Vodafone Fijiana XV head coach Mosese Rauluni expressed disappointment after his team’s 17-45 defeat to Manusina Samoa. Following this match, Fiji has dropped to third place in the standings with five points, while Samoa has moved up to second place with seven points.
This victory was significant for Samoa as they aim to qualify for the Women’s Rugby World Cup next year. Earlier this year, Fiji had secured a win against Samoa in the Oceania Rugby Women’s Championship, which played a key role in Fiji’s qualification.
In his post-match comments, Rauluni noted that his team was outclassed throughout the game. Despite a strong training week, he felt they failed to translate that preparation onto the field. Rauluni acknowledged that his team struggled to seize their chances and made critical mistakes that proved costly.
In the second half, Fiji attempted to turn the game around, but Samoa extended their lead, aided by Cassie Siataga’s kicking. Rauluni emphasized the need to review their errors and highlighted their poor game management as an area that requires improvement. He mentioned similar issues during their previous matches against Scotland and the Netherlands.
“I’m concerned about the number of errors we made today. We cannot continue to repeat these mistakes, especially in a fast-paced game,” he stated.
The Fijiana team has a week to regroup before facing table leaders Spain in their next match on Sunday. Rauluni acknowledged the significant challenge ahead, stating, “Spain is a strong team, and we are aware of the difficulties we will face.”
In terms of match highlights, Fijiana fullback Luisa Tisolo scored two tries, and skipper Karalaini Naisewa added another, while Tisolo successfully converted Naisewa’s try. Samoa managed to score six tries, with three being converted and three penalties awarded.
Vodafone Fijiana XV triumphed in their first match against Hong Kong China, winning 38-3, while Samoa drew with the Netherlands 8-all. Looking ahead, Fijiana has two scheduled test matches against Scotland in England in November.