The Queensland Reds completed a first season-derby double over the ACT Brumbies to surge into the Super Rugby Pacific top four, grinding out a spirited 30–21 victory at Suncorp Stadium on a greasy Saturday night in Brisbane. Three successful penalty goals proved the difference as the Reds consigned Stephen Larkham’s side to a third consecutive defeat for the first time since 2018.

Key moments

4′ – TRY BRUMBIES: Andy Muirhead’s 50–22 gave the Brumbies instant field position. After sustained pressure near the line, Ryan Lonergan tapped quickly from a penalty and Lachlan Shaw burrowed over from close range for his fourth of the season. Lonergan converted. (Reds 0–7 Brumbies)

7′ – TRY REDS: The Reds responded immediately after winning a penalty from the restart. They kicked to the corner and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto crashed over off a short ball, powering through multiple defenders with a low, driving charge. Harry McLaughlin-Phillips converted. (Reds 7–7 Brumbies)

25′ – PENALTY REDS: McLaughlin-Phillips slotted a penalty from 30 metres after Fraser McReight won his second turnover penalty of the match. (Reds 10–7 Brumbies)

39′ – TRY REDS: With the Reds camped on the Brumbies line under penalty advantage, halfback Kalani Thomas dropped a clever grubber in behind and Josh Flook won the race to the ball, plucking the wet ball from head height in full stride and slamming it down just inside the dead-ball line. McLaughlin-Phillips converted. (Reds 17–7 Brumbies)

Half-time: Reds 17–7 Brumbies. A physical, rain-affected contest dominated by kicking and the breakdown battle. McReight outstanding with two turnovers; Salakaia-Loto immense in the collisions. The Brumbies struck first but faded as the Reds built territorial control. McLaughlin-Phillips and Joe Brial both made long breaks without finding the finish earlier in the half.

42′ – PENALTY REDS: McLaughlin-Phillips added three more after Lonergan was caught offside. The Reds’ fourth penalty goal of the season — all four against the Brumbies. (Reds 20–7 Brumbies)

45′ – TRY BRUMBIES: Harry Wilson knocked on from the kick-off, giving the Brumbies a scrum 20 metres out. After David Feliuai made a strong burst, Rob Valetini powered over from close range. Lonergan converted. (Reds 20–14 Brumbies)

54′ – TRY BRUMBIES: The Brumbies took the lead for the first time since the opening minutes. After sustained pressure, Feliuai started the move with a surging run and then finished it, burrowing over under the posts. Lonergan converted. (Reds 20–21 Brumbies)

60′ – TRY REDS: Zane Nonggorr won a crucial turnover to set up field position. After a penalty for offside against Cadeyrn Neville, the Reds tapped and drove, with Seru Uru picking and going at pace and getting help from his forwards to crash over. McLaughlin-Phillips converted to restore the lead. (Reds 27–21 Brumbies)

67′ – PENALTY REDS: Ben Volavola slotted a penalty with his first touch after replacing McLaughlin-Phillips, following a dominant Reds scrum that forced the Brumbies to collapse 30 metres out. (Reds 30–21 Brumbies)

78′ – MISSED PENALTY BRUMBIES: Tane Edmed’s long-range attempt from halfway drifted left and went dead, ending the Brumbies’ hopes of a late charge. (Reds 30–21 Brumbies)

Full-time: Reds 30–21 Brumbies

Match report

There was a time when the Reds would have turned their noses up at three penalty goals in a match. They have been dogged trailblazers in recent seasons for spurning shots at goal to chase tries instead, backing their attacking instincts even when the scoreboard suggested otherwise. On a wet and willing Saturday night at Suncorp, Les Kiss’s side showed the pragmatism that has been the missing ingredient, and it delivered them a result that transforms their season.

The significance of the three penalties — all the Reds’ penalty goals this season have come against the Brumbies — was not lost on captain Fraser McReight, who made the calls to point at the posts each time. McReight’s reasoning was straightforward: in greasy conditions and with the breakdown producing a stream of infringements, the points were there to be banked. McLaughlin-Phillips and Volavola were flawless from the tee, converting all six attempts between them, and the nine points from penalties proved the exact margin of victory.

