In a hotly anticipated top-of-the-table clash between the competition’s two undefeated sides, the Waratahs travelled to Cbus Super Stadium to take on ladder leaders, Fijiana Drua.
The two sides were only split by points differential leading into tonight’s clash, with both the Waratahs Women and Drua recording three bonus point victories in their opening rounds of the Super W.
In their previous round of competition, the Waratahs notched their 20th straight Super W victory following a 67-10 drubbing of the Rebels in Sydney. Fijiana Drua were coming off an equally dominant Round Three encounter, defeating the Western Force 45-17 at Leichhardt Oval.
The Tahs were dealt a major injury blow midweek, with the competition’s leading try-scorer, Mahalia Murphy, ruled out following with a hamstring complaint. Murphy has scored eight tries in just three matches this season and is undeniably the sides key attacking threat.
Arabella McKenzie was called in as replacement for Murphy, joining the Tahs after a successful Super Rugby Aupiki campaign with Matatu. McKenzie joined lock Sera Naiqama as the Tahs fresh faces, Naiqama making her run-on debut in the absence of the injured Atasi Lafai.
In what promised to be a classic Super W encounter, it was the Drua who displayed attacking dominance early on, their excellent offloading game forcing the Waratahs Women into repeat defensive efforts.
The Tahs were pinned exclusively within their defensive third during the opening five minutes and eventually the pressure proved too much, with Drua winger Vitalina Naikore capitalising on the strained NSW tacklers to cross in the corner.
It wasn’t long before Fijiana added another to their account. After a handling error from the Tahs in midfield, Roela Radiniyavuni pounced to carve through the defensive line and set up an easy try for Drua winger Kolora Lomani, taking the lead to 10-0.
With the Fijian flare increasing with every attacking possession, fullback Timaima Ravisa finished a clinical sequence of offloads to extend the Drua lead to 17-points.
The Waratahs Women had to be the next to score and were, with Lori Cramer crossing in the corner following easily the most composed NSW sequence in the opening half.
But the Drua refused to alter their ultra-attacking mindset, with the ball barely going to ground when in Fijiana possession. NSW continued to scramble, clutching onto Drua jerseys desperately in an effort to slow down Fijiana’s frenetic Sevens style of rugby.
With the half drawing on, the Waratahs begun to earn set-piece dominance and would’ve scored if not for some sloppy attacking passing. Despite this hard-earned attacking possession, NSW were unable to cut into the deficit and finished the frantic first half down 17-5.
The second half begun just as the Tahs would’ve hoped, with controlled attacking ball and repeated set-piece possession a feature. When Drua flyhalf Merewalesi Rokouono was shown yellow for repeated infringements, Tahs fans would’ve assumed their team would be next to score. However, repeated dropped ball stifled attacking possessions close to the line and ended the Tahs early attacking presence.
With the Waratahs getting increasingly desperate, an errand pass from Grace Hamilton floated into the awaiting grasp of Roela Radiniyavuni, who raced away to complete the intercept under the sticks and further extend the Drua lead to 24-5.
NSW were able to wrestle back momentum following the crucial interception, but the Drua defence remained seemingly impenetrable, standing strong as the match entered the final 15-minutes.
Soon after, the Waratahs were again close to cutting into the deficit after a barnstorming run from skipper Grace Hamilton, but the Fijiana defence scrambled to hold her up over the line and keep the lead at 19-points.
With the clock ticking towards full-time the Drua defence was eventually exposed, with a slick NSW attacking play finished by substitute winger Tatum Bird, scoring in her second straight match.
A 78th-minute try to Sereima Leweniqila saw the Fijiana lead extend to 29-10 as the full-time whistle blew, officially ending the incredible NSW winning streak which had stood since 2019.
Waratahs Women will welcome fierce rivals, the Queensland Reds, next Saturday at Eric Tweedale Stadium. The Drua can expect an equally tough encounter, as the Brumbies Women travel to Suncorp Stadium for the pivotal final round clash.
Drua 29 Tries: Naikore, Lomani, Ravisa, Radiniyavuni Cons: Rokouono, Naikore Yellow Card: Rokouono
Waratahs 10 Tries: Cramer, Bird
Round Four Fixtures Drua 29 v 10 Waratahs Reds v Rebels – Saturday 5:15pm at Suncorp Stadium Brumbies v Western Force – Sunday 2pm at Viking Park
