The Fijian Drua believe the biggest change since their opening-round loss to the New South Wales (NSW) Waratahs in the 2026 Super Rugby Women’s competition is not tactics or fitness: it’s belief.
Head coach Mike Legge says the players who were once intimidated by some of Australia’s biggest names now see this Saturday’s grand final as simply “another game”.
He says this is giving the Drua confidence that they can turn the tables on the defending champions.
Both sides met in June when the Waratahs handed the Drua a double-digit defeat.
Legge admitted afterwards that some of his younger players had been in awe of the quality and experience across the park.
Several rounds later, that mindset has changed.
“We knew exactly where we went wrong, and building from that game, it’s areas where we feel we’ve rectified, but can get better,” Legge told a press conference.
“With our players, even our young ones that played against the Wallaroos at the beginning of the year, in previous times… the girls would have been in awe of the opposition, but now for them it’s just another game.
“It’s whoever’s in front of them, and they’ll attack it how they see it.”
Legge still describes the Waratahs as the competition’s benchmark, but says his squad has grown with every match and believes the team selected is capable of winning the title.
With several Wallaroos expected to feature again for the Waratahs, he said the match-day 23 had earned their place. The selection that’s going to win us the competition.”
The Drua’s rise this season has been driven by a blend of experienced internationals and a new generation of players making an immediate impact.
More than 10 debutants have featured this season, with 11 players preparing to experience a Super Rugby Women’s final for the first time.
Veteran hooker Bitila Tawake said the mix had created a squad eager to learn from each other.
“Pressure is definitely a privilege,” she tells PMN News. “They’re adding value to us, we’re adding value to them.
“The best thing about this is… when we get to learn things from them as well, it’s really refreshing… the style of rugby that’s going on right now, it’s just really fast paced, and that’s something they offer to us too in trainings as well.”
Tawake, 27, is one of the remaining players from the Drua’s inaugural 2022 squad.
She believes the team’s growth has prepared them for another shot at the competition’s most successful side.
“I know it is not going to be an easy 80 minutes of rugby, it’s going to be a really hard one, a challenging one because we know we’re going up against a quality opposition.
“But… to lift that trophy on Saturday, it’s really back to us. It’s focusing on the little things this week and keeping the basics right.
“It’s up to us, how bad do you want it this weekend.”
While the Drua believe they have improved since their first meeting with the Waratahs, they know another advantage awaits them on Saturday.
Legge expects a packed crowd to create an atmosphere unlike any other in the competition.
“I think a packed-out Ba is going to make it really uncomfortable for the Waratahs, and that’s what we want,” he said.
“We want our fans to come out in numbers, to come out in force and just continue to lift and uplift the girls, especially during those down times during games.
“The crowd plays a massive part in actually bringing them back up to the level we need them.”
Tawake said opposition teams had already noticed the unique support for women’s rugby in Fiji.
She pointed to comments from Queensland Reds captain Jemma Bemrose after last week’s semi-final.
“She said it in her interview last week, like she’s never seen a crowd support women’s rugby ever like this, even in Australia in the Super Cup.
“Fiji has one of the best fans in Super Rugby. So with that, we have that now in the women’s space and I hope that it keeps continuing.”
For the Drua, Saturday’s final is no longer about proving they belong alongside the competition’s best. They believe they do.
Now they have one more chance to show it.
TEAMS
Drua: Karalaini Naisewa, Keleni Marawa, Tiana Robanakadavu, Mereoni Nakesa, Carletta Yee, Nunia Daunimoala, Salaseini Railumu, Sulita Waisega, Kolora Lomani (c), Varanisese Qoro, Aqela Raitubu, Josivini Naihamu, Merewairita Neivosa, Atelaite Buna, Litiana Vueti. Reserves: Bitila Tawake, Zipporah Sorokacika, Keri Lawavou, Karavaki Lutumaibau, Alfreda Fisher, Evivi Senikarivi, Repeka Tove, Verenaisi Ditavutu
Waratahs: Brianna Hoy, Brittany Merlo, Faliki Pohiva, Leilani Nathan, Kaitlan Leaney, Ruby Anderson, Emily Chancellor (c), Piper Duck, Tia Hinds, Waiaria Ellis, Desiree Miller, Rosie Ferguson, Pleuni Kievit, Maya Stewart, Caitlyn Halse. Reserves: Nancy Volkman, Emily Robinson, Bridie O’Gorman, Grace Gillies, Nicole Nathan, Taj Heald, Piper Simons, Amelia Whitaker.