It was a seesawing contest that swung through five lead changes and never felt settled until Volavola’s penalty with 13 minutes remaining gave the Reds a two-score cushion. The Brumbies struck first through Shaw, who burrowed over from a quick tap after Muirhead’s 50–22 had given the visitors instant field position in the opening minutes. Salakaia-Loto’s thundering response three minutes later — a low, powerful charge off a short ball that left multiple defenders clutching at air — set the tone for an immense personal display from the lock, who played the full 80 minutes and was named the standout performer on both broadcasts.

The first half was an arm wrestle shaped by the boot and the breakdown. McReight was at his disruptive best, winning two turnovers that directly led to penalties, while Salakaia-Loto and Wilson dominated the collision zone through the middle. McLaughlin-Phillips and Brial both made surging breaks that deserved tries but could not find the finish — former Red James Slipper turning back the clock to get over the ball after McLaughlin-Phillips’ break, while Brial was penalised for not releasing after being hauled down by Corey Toole having sprinted 50 metres.

The half’s decisive moment came on the stroke of the break. With the Reds camped on the Brumbies’ line under a penalty advantage, Thomas picked up a cue from Flook and dabbed a grubber through from the ruck base. Flook dashed through, plucked the wet ball from head height at full pace and got it down just inside the dead-ball line. It was the try of the match in conditions that made handling a lottery, and it gave the Reds a 17–7 buffer that proved vital given what followed.

The second half briefly threatened to become a Brumbies comeback story. Wilson’s knock-on from the kick-off handed them a scrum 20 metres out, and Valetini needed no second invitation, rumbling low and powering through for a try that reduced the deficit. When Feliuai — who had been the Brumbies’ most dangerous ball carrier all night — started and finished a surging passage to cross under the posts, the visitors held a 21–20 lead with 26 minutes to play.

Lesser sides might have wilted. The Reds, to their credit, found another gear. Nonggorr’s turnover gave them field position, Neville was caught offside from the resulting pressure, and Uru picked from the quick tap and drove over with the help of his pack to restore the lead. It was the kind of composed, physical response that Kiss will have demanded, and Uru’s try proved the decisive blow.

Daugunu’s defence in the closing stages was outstanding, driving three Brumbies ball carriers into touch as the visitors searched for a way back. McReight added his third turnover of the evening, and when Edmed’s penalty from halfway drifted left and went dead in goal, the Reds could exhale.

The result lifts the Reds above both the Brumbies and the Crusaders into fourth place on 27 points with a 6–4 record, and claims the Rod Macqueen Cup for the first time since 2022. Only the 2012 and 2021 Reds had previously managed back-to-back wins over the Brumbies in the same season since the trophy was introduced in 2005.

For the Brumbies, the slide is alarming. Six defeats from their last eight matches has left Larkham’s side clinging to sixth spot on 25 points, four weeks out from the finals. Tom Wright’s milestone 100th Super Rugby match deserved a better outcome, though the fullback delivered a composed display in just his third game back from an ACL injury. Valetini never stopped charging, but the Brumbies’ inability to close out the contest when they held the lead will trouble their coaching staff heading into next week’s home match against the Force.

Match details

Reds 30 (Tries: Salakaia-Loto 7′, Flook 39′, Uru 60′; Conversions: McLaughlin-Phillips 3/3; Penalties: McLaughlin-Phillips 2/2, Volavola 1/1)
Brumbies 21 (Tries: Shaw 4′, Valetini 45′, Feliuai 54′; Conversions: R. Lonergan 3/3)
Half-time: 17–7

Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Todd Petrie, Warwick Lahmert
TMO: Richard Kelly

Teams

Reds: 15 Jock Campbell, 14 Filipo Daugunu, 13 Josh Flook, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Tim Ryan, 10 Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, 9 Kalani Thomas, 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Fraser McReight (c), 6 Joe Brial, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4 Seru Uru, 3 Zane Nonggorr, 2 Matt Faessler, 1 Aidan Ross.
Replacements: 16 Josh Nasser, 17 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 18 Nick Bloomfield, 19 Hamish Muller, 20 Vaiuta Latu, 21 Louis Werchon, 22 Ben Volavola, 23 Treyvon Pritchard.

Brumbies: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Andy Muirhead, 13 Kadin Pritchard, 12 David Feliuai, 11 Corey Toole, 10 Declan Meredith, 9 Ryan Lonergan (c), 8 Toby Macpherson, 7 Rory Scott, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Lachlan Shaw, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Rhys van Nek, 2 Lachlan Lonergan, 1 James Slipper.
Replacements: 16 Liam Bowron, 17 Blake Schoupp, 18 Darcy Breen, 19 Cadeyrn Neville, 20 Luke Reimer, 21 Klayton Thorn, 22 Tane Edmed, 23 Ollie Sapsford.

