The NSW Waratahs have come home strongly in the Super Rugby Women’s final, a disciplined and focused performance seeing them prevail 34-17 over the Fijian Drua in Ba.
The Fijian fans showed again why they are some of the most passionate in world rugby, with a 4,097-strong crowd welcoming both sides to Ba.
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However, despite coming into the weekend having done finals the hard way, the Waratahs started well, with Maya Stewart getting the visitors on the board inside the first 20 minutes.
Both sides saw plenty of opportunities to score, but the Drua’s handling errors and issues at the lineout proved a critical point of difference, and in the 28th minute the visitors went further ahead thanks to a strong effort from Desiree Miller.
The Drua pushed hard in the final ten minutes, however some brilliant cover defence by Caitlyn Halse saw the visitors hold on to take a 12-0 lead into the break.
The Drua’s errors continued early in the second half, with a knock on early in the second half on their own try line seeing Faliki Pohiva, who had put on several big hits in a player-of-the-match performance, scoring the Waratahs’ third in the 47th minute.
The backs then continued their form, with Rosie Ferguson cutting the defensive line to pieces five minutes later to score the Waratahs’ fourth - the score jumping out to a 24-0 lead.
The hosts turned to their forwards to make the hard yards, and found some success when Nunia Daunimoala barged over on the hour mark to give the hosts a sniff with 20 minutes to play.
However, a stunning double to substitute Amelia Whittaker in five minutes put the visitors out to a 34-5 lead with ten minutes to play.
Daunimoala would score a second try for the hosts with ten minutes to play, but the Waratahs wound the clock down well, Sulita Waisega managing only one more try after the siren to give the crowd something to cheer about.
The result sees the Waratahs earn their seventh title overall, and third consecutive title, earning qualification for the Super Rugby Champions final next week, where they will play the winner of the Super Rugby Aupiki final later today.
Holding back tears, Bitila Tawake earned plenty of love from the home crowd on a special day for the competition.
“It took us five years to get the home grand final, and I’m sorry we didn’t get the win today,” Tawake said.
“The Waratahs, the best of the best. We gave our one hundred, you gave your one hundred, but at the end of the day, you guys won.
“Rugby wins at the end of the day.
“The goal for the club is to get another grand final, and I promise we’ll get that again.”
“We dream at home of playing in front of crowds like you guys,” NSW Waratahs captain Chancellor said in accepting the title.
“You know how to support rugby, to come out and be so loud and so energetic, it lights my heart to know how much support women’s rugby has.
“Everytime we come out and play Fiji, we know we’re gonna have an incredible game. The way you play, with direct rugby, creative offloads, it’s a really tough game to play.
"We had 15 coaches and 40+ players that have contributed to this [season], we have 34 girls that have taken the field this season, and we've had six girls that have had injuries that have put them out or made it a really tough season for them.
"I want to shoutout every single player that's been part of this program this year.
"Rugby in Australia wrote us off, we lose two games and that's it for us. This is that response and I'm so proud of this team!"
Fijian Drua 17 (Tries: Daunimoala 2, Waisega Cons: Qoro 1/3) def by NSW Waratahs 34 (Tries: Stewart, Miller, Pohiva, Ferguson, Whittaker 2 Cons: Miller 2/6)
