The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua head into Friday’s Good Friday clash with the Crusaders in Christchurch reeling from a costly week of injuries and a mid-season reality check. Wingers Epeli Momo (knee) and Ponipate Loganimasi (arm) have been ruled out for the season, while scrumhalf Frank Lomani will be sidelined for up to three weeks. In Lomani’s absence, and with Temo Mayanavanua also unavailable, lock Isoa Nasilasila has been named Drua captain.
The setbacks come at the halfway mark of Super Rugby Pacific, with the Drua sitting ninth on eight competition points — six behind sixth-placed Crusaders. The fixture list offers little respite: the Drua will play five of their final eight games away from Fiji, four of those against teams currently in the top six, leaving coach Glen Jackson to contend with both depleted personnel and a punishing run of opposition.
Jackson has shuffled his backline and halves for Christchurch. Issak Fines-Leleiwasa and Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula will start at halfback and first five-eighth respectively, while Iosefo Namoce retains his centre spot alongside veteran Virimi Vakatawa after a strong defensive display last week in Auckland. Fullback Ilaisa Droasese will form the back three with Jojo Nasova and Manasa Mataele, who comes into the side following the season-ending losses out wide. The lock combination sees Joseva Tamani partnered with new captain Nasilasila, with Mesake Vocevoce moved to the bench. The front row remains Haereiti Hetet, Zuriel Togiatama and Mesake Doge; the back row selection repeats Etonia Waqa, Kitione Salawa and Elia Canakaivata.
The Drua elected to stay in New Zealand after last weekend’s narrow defeat to the Blues and travelled to Christchurch on Wednesday to finalise preparations. Jackson praised the Crusaders’ quality and warned of the challenge ahead: the defending champions return from a bye and have won three of their last four, including an away triumph over the Chiefs. The Crusaders will be led by captain Will Jordan, whom Jackson described as “world class,” and the match will feature a strong Fijian presence in the home team with Sevu Reece, Chay Fihaki and George Bower all named in the Crusaders squad. All Black hooker Codie Taylor will mark his 150th game for the Crusaders on Friday.
The occasion adds extra significance: Friday’s fixture is the final match at the current Crusaders venue before the club moves to the new Christchurch Stadium, ensuring a charged atmosphere for both teams. The historical record offers little comfort for the Drua — in Christchurch in 2022 and 2023 the Crusaders outscored the Fijians 110 to 11 across two matches.
Away form has been a long-term issue for the Drua. Their last road win came in week one of 2023 against Moana Pasifika; since then the franchise has gone 25 away matches without victory, suffering eight losses in both 2023 and 2024, seven in 2025 and two so far this season. With two of their influential wingers lost for the season and Lomani temporarily absent, the Drua enter the second half of the campaign needing the group’s depth and leadership to step up if they are to reverse that trend and keep their finals hopes alive.
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