What’s next

The Reds head to Hamilton to face the Chiefs next weekend. The Brumbies return home to GIO Stadium to host the Western Force on Saturday.

The Blues ran in seven tries to overwhelm Moana Pasifika 45–19 at North Harbour Stadium, recovering from a slow start and an ill-disciplined first half to produce a dominant second-half display that moved them into second place on the Super Rugby Pacific table and officially ended the hosts’ playoff hopes with three matches remaining before the franchise disbands.

Key moments

14′ – TRY MOANA: After sustained pressure near the Blues line through tap penalties, Moana launched a midfield lineout from a quick tap — borrowing from the Springboks’ playbook — and set up a maul for Millennium Sanerivi to power over. Havili’s conversion drifted right. (Moana 5–0 Blues)

24′ – TRY BLUES: Sam Darry carried strongly near the line from a lineout before Marcel Renata spotted space around the ruck and barged over. Perofeta converted. (Moana 5–7 Blues)

34′ – TRY MOANA: Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa carried from another tap penalty before the ball was switched to the short side, and Sanerivi got through Sam Darry to barge over for his second. Havili converted. (Moana 12–7 Blues)

39′ – TRY BLUES: Patrick Tuipulotu drove close before the Blues spread it wide right. Perofeta found Sullivan, who delivered a wide ball to Kade Banks for a finish in the corner. Perofeta converted from the touchline. (Moana 12–14 Blues)

Half-time: Moana 12–14 Blues. Moana’s most spirited half of the season. Their Springbok-inspired set-piece innovation and direct carrying troubled the Blues, who conceded eight penalties in the opening 33 minutes. Banks’ late try gave the visitors an undeserved lead at the break.

41′ – TRY BLUES: From the first play of the second half, the Blues capitalised on a Moana free kick. After multiple carries, Tuipulotu powered over near the posts. Perofeta converted. (Moana 12–21 Blues)

48′ – TRY BLUES: Caleb Clarke carried, Mason Tupaea made a punching run, and James Mullan powered over from close range for his first Blues try. Perofeta converted. (Moana 12–28 Blues)

58′ – TRY BLUES: After Sanerivi’s attempted clearance kick inside his own 22 was gathered by Mullan, Stephen Perofeta dummied and went straight through the defence to score. Conversion missed. (Moana 12–33 Blues)

68′ – TRY BLUES: Banks lost the ball backwards, collected it again and drove towards the line before offloading to Beauden Barrett for a neat finish. Conversion missed. (Moana 12–38 Blues)

72′ – TRY MOANA: After winning a penalty near the Blues line, Moana set up a maul. Tupou Ta’eiloa and Faiilagi carried close before Chris Apoua darted left and sneaked under the defence. Havili converted. (Moana 19–38 Blues)

77′ – TRY BLUES: Debutant Terrell Peita picked from the base of the ruck and powered over for his first Super Rugby try. Barrett converted. (Moana 19–45 Blues)

Full-time: Moana Pasifika 19–45 Blues

Match report

The scoreline will say demolition. The first half said something quite different. For 40 minutes at North Harbour Stadium on Saturday night, Moana Pasifika reminded everyone why their departure from Super Rugby Pacific will leave a genuine void — not in the standings, perhaps, but in the spirit and innovation that have characterised the franchise at its best.

Tana Umaga’s side came out swinging from the opening minute, pressuring the Blues into conceding five penalties inside the first 18 minutes and keeping Vern Cotter’s team pinned deep in their own territory. The highlight was a set-piece innovation lifted straight from the Springboks’ playbook — a midfield lineout formed from a quick tap penalty that caught the Blues completely off guard and set up the maul from which hooker Sanerivi crashed over for the opening try. It was a move the players themselves had devised, according to Umaga, and it worked brilliantly.

Sanerivi scored again 20 minutes later after Tupou Ta’eiloa carried from yet another tap penalty and the ball was switched to the short side, with the hooker powering through Darry’s attempted tackle. At 12–7, with the Blues looking rattled and ill-disciplined, the upset was firmly on.

But championship-calibre sides find ways to win when they are not at their best, and the Blues did exactly that. Renata’s close-range try from a well-worked lineout steadied the ship, and Banks’ excellent finish in the corner two minutes before half-time — stepping past his opposite number after Sullivan had delivered a wide ball from Perofeta — gave the visitors a 14–12 lead that flattered them at the break.

