Waratahs win Super Rugby Women's grand final against Drua in Fiji
Consensus Summary
The NSW Waratahs claimed their seventh Super Rugby Women's title with a 34-17 victory over the Fijian Drua in Ba, Fiji, securing a hat-trick of Super W championships. The Waratahs dominated early, scoring the first four tries and leading 24-0 before the Drua managed their first points almost an hour later. Faliki Pohiva was named player of the final, while Maya Stewart and Amelia Whitaker contributed crucial tries. The Drua, despite finishing top of the regular-season standings, struggled to contain the Waratahs' attack, with the visitors outscoring them by six tries to three. The match highlighted the Waratahs' ability to perform under pressure, as they overcame early challenges to secure their seventh title in the competition. The Drua showed resilience but ultimately fell short, with their high-risk, high-reward style creating opportunities for the Waratahs to capitalize.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- The Waratahs won the Super Rugby Women's grand final with a score of 34-17 over the Drua in Ba, Fiji.
- The Waratahs secured their seventh Super Rugby Women's title.
- Faliki Pohiva scored a try and was named player of the final.
- The Waratahs led 24-0 at one point in the match, with the Drua scoring their first points almost an hour later.
- The Waratahs scored the first four tries of the game, with Maya Stewart scoring one of them in the 19th minute.
- The Drua earned hosting rights by finishing on top of the regular-season standings.
- The Waratahs defeated the Drua in the opening round of the regular season (42-29).
- The Drua had a 3-1 win-loss record in the regular season and won two Super Rugby Women's championships.
- The Waratahs had a 12-0 lead at half-time.
- The Waratahs outscored the Drua by six tries to three in the final.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Waratahs skipper Emily Chancellor gave away a penalty for not rolling away on the Tahs's 22.
- Desiree Miller missed a conversion attempt after Ferguson's try, leading to a 24-0 score.
- Ruby Anderson knocked the ball on with the line wide open, leaving the Waratahs to reflect on what might have been.
- Tia Hinds, playing in only her second match for the Waratahs, scored two tries against the Force in their semifinal.
- The Drua made a deep entry inside the Tahs' 22 and were unlucky not to cross on the right wing through Mereoni Nakesa.
- The Waratahs had spent a sustained period of time camped inside the Drua's half but had no points to show for their efforts before scoring.
- NSW replacement back Amelia Whitaker scored two tries in the following eight minutes after Drua took almost an hour to post their first points.
- The Waratahs had a lineout throw stolen from the first penalty and couldn’t breach the Tahs defence after tapping and running from the second.
- Emily Robinson came off the bench to play in her eighth Super W final and seventh title-winning team.
- The Drua’s Nunia Daunimoala and Sulita Waisega scored tries in the second half, with Daunimoala scoring twice.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The Guardian states the Waratahs scored the first four tries of the game at Four R Stadium, 10 minutes after half-time, while ABC does not specify a time for the first four tries but mentions a 24-0 lead at a different point in the match.
- The Guardian says the Drua took almost an hour to post their first points, while ABC does not mention a specific time for the Drua's first points but notes they scored later in the game.
Source Articles
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The Waratahs are chasing a seventh Super Rugby Women's title, but they face the daunting task of playing the Drua in Fiji. Follow live.
Waratahs spoil Fijian Drua party to claim third straight Super Rugby Women’s title
Fijian Drua 17-34 NSW Waratahs as grand final held in Fiji for first time Tahs forward Faliki Pohiva named player of match NSW Waratahs have produced a scintillating performance to complete a hat-trick of Super W rugby titles with a 34-17 win over minor premiers Fijian Drua in Ba, Fiji. The Tahs also secured a record-extending seventh Super W title, with their tighthead prop Faliki Pohiva named player of the final. Continue reading...
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