Super Rugby: Tupou and Basiyalo named to debut for Moana Pasifika and Fijian Drua

Both Moana Pasifika and the Fijian Drua have debutants in their match-day 23 for their round nine matches in the Super Rugby Pacific.

Moana Pasifika have given veteran lock Jimmy Tupou the chance to play his first game for the franchise when they meet the Chiefs in Rotorua on Saturday.

Tupou will go up against his former team who he played for during the 2024 and 2025 seasons.

Head coach Fa'alogo Tana Umaga has named him on the bench, bringing his valuable experience and leadership to spark energy in the second half.

In Lautoka on the same afternoon, former Fiji sevens rep, Sikeli Basiyalo, will make his Drua debut against Western Force.

Head coach Glen Jackson has named the youngster on the right wing.

Basiyalo featured for the Fiji 7s team at the Hong Kong 7s last year.

Moana Pasifika v Chiefs

Kick-off: 2:05pm Saturday 11 April

Venue: Rotorua International Stadium

Moana Pasifika are hosting their game in Rotorua after the cancellation of their trip to Tonga, where the match was originally planned to be held.

Umaga, who takes up the All Blacks assistant coach role after the Super Rugby season, has tweaked his side due to several injuries his squad.

Tupou, who missed the earlier rounds because of injury also, has been given the chance to secure a berth in the starting lineup.

He previously played for the Blues, Crusaders and Japanese club Urayasu D-Rocks, before turning out for the Chiefs in the past two seasons.

Umaga has also named Rotorua raised loose forward Semisi Paea on the bench, giving him the chance to play in his hometown.

Paea was raised in Rotorua and attended Rotorua Boys High School. He has played for Ngongotaha Rugby Club, Whakarewarewa and has also been part of the Bay of Plenty Steamers since 2021.

"There is no greater feeling than hearing your name get called in the squad to play in the city that raised you," Paea said.

"This is a dream come true and I'm looking forward to representing my family and this franchise in my hometown."

The match is the first Super Rugby clash after eight years to be played on Rotorua.

Umaga has also named Malakai Hala-Ngatai, who has ties to Te Arawa, at loose-head prop, in the starting lineup.

The 23-year-old played for the All Blacks Under 20s team at the World Junior Championship and went through the Manawatū Rugby Academy.

Key players who will miss the match because of injuries include lock Allan Craig (head knock), utility back Julian Savea (shoulder), centre Ngani Laumape (knee), wingerTevita Ofa (finger) and prop Tito Tuipulotu.

The Chiefs, meanwhile, have named a strong side, with All Blacks flyhalf Damien McKenzie back in the lineup.

McKenzie joins fellow All Blacks Cortez Ratima, Quinn Tupaea and Leroy Carter in the backline, which will also feature former Moana Pasifika winger Kyren Taumoefolau.

Head coach Jonno Gibbs has also changed his forward pack, resting hooker Samisoni Taukei'aho, and moved regular skipper Luke Jacobson to the bench.

Hard working lock Tupou Vaa'i will lead the team.

Moana Pasifika: 1. Malaki Hala-Ngatai, 2.Millenium Sanerivi, 3. Paula Latu, 4. Tom Savage, 5. Veikoso Poloniati, 6. Miracle Faiilagi (c), 7. Niko Jones, 8. Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa, 9. Augustine Pulu, 10. Jackson Garden-Bachop, 11. Glen Vaihu, 12. Lalomilo Lalomilo, 13. Tevita Latu, 14. Solomon Alaimalo, 15. William Havili

Bench: 16. Samiuela Moli, 17. Abraham Pole, 18. Atu Moli, 19. Jimmy Tupou, 20. Semisi Paea, 21. Melani Matavao, 22. Patrick Pellegrini, 23. Tyler Pulini

