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Olympic champions and test stars named in Fijian Drua pre-season side

(Photo By Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Olympic gold medallists, Fijian internationals and a Kiwi playmaker have all been named to start for the Fijian Drua in their final pre-season hit out of the year.

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The Drua travel to Melbourne to face the Rebels on Thursday in what will be their first external pre-season fixture following their internal match last weekend.

The match will act as the expansion franchise’s last match before they kick their debut Super Rugby Pacific campaign off against the Waratahs in Sydney next Friday.

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In preparation for their season-opener, head coach Mick Byrne has named an extended squad to play the Rebels, featuring a 16-man reserves list.

Of those named in his starting team, four players – hooker Tevita Ikanivere, tighthead prop Samu Tawake, No 8 and captain Nemani Nagusa and halfback Simi Kuruvoli – are Fijian internationals.

Blindside flanker Meli Derenalagi is also a notable inclusion given his status as a gold medal-winner with the national Fijian sevens side at last year’s Tokyo Olympics.

Derenalagi’s fellow Olympic champion Napolioni Bolaca has also been included on the bench, but has missed a place in the starting lineup to New Zealand first-five Baden Kerr, who is the only non-Fijian player in the Drua squad.

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A further four Fijian internationals – hooker Mesu Dolokoto, prop Manasa Saulo, lock Chris Mnimbi and utility back Serupepeli Vularika – join Bolaca in the reserves.

The trip to Melbourne will be a return of sorts for two Drua players, with right wing Kitione Ratu a former member of the Rebels squad, while reserve flanker Joseva Tamani played for the Melbourne Rising in Australia’s NRC three years ago.

Kick-off for the match between the Drua and Rebels is scheduled for 6pm local time at Harlequin Rugby Club in Ashwood.

Fijian Drua team to play the Melbourne Rebels

1. Jone Koroiduadua
2. Tevita Ikanivere
3. Samu Tawake
4. Ratu Rotuisolia
5. Isoa Nasilasila
6. Meli Derenalagi
7. Kitione Salawa
8. Nemani Nagusa (c)
9. Simi Kuruvoli
10. Baden Kerr
11. Vinaya Habosi
12. Kalaveti Ravouvou
13. Apisalome Vota
14. Kitione Ratu
15. Selestino Ravutaumada

Reserves: Mesu Dolokoto, Timoci Sauvoli, Manasa Saulo, Chris Mnimbi, Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, Peni Matawalu, Caleb Muntz, Serupepeli Vularika, Napolioni Bolaca, Rusiate Nasove, Joseva Tamani, Sorovakatini Tuifaglele, Viliame Rarasea, Leone Nawai, Vilive Miramira, Jone Tiko.

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1 Comment
i
isaac 1230 days ago

Remember the name Napolioni Bolaca....Super Rugby Pasific star...

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Nickers 54 minutes ago
Scott Robertson names his 35-man All Blacks squad for France series

As always with Razor slightly unorthodox with a few surprises. Last year Blackadder was rushed back into the starting 15 after a long injury lay off and no game time, this year on the back of a good body of work in which he was immense in the final he doesn’t even make the squad. But Finau, who possibly wouldn’t have even been starting for the Chiefs if Parker was fit is the only specialist 6 in the squad. Likewise Havili, great season and a great final, much better than last year by all measures but doesn’t make the cut.


6 mid fielders when 4 will do, but only 5 loosies when 7 would be useful -> Maybe Lakai and Parker come in? No 3rd choice at 10 meaning if one of BB or DMac sustain a mid to long term injury there is no one they are specifically trusting to come into the team and be able to close out matches - maybe they think Love is the 3rd best 10 in NZ?


Great to see Tavatavanawai straight in on the back of a huge season - he should 100% be in the 23. There have been players before like Stevenson or Sotutu who had the season of the their lives and didn’t get picked, so this is great and a little surprising to see.


Only 4 locks and no lock cover among the loosies named. This seems like an area we need to be developing more players rather than concentrating the talent pool down further. Maybe when Darry is fit he finds his way back in, but it would be good to see Lord or whoever the 6th best lock is around the squad too.


One thing I continue to find strange about ABs selection going back many years is that they are obsessed with backs being able to cover multiple positions, but they don’t take advantage of this in any way. The fact that we have 3 players who can play 12, and 3 that can play 13, doesn’t stop them from selecting ALB to cover 12 and 13 giving them 4 options at each position - what is the point of this? Likewise Love, I really like him, especially at 10, But they have Jordan, BB, Dmac who all play 15 at test level, as well as JB who is world class at 15 to cover, so why take up another spot in the squad with yet another 15? Why do we need four options for every position in the backs except 10, which is arguably the most important one where we have not been able to develop a new test player for 8 or 9 years.


And unless there is a big change this year they also don’t use all these utility backs to enable a 6-2 bench split, and will instead pick a specialist winger on the bench to come on and play the last 10 minutes.

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