Vodafone Fijiana XV head coach Mosese Rauluni expressed disappointment following their 17-45 defeat to Manusina Samoa. The loss sees Fijiana drop to third place with five points, while Samoa climbs to second with seven points. This victory was critical for Samoa as they aim to qualify for next year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup, having previously lost to Fiji in the Oceania Rugby Women’s Championship.
In a post-match statement, Rauluni acknowledged that his team was outperformed, marking their first loss of the tournament after an earlier 38-3 win over Hong Kong China. He noted that despite a strong training week, the team failed to execute on the field, missing opportunities and committing costly errors.
Fiji attempted to rally in the second half but couldn’t overcome Samoa, who extended their lead with contributions from Cassie Siataga. Rauluni emphasized the need for the team to review their mistakes, particularly regarding game management, a recurring issue highlighted during recent matches against Scotland and the Netherlands.
The Fijiana team has a week to regroup before facing group leaders Spain in their next match on Sunday. Rauluni acknowledged that Spain poses a significant challenge, but he is focused on returning to form for the upcoming game. In the match, Fijiana’s Luisa Tisolo scored two tries, while captain Karalaini Naisewa added another. Samoa scored six tries, with three conversions and three penalties.
Following this match, Vodafone Fijiana XV had previously secured a victory against Hong Kong China, while Samoa managed a draw against the Netherlands. Two test matches against Scotland are scheduled for the following month.