Chiefs: 1. Ollie Norris, 2. Tyrone Thompson, 3. Reuben O'Neill, 4. Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 5. Tupou Vaa'i (c), 6. Samipeni Finau, 7. Jahrome Brown, 8. Simon Parker, 9. Cortez Ratima, 10. Damian McKenzie,11. Kyren Taumoefolau, 12. Quinn Tupaea, 13. Kyle Brown, 14.Leroy Carter, 15. Liam Coombes-Fabling

Bench: 16. Brodie McAlister, 17. Jared Proffit, 18. Sione Ahio, 19. Fiti Sa, 20. Luke Jacobson, 21. Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22. Josh Jacomb, 23. Reon Paul

Fijian Drua v Western Force

Kick-off: 4:35pm Saturday 11 April

Venue: Churchill Park, Lautoka

Meanwhile, Basiyalo's debut has come at a time when the first-choice Drua wingers are out injured or rested because of their busy game time so far.

Ponipate Loganimasi, Joji Nasova and Kini Momo are all rested.

Basiyalo will pair usual fullback Ilaisa Droasese, who makes way for Isikeli Rabitu to run in at 15 against the Force.

Head coach Jackson told the media in Nadi this week they expect their opponents to play their kicking game, with Wallaby Ben Donaldson and Kurtley Beale named in the match-day 23.

Jackson said that will pose alot of pressure for the team.

The Force have an average of 25 kicks in play per game in the last seven rounds.

Former Kangaroos and New South Wales State of Origin rep Zac Lomax has been named on the bench for his debut game.

Flooding in the Western Division, brought about by Cyclone Vaianu during the week.

Jackson has named his best available lineup for the clash, keeping consistency in the forward pack.

Haereiti Hetet, Zuriel Togiatama, Mesake Doge, Isoa Nasilasila, Joseva Tamani, Etonia Waqa, Motikiai Murray, Elia Canakaivata have all been retained and their work rate will be the key to the team's success.

The backline is completed by Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, Ilaisa Droasese, Iosefo Namoce and Tuidraki Samusamuvodre.

Nasilasila and Samusamuvodre are the two co-captains for the match.

Drua are currently 10th on the ladder while the Force are at ninth, having defeated the Reds in Brisbane last weekend.

Fijian Drua: 1. Haereiti Hetet, 2. Zuriel Togiatama, 3. Mesake Doge, 4. Isoa Nasilasila (co-c), 5. Joseva Tamani, 6. Etonia Waqa, 7. Motikiai Murray, 8. Elia Canakaivata, 9. Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 10. Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, 11. Ilaisa Droasese, 12. Iosefo Namoce, 13. Tuidraki Samusamuvodre (co-c), 14. Isikeli Basiyalo, 15. Isikeli Rabitu

Bench: 16. Mesulame Dolokoto, 17. Emosi Tuqiri, 18. Samuela Tawake, 19. Mesake Vocevoce, 20. Kitione Salawa, 21. Vilive Miramira, 22. Simione Kuruvoli, 23. Manasa Mataele.

Western Force: 1. Sef Fa'agase, 2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 3. Misinale Epenisa, 4. Franco Molina, 5. Jeremy Williams (c), 6. Nick Champion de Crespigny, 7.Jack Daly, 8. Vaiolini Ekuasi, 9. Henry Robertson, 10. Ben Donaldson, 11. Dylan Pietsch, 12. Bayley Kuenzle, 13. Hamish Stewart, 14. George Bridge, 15. Mac Grealy

Bench: 16. Nic Dolly, 17. Marley Pearce, 18. Harry Johnson-Holmes, 19. Lopeti Faifua, 20. Will Harris, 21. Agustin Moyano, 22. Kurtley Beale, 23. Zac Lomax.

Other round nine matches

Highlanders v Brumbies, 7:05pm Friday 10 April, Dunedin

Hurricanes v Blues, Wellington (top-of-the table clash), Saturday 11 April 7:05pm, Wellington

Reds v Crusaders, 9:35pm Saturday 11 April, Brisbane