Battle of the Pacific

The stage for the Battle of the Pacific is now set for Sat­urday's Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific showdown between the Fijian Drua and Moana Pasi­fika.

This was after Drua head coach Glen Jackson named Virimi Vakatawa at No.12 while his Moana Pasifika counterpart Tana Umaga opted to start Ngani Laumape.

Vakatawa, a former French inter­national while Laumape, an ex-All Black are renowned in the rugby world for their strong runs.

"Him (Ngani) is a great match­up- an ex-All Black against an ex­ French international in Virimi Vakatawa. Both are super experi­enced at what they do and it will be a hell of a match-up to watch those two go at it," Jackson said.

The former international referee said he is cautious of Umaga's move.

"There's a bit of the unknown around their (Moana Pasifika) se­lection, so we'll just see what Tana does. Tana is unbelievable. As a player, I played against him many times and he was a freak of nature in terms of how he played. He's turned into a very, very good coach. I've refereed his teams and he's not always the easiest coach to referee."

Jackson said Umaga's experience as former All Blacks captain has added value to the competition.

"He's been around for almost 30 years in Super Rugby, so it's great to have people like that in the game as we celebrate 30 years of Super Rugby."

In another move, former Cru­saders, Western Force and Chiefs winger Manasa Mataele gets his first start for the Drua.

Jackson said Mataele had been playing at centre in New Zealand's National Provincial Championship (NPC) and was in strong form.

"Yes, he also played on the wing in the NPC and was probably man of the match in that game," Jackson said.

He highlighted that selecting his Match 23 squad was not easy espe­cially the loose forwards.

"Isoa Nasilasila and Kitione Sala­wa had been key figures since the Drua entered Super Rugby. I didn't realise how many games they'd ac­tually played. They'd be right up there in terms of appearances.

"They've been great servants of the club. Isoa has played more than 50 games, they've represented the Flying Fijians at World Cups and they've been brilliant for us. It's great they're still here and run­ning out again in round one of year five."

Lock Mesake Vocevoce has been named on the blindside flank, add­ing size against a physical Moana Pasifika pack.

"He's got the attributes of a lock, but he's also very quick. He scored a wonderful try last week and clocked 36 kilometres per hour, which is actually faster than Poni­pate (Loganimasi). He's the fittest forward in our squad.

"Moana have a very big pack, so having that extra size at six helps us. I had to make tough calls since Joseva Tamani and Etonia Waqa have been playing unbelievably well.

"Etonia was probably 50-50 for this game, so we've given him an­other week to recover from a minor surgery. He got about 30 minutes in the Skipper Cup selection, so it's about getting his training right."

Jackson also praised Vilive Mira­mura's form and said competition for places remained fierce.

"At seven, Kitione Salawa gets the nod, but Motikai Murray has been good as well."

The match kicks-off at 3.35pm.

Line - ups

DRUA: 1. Haereiti Hetet, 2. Zuriel Togiatama, 3. Mesake Doge, 4. Isoa Nasilasila, 5. Temo Mayanavanua (co-c), 6. Mesake Vocevoce, 7. Ki­tione Salawa, 8. Elia Canakaivata, 9. Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 10. Kemu Valetini, 11. Ponipate Loganimasi, 12. Virimi Vakatawa, 13. Tuidraki Samusamuvodre, 14. Manasa Ma­taele, 15. Ilaisa Droasese.

Reserves: 16. Penaia Cakobau, 17. Peni Ravai, 18. Samuela Tawake, 19. Joseva Tamani, 20. Isoa Tuwai, 21. Frank Lomani (co-c), 22. Isikeli Ra­bitu, 23. Epeli Momo

MOANA PASIFIKA: 1. Tito Tui­pulotu, 2. Millennium Sanerivi, 3. Chris Apoua, 4. Tom Savage, 5. Al­lan Craig, 6. Miracle Faiilagi (c), 7. Semisi Paea, 8. Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa, 9. Jonathan Taumateine, 10. Patrick Pellegrini, 11. Solomon Alaimalo, 12. Ngani Laumape, 13. Lalomilo Lalomila, 14. Tevita Ofa, 15. William Havili.

Reserves: 16. Samiuela Moli, 17. Abraham Pole, 18. Feleti Sae­Ta'ufo'ou, 19. Ofa Tauatevalu, 20. Dominic Ropeti, 21. Siaosi Ngin­ingini, 22. Denzel Samoa, 23. Glen Vaihu.

Match - officials

Referee: Marcus Playle; Assis­tant Referees: Fraser Hannon, Dan Moore; TMO: Glenn Newman

Feedback: waisean@fijisun.com.fj