Whatever Cotter said at half-time transformed his team. The Blues scored from the very first passage of play after the restart, capitalising on a Moana free kick for offside as Tuipulotu powered over near the posts to extend the lead to nine. When Mullan drove over from close range seven minutes later for his first try since joining from Canterbury, the floodgates were open.

Perofeta capped an impressive evening with a moment of individual brilliance, dummying from the base of a turnover ruck inside the Moana 22 and sprinting through an unguarded channel to score in the corner. The six-test All Black had controlled proceedings with his boot and distribution all night, and Cotter will have been pleased with his authority at first five-eighth in Barrett’s absence from the starting lineup.

The depth of the Blues’ resources was underlined when Barrett replaced Perofeta and crossed with one of his first touches, backing up after Banks had fumbled but recovered to drive towards the line. Apoua’s consolation try for Moana — the second of his career — briefly lifted the home crowd, but debutant Terrell Peita’s try from the base of the ruck sealed the bonus point and confirmed the Blues’ superiority.

For Moana, the emotional weight of their situation was never far from the surface. This was their first home match since the announcement that the franchise would disband at season’s end, and the crowd — their best home attendance of the year — brought colour and energy that stood in poignant contrast to the reality of what lies ahead. Umaga spoke afterwards about the uncertainty facing his players and staff, acknowledging morale was a long way from where it had been when this same venue hosted their famous victory over the Blues 12 months earlier.

Blues captain Tuipulotu, whose younger brother Tito plays for Moana, described the cross-city relationship as a sibling rivalry and admitted it was difficult to watch the franchise face its end. He spoke of his concern for the players having to find employment elsewhere and the loss of development opportunities that Moana had provided for Pacific Island players in New Zealand.

On the field, the Blues’ second-half dominance — six tries to one after the break — was built on the platform of their forward pack, led by Tuipulotu and fellow All Blacks lock Darry, while Anton Segner was excellent at the breakdown after shifting to openside in Dalton Papali’i’s absence. Xavi Taele impressed on his move to centre, and the returning Clarke looked sharp on the left wing after missing the past fortnight with a calf injury.

The result moves the Blues to second on 38 points, two clear of the Chiefs and two behind the Hurricanes, with an 8–3 record. They face the Crusaders under the roof at One New Zealand Stadium next Friday in the first of three consecutive derbies that will define their season. Moana Pasifika, bottom with four points and a 10th consecutive defeat, host the Hurricanes next Saturday in what will be another emotionally charged evening at North Harbour Stadium.

Match details

Moana Pasifika 19 (Tries: Sanerivi 14′ 34′, Apoua 72′; Conversions: Havili 2/3)
Blues 45 (Tries: Renata 24′, Banks 39′, Tuipulotu 41′, Mullan 48′, Perofeta 58′, Barrett 68′, Peita 77′; Conversions: Perofeta 4/5, Barrett 1/2)
Half-time: 12–14

Venue: North Harbour Stadium, Auckland
Referee: Nic Berry (Australia)
Assistant Referees: Reuben Keane, Louis Trisley
TMO: Brett Cronan

Teams

Moana Pasifika: 15 Glen Vaihu, 14 Israel Leota, 13 Solomon Alaimalo, 12 Tevita Latu, 11 Tuna Tuitama, 10 William Havili, 9 Augustine Pulu, 8 Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa, 7 Semisi Paea, 6 Miracle Faiilagi (c), 5 Jimmy Tupou, 4 Allan Craig, 3 Atu Moli, 2 Millennium Sanerivi, 1 Malakai Hala-Ngatai.
Replacements: 16 Mamoru Harada, 17 Abraham Pole, 18 Chris Apoua, 19 Veikoso Poloniati, 20 Dominic Ropeti, 21 Siaosi Nginingini, 22 Jackson Garden-Bachop, 23 Faletoi Peni.

Blues: 15 Zarn Sullivan, 14 Kade Banks, 13 Xavi Taele, 12 Pita Ahki, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Stephen Perofeta, 9 Sam Nock, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Anton Segner, 6 Torian Barnes, 5 Sam Darry, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 3 Marcel Renata, 2 Kurt Eklund, 1 Ben Ake.
Replacements: 16 James Mullan, 17 Mason Tupaea, 18 Flyn Yates, 19 Laghlan McWhannell, 20 Terrell Peita, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Beauden Barrett, 23 AJ Lam.

