{"id":508139,"date":"2026-04-02T02:11:09","date_gmt":"2026-04-02T02:11:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/508139\/"},"modified":"2026-04-02T02:11:09","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T02:11:09","slug":"mataele-nasova-return-as-drua-reshuffle-for-crusaders-clash-fbc-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/508139\/","title":{"rendered":"Mataele, Nasova return as Drua reshuffle for Crusaders clash \u2013 FBC News"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t<\/p>\n

[Source: Fijian Drua\/Facebook]<\/p>\n

The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua have made key changes ahead of their Round 8 Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific showdown against the Crusaders, with Manasa Mataele and Joji Nasova returning to the matchday 23.<\/p>\n

Head coach Glen Jackson has turned to the experienced duo to fill the wings, replacing Ponipate Loganimasi and Epeli Momo, who are sidelined through injury.<\/p>\n

There is also a boost for young talent, with Philip Baselala earning his first selection of the season, while Issak Fines-Leleiwasa takes over the halfback role from injured co-captain Frank Lomani.<\/p>\n

Up front, Haereiti Hetet, Zuriel Togiatama and Mesake Doge form the front row, while skipper Isoa Nasilasila partners Joseva Tamani in the second row.<\/p>\n

Article continues after advertisement<\/p>\n

The loose forward trio sees Etonia Waqa at blindside, Kitione Salawa at openside, and Elia Canakaivata retaining the number eight jersey.<\/p>\n

In the backs, Fines-Leleiwasa links up with Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula in the halves, while Mataele and Nasova provide width on the wings.<\/p>\n

Iosefo Namoce keeps his spot at inside centre alongside Virimi Vakatawa, with Ilaisa Droasese named at fullback.<\/p>\n

On the bench, Sairusi Ravudi, Emosi Tuqiri and Peni Ravai provide front-row cover, with Mesake Vocevoce and Isoa Tuwai backing up the forwards. Baselala, Kemu Valetini and Isikeli Rabitu round out the reserves.<\/p>\n

The Drua will be looking to overcome their injury setbacks and deliver a strong performance against one of the competition\u2019s most formidable sides.<\/p>\n

They meet the Crusaders at 6.05pm on Friday and you can watch the LIVE action on FBC Sports.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"[Source: Fijian Drua\/Facebook] The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua have made key changes ahead of their Round 8 Shop…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":508140,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[5903,101,56,54,55],"class_list":{"0":"post-508139","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-rugby","8":"tag-rugby","9":"tag-sports","10":"tag-uk","11":"tag-united-kingdom","12":"tag-unitedkingdom"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/508139","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=508139"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/508139\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/508140"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=508139"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=508139"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=508139"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}