The return of magnificent captain and player Scott Barrett on Friday was huge. There are a number of players returning and Ethan Blackadder showed huge progression in only his third game back. Christian Lio-Willie has added a new dimension , these two’s combination with Cullen Grace was fantastic. This builds depth when you have outstanding players like Tom Christie and Dom Gardiner also available. The tight five improved ten fold and this is with Tamaiti Williams and Codie Taylor being back.Others are set to return. Johnny McNicoll on his return home has been a revelation. Paul can dismiss Fridays win by the Crusaders as much as he likes and he will prove very popular in this country in doing so. But he will be proved wrong , Rob Penney and his coaching team will have the last laugh.
8 Go to commentsI haven’t seen or heard to many whinging about Finau quite the opposite. The TMO’s have reviewed each time and taken no action, so if they have now been alerted it’s not from people whinging The player comes flying out of the line and launches himself at the attacker so it is probably ruled as a committed tackle, but at what point does it move to tackling a player without the ball Time will tell
3 Go to commentsThis cracked media record of aligning success or failure on head coaches is remarkable. Using the crusaders past history as an example, a more sensible observation and analysis could be that the recent head coaches had inherited a extremely successful combination of players linked to their traditional historical support of the Canterbury people. That period ended this year when the new coach was introduced to virtually a new team. And in a year where other franchises have grown much stronger than their respective past, it was always an anticipated reality that the coach and his new crusader team were up against it. Therefore, I humbly believe that unlike some commentators present, I laud coach Penny and the team for their efforts to date and I am sure given another term and with Canterbury behind them they will be riding high once more. Strange all this coming from me who lives in Taupo and a one eyed chiefs supporter. Can't wait for all future chiefs and crusader games!
8 Go to commentsGrt bench player..keep him there..
3 Go to commentsA Springbok 2-0 win: haha told you we were champions now shut up An Irish 2-0 win: the referee was under orders from world rugby to cheat us but luckily we don’t care because this is part of Rassie’s grand world Cup plan.
112 Go to commentsI hope they didn’t pay Jones fee?
2 Go to commentsTo be fair, the teams he's had to put out are reminiscent of those available to Gatland during his horrible run at the Chiefs in late 2020. Anyway, he's only got a two year contract and Wellingtonian Tamati Ellison will be ready by then, as will a lot of talented youngsters (like the Chiefs Gatland blooded). The Crusaders are planning for the long term.
8 Go to commentsGreat to see more community spending leading to higher participation in the community. It's a long road but that's a good first step.
2 Go to commentsPoetic justice for trying to sell him to Australia as another kiwi saviour coach, not ! Deans was just as bad actually but McCaw and Carter covered up for him. That’s why they didn’t want him as All Black coach, even after Graeme Henry’s bumbling effort in 2007.
8 Go to commentsSACK HIM !
8 Go to commentsSafas are so triggered by Ireland. 3 consecutive losses, incl RWC. 8 losses out of last 12 Tests. Always excuses, of course, with Bok fans. Now Rassie with his “88%” nonsense, the Claytons Excuse is an embarrassment to Bok teams of the past when every test mattered. Their fickle mojo will be on edge for the Ireland tour. Have the referees been appointed yet ? They will need security. Have WR laid out strict guidelines for TMO’s and replays on the stadium screens ? Will the constant stoppages from Bok forwards for cramps and bootlaces be tolerated ? We’re not talking a dominant Springbok team here, they won the LOTTO Cup and they know it whether they admit it or not. The Disney doco has their fans positively fermenting internally, its going to be a nasty hangover if they get beaten on home soil. What will the excuses be then……
112 Go to commentsGreat role model.
2 Go to commentsOne significant tell, not a single Waratahs player stopped to whinge to the ref about Finau’s tackle. They got on with playing the game. Great tackle.
8 Go to comments