What’s next

The Blues face the Crusaders under the roof at One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch next Friday, with a win potentially putting them top of the table before the Hurricanes take on Moana Pasifika a day later. Moana Pasifika stay at North Harbour Stadium to host the Hurricanes next Saturday.

Isikeli Rabitu scored twice and Elia Canakaivata marked his 50th cap with a decisive try as the Fijian Drua recorded their first ever victory over the Highlanders, winning 24–14 in sweltering conditions at Four R Stadium to leave the visitors’ season hanging by a thread.

Key moments

10′ – TRY DRUA: Tuidraki Samusamuvodre intercepted in midfield inside his own 22 and charged past halfway before being hauled down by Jona Nareki. The Drua recycled quickly and moved it left, with Virimi Vakatawa bursting through for his maiden try in Drua colours. Armstrong-Ravula converted. (Drua 7–0 Highlanders)

14′ – TRY HIGHLANDERS: Oliver Haig claimed at the lineout front and Timoci Tavatavanawai offloaded to Cameron Millar, who found Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens. The fullback drew his man and fired it to Jonah Lowe for a superb diving finish in the corner. Millar converted from the sideline. (Drua 7–7 Highlanders)

25′ – TRY DRUA: Haereiti Hetet carried over halfway before the Drua swung it right. Rabitu stepped inside Folau Fakatava and bounced off Nareki’s tackle attempt, sprinting clear to dive over in the corner. Armstrong-Ravula’s conversion hit the right post. (Drua 12–7 Highlanders)

38′ – TRY HIGHLANDERS: After Fakatava’s kick pinned the Drua deep, the Highlanders drove a powerful rolling maul from a lineout five metres out. Veveni Lasaqa emerged with the ball at the back. Millar converted. (Drua 12–14 Highlanders)

Half-time: Drua 12–14 Highlanders. An electric, chaotic half in hot and humid conditions. The Drua struck first through Samusamuvodre’s intercept but the Highlanders showed resilience, finishing the half with momentum after Lasaqa’s maul try.

43′ – TRY DRUA: Off a lineout the Drua swung it right, where Frank Lomani put Rabitu into acres of space. The fullback sprinted over for his second. Armstrong-Ravula’s conversion drifted left. (Drua 17–14 Highlanders)

48′ – TRY DRUA: The Drua turned it over at the ruck. Temo Mayanavanua burst towards the 22 before Hetet was stopped inches short. Canakaivata picked left and squeezed over on his 50th cap. Armstrong-Ravula converted. (Drua 24–14 Highlanders)

62′ – YELLOW CARD: Rabitu was shown a yellow card for cynically playing the ball on the ground near his own line.

Full-time: Drua 24–14 Highlanders

Match report

The scoreboard told only half the story in Ba on Saturday afternoon. The Highlanders had the territory, the set-piece dominance and enough chances inside the Drua 22 to have won this match twice over. Instead, they left Fiji with nothing — not even a losing bonus point — after an afternoon defined by handling errors, missed opportunities and a chronic inability to finish their work near the tryline.

The Drua, by contrast, took their chances ruthlessly when they came. Rabitu was electric whenever the ball reached his hands, scoring twice through a combination of footwork, power and raw pace that the Highlanders simply could not contain. His first-half effort was the try of the match — stepping inside Fakatava and bouncing off Nareki before sprinting away from the cover defence to dive over in the corner. His second, early in the second half off a Lomani pass that put him into space on the right edge, confirmed his status as one of the most dangerous finishers in the competition when given room to move.

It was a fitting afternoon for Canakaivata, who became just the fourth Drua player to reach 50 caps. The number eight’s try in the 48th minute, picking from close range and squeezing over under the posts after Hetet had been stopped inches short, extended the lead to 10 and proved the decisive blow. The Drua’s work at the breakdown was ferocious throughout — they won 14 turnovers across the 80 minutes, with Canakaivata claiming four and blindside flanker Kitione Salawa three — while the Highlanders coughed the ball up 28 times.

The match had burst into life from the opening whistle. Tavatavanawai and Lowe nearly combined for the opening try inside 20 seconds, and the Highlanders dominated the opening 10 minutes, spending most of it camped inside the Drua 22 without reward. Samusamuvodre’s intercept changed the complexion of the contest, picking off a sluggish pass inside his own 22 and charging downfield before Nareki hauled him down. The Drua moved the ball quickly through Lomani’s hands for Vakatawa to cross for his first try in Drua colours.

