Vodafone Fijiana XV head coach Mosese Rauluni expressed disappointment after his team’s 17-45 defeat to Manusina Samoa. This loss has dropped Fiji to third place in the standings with five points, while Samoa has risen to second place with seven points.
The match was pivotal for Samoa as they seek to qualify for the Women’s Rugby World Cup next year, particularly after losing to Fiji 27-13 in the Oceania Rugby Women’s Championship in June. In a post-match interview, Rauluni acknowledged that his team was outclassed.
This defeat marked Fiji’s first in the tournament, following a strong 38-3 win against Hong Kong China last month. Rauluni noted that despite good training throughout the week, the performance on the field did not reflect the team’s preparation.
He pointed out that the Fijiana failed to take advantage of scoring opportunities and made critical mistakes that cost them dearly. Despite attempting a comeback in the second half, Fiji could not overcome Samoa’s lead, aided by Cassie Siataga’s kicking.
“We need to go back and review our mistakes,” Rauluni stated, highlighting the necessity to address several issues within the team. He acknowledged that their game management was inadequate, which has been a recurring problem in past matches against Scotland and the Netherlands.
The Fijiana has a week to regroup before facing table leaders Spain in their next match on Sunday. Rauluni recognizes Spain as a formidable opponent and insists on the need for the team to refocus and prepare to secure a win.
In the tested match, Fijiana fullback Luisa Tisolo scored two tries, with captain Karalaini Naisewa adding another. Tisolo successfully converted Naisewa’s try, while Samoa tallied six tries, three of which were converted, along with three successful penalty kicks.
Vodafone Fijiana XV previously defeated Hong Kong China 38-3, while Samoa ended in an 8-all draw against the Netherlands. Looking ahead, the Fijiana has two upcoming test matches against Scotland in England set for November.