Bower, Mataele, Aumua, Reece, Fihaki and Rova named for Crusaders to face Drua

Six players with links to Fiji have been named in the Crusaders’ match day 23 squad to take on the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua in this weekend’s Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific round 3 in Lautoka.

The six players are George Bower, Manasa Mataele, Levi Aumua, Sevu Reece, Chay Fihaki and Jone Rova

Bower will start at loosehead prop, Mataele and Reece will be on the wings with Levi Aumua starting at centre, Chay Fihaki will be at fullback while Rova is likely to be making his Super Rugby Pacific debut off the bench.

The Crusaders will not be taking this game lightly knowing they lost to the Drua on the same ground last year and also they will want to avoid a 0-3 start to their 2024 season.

George Bell and Fletcher Newell will join Bower in the front row with captain Scott Barrett and Quinten Strange pairing up at locks.

Dom Gardiner and Tom Christie, who will be playing his 50th game, will be on the flanks while Cullen Grace will be at number 8.

Willi Heinz and Taha Kemara will form the halves combination with David Havili at second five-eighth.

In the reserves, Ioane Moananu, Kershawl Syke-Martin, Seb Calder, Jamie Hannah and Tahlor Cahill will provide cover for the forwards while Mitchell Drummond, Rova and Riley Hohepa will be covering the backs.

The Crusaders will take on the Fijian Drua at 1.05pm this Saturday.

The ticket prices for this match are $20 flat for adults and children from the ages of 2 to 12 years old in the North grass, and $35 for adults and $20 for children from the ages of 2 to 12 years old in the East grass.

In the Waitui stands, $50 for adults and $25 for children from the ages of 2 to 12 years old.

The prices for Timber Stand 2 are $70 for adults and $35 for children from the ages of 2 to 12 years old and Timber Stand 1, is $95 for adults and $50 for children from the ages of 2 to 12 years old.

For the silver Southwest stand, $100 for adults and $50 for children from the ages of 2 to 12 years old.

The gold southwest stand and platinum stand will be $150 flat.

In other matches this weekend, Moana Pasifika will take on the Rebels at 6.05pm Friday, the Waratahs will play the Highlanders at 8.35pm Friday, the Brumbies will host the Western Force at 3.35pm Saturday, the Hurricanes will play the Blues at 6.05pm Saturday and the Reds will take on the Chiefs at 8.35pm Saturday.