Lowe’s diving finish in the corner four minutes later was a reminder of the Highlanders’ quality when they got the ball to the edge, with Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens drawing his man and delivering a perfectly timed pass. But that clinical edge deserted them for much of the afternoon. Two missed conversions from Armstrong-Ravula kept the Highlanders within striking distance despite trailing for most of the first half, and Lasaqa’s maul try on the stroke of half-time gave the visitors a 14–12 lead at the break and all the momentum. It was the last time they scored.

Two tries in five minutes after the restart swung the match decisively in the Drua’s favour, and the final 30 minutes became an exercise in mounting frustration for Jamie Joseph’s side. Lasaqa came agonisingly close to an extraordinary intercept try from the base of a Drua five-metre scrum, getting his hands to the ball but knocking on as he tried to re-gather in the in-goal. Replacement hooker Soane Vikena swooped on an overthrown lineout five metres out and dived for the line, only for a clutch Drua tackle to dislodge the ball from his grasp. Two rolling mauls were driven towards the tryline but neither could be finished.

Even when Rabitu was yellow-carded in the 62nd minute for cynically playing the ball on the ground, the Drua somehow held firm during the sin-bin period. Their scramble defence under pressure was outstanding, and the Highlanders’ inability to capitalise summed up their afternoon. As co-captain Tavatavanawai reflected afterwards, the recurring theme was all too familiar — the Highlanders were doing the hard yards to get into scoring position but letting themselves down with their error rate when it mattered most.

The result is the Drua’s first victory over the Highlanders in five meetings and maintains their perfect record at Four R Stadium, having opened the ground with a win over the Brumbies earlier in the season. They move to 20 competition points, level with the Highlanders and Waratahs, but three behind the sixth-placed Reds, who have a game in hand. The Drua head into the bye week with their finals push very much alive.

For the Highlanders, the maths is now brutal. They drop to a 4–7 record with just three matches remaining: a home fixture against the Waratahs next weekend followed by away trips to the Chiefs and Hurricanes. A bye in the final round means they cannot afford another defeat, and the quality of opposition awaiting them makes their task look close to insurmountable.

Match details

Fijian Drua 24 (Tries: Vakatawa 10′, Rabitu 25′ 43′, Canakaivata 48′; Conversions: Armstrong-Ravula 2/4)
Highlanders 14 (Tries: Lowe 14′, Lasaqa 38′; Conversions: Millar 2/2)
Half-time: 12–14

Venue: Four R Stadium, Ba, Fiji
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Angus Mabey, Mike Winter
TMO: Aaron Paterson

Teams

Fijian Drua: 15 Isikeli Rabitu, 14 Frank Lomani (co-c), 13 Tuidraki Samusamuvodre, 12 Virimi Vakatawa, 11 Joji Nasova, 10 Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, 9 Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 8 Elia Canakaivata, 7 Kitione Salawa, 6 Joseva Tamani, 5 Temo Mayanavanua (co-c), 4 Isoa Nasilasila, 3 Mesake Doge, 2 Zuriel Togiatama, 1 Haereiti Hetet.
Replacements: 16 Kavaia Tagivetaua, 17 Emosi Tuqiri, 18 Peni Ravai, 19 Mesake Vocevoce, 20 Isoa Tuwai, 21 Philip Baselala, 22 Kemu Valetini, 23 Maika Tuitubou.

Highlanders: 15 Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, 14 Jonah Lowe, 13 Tanielu Tele’a, 12 Timoci Tavatavanawai (co-c), 11 Jona Nareki, 10 Cameron Millar, 9 Folau Fakatava, 8 Nikora Broughton, 7 Veveni Lasaqa, 6 Te Kamaka Howden, 5 Mitch Dunshea, 4 Oliver Haig, 3 Angus Ta’avao, 2 Jack Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot (co-c).
Replacements: 16 Soane Vikena, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Saula Ma’u, 19 Sean Withy, 20 Lucas Casey, 21 Adam Lennox, 22 Taine Robinson, 23 Xavier Tito-Harris.

What’s next

The Fijian Drua head into the bye round before their final push for the playoffs. The Highlanders return home to Dunedin to face the Waratahs in what shapes as a must-win fixture next weekend.