The Fijian Drua and NSW Waratahs will renew the biggest rivalry in Super Rugby Women’s history when they clash in the competition’s first-ever final to be played in Fiji.
The Drua have turned their season around after opening with a 42-29 loss to the Waratahs in Sydney, winning every game since to finish on top of the table.
The six-time champion Waratahs, meanwhile, recovered from rare defeats to the Western Force and Queensland Reds before beating the Force 33-22 in last week’s semi-final to book another Grand Final berth.
Waratahs winger Desiree Miller, who will earn her 25th cap, says both teams knew they would meet again.
“After round one, a few of the Fijian girls told us, ‘We’ll see you in the final.’ There’s a lot of mutual respect between the two sides. It’s always a great rivalry and a great game.”
Drua coach Mike Legge says his side relishes the challenge of facing the competition’s benchmark team.
“Nothing intimidates this group anymore. They just play what’s in front of them and embrace the opportunity.”
The Drua have named an unchanged starting XV after their 31-5 semi-final win over the Reds, with Karalaini Naisewa set for her 31st appearance for the club.
Captain Kolora Lomani and Atelaite Buna lead a squad packed with sevens stars, while 11 players will experience a Super Rugby Women’s final for the first time.
The Drua will take on the Waratahs at 1pm at 4R Electric Stadium in Ba this Saturday, and you can watch it live and exclusively on FBC Sports.
Legge, says he’s immensely impressed but not surprised ahead of the Super Rugby Women’s final against the Waratahs tomorrow at 4R Stadium Govind Park in Ba.
The Waratahs may have brought back some Wallaroos stars for the final, but it will not change a thing for the Drua.
Coach Legge says this is another normal day in the office for his team.
“With our players, even the young ones that played the Wallaroos and the beginning of the year, in previous times I guess the girls would have been in awe of the opposition, but now for them it’s just another game, it’s whoever is in front of them they’ll attack it how they see it”.
The Waratahs are hunting their seventh Super Rugby Women’s title but will have to overcome the two-time champions Drua in the first-ever Grand Final in Fiji.
Fijian Drua chief executive officer, Jeff Miller, believes this is a game fans shouldn’t miss because they have a chance to be part of history.
“It’s a historic opportunity for Fiji to host such a final, and it’s not only to hopefully get a big crowd of supporters, but it will be seen in Australia and New Zealand and around the world, so it’s a big opportunity”.
The Drua hosts the defending champions at 1.05pm tomorrow.
