Fijian Drua v NSW Waratahs

Kick-off: 1:05pm NZT, Saturday 25 July

Venue: Four R Stadium, Ba, Fiji

The Fijian Drua women are ready to re-write their own history when they host their first-ever Super Rugby Women's (Super Rugby W) final at home in Ba on Saturday.

Head coach Mike Legge, who has been part of the set-up since the team's inception in 2022, is confident the team can beat the defending champion NSW Waratahs.

Should the Fijian women defeat the visitors, it will secure them their third Super W title.

A win will also see them battle the winner of the Super Rugby Aupiki final between the Matatū and Blues.

Legge told reporters at news conference on Wednesday that playing a home final is massive for the team, the country and women's sports.

And having seen the team transformed after their first round loss to the Waratahs in Sydney, he is confident his side will match up and be in the running for the title come Saturday.

He said a healthy team environment has also helped in the team's turnaround and winning run since the round one loss.

"The girls have worked really hard and they deserve to be in the final," he said.

"One of the biggest keys to the success is just being enjoying each other's company, making sure while it's been an environment of hard work, it's been a light and fun environment that we've tried to create with the coaches and all the management and the Drua staff here.

"I think with most teams, if the environment's good, you're going to get success. So that's what we've we've built here."

Respect

Legge said the team understood what Waratahs would bring to the game as defending champs and they have respect for the side.

But, at the same time, the players have confidence in themselves as a team and are not awe-struck by the fact that their opponents are laced with Wallaroos.

"We respect the Waratahs. They have been the benchmark pretty much every year," Legge said.

"But for us, it's more about it's more about what we do on Saturday and ensuring that we stick to our process and we feel if we can do that, then then we'll we'll go a long way to getting a victory.

"We expect them to come out as the defending champ, so they're not coming here just to enjoy the scenery. They're coming here to defend their title.

"They probably haven't had the season that they wanted, so, I think they also got a point to prove and we expect nothing less from a a team that's stacked with Wallaroos, and and it's going to be a tough game."

Legge said in the past the Drua women's players would have been in awe of of the opposition, "but now for them, it's just another game, and it's whoever's in front of them, and they'll attack it how they see it".

"With the Waratahs we expect it's going to be a real grand final, and it's going to be a really good game.

"But for us, again, it's just worrying about what our process, where we feel we can attack the Tahs and making sure that we align with it, and then you know hopefully off the back of that we we can get a positive result."

Own game

Legge said they will just focus on their own game, adding they have worked out ways to try and defuse the Waratahs strong points, which is centred in winning the forward pack battles and using their speed along the backline.

He revealed the week has been focused also on ensuring the players are not complacent, which he believes becomes a problem for local sides at critical times.

"Our training yesterday (Tuesday) was quite a nervous one, so you can tell the girls are really switched on for this for this match," he said.

"The biggest message from me is just to stick to their process, you know, stick to what's worked. We're not going to change anything. We're not going to change how we play, and and just let them go out and express themselves in front of a what we hope is a packed out stadium.

"We continue to focus on our collision, and I've been consistent again with my messaging around that. The collisions are where the game is won, and if we can't win that, then you know we're going to struggle."

Legge said the Waratahs have threats all over the field, use their set piece and their lineouts as their strengths and have good playmakers who dictate the game for them.

"We've got to do what we can to nullify those, we've got some plans in place to nullify the threats, but it's going to have to be for the full 80 minutes," he said.

"It just can't be for fits and bursts."

He also pointed at discipline as a key area they will need to be consistent with, after they gave away some uncalled for penalties against the Reds last weekend.

"The Waratah will punish us if if we do the same, so it's pretty much business as usual for us in terms of our work ons."

Legge also pointed to starting off well in the final and being consistent for the full 80 minutes.

"If we can get a good start, that first 20 minutes is really important to us. We believe if we can get set the momentum we can build from that," he said.

"So, against the Waratahs, we've learnt in the past that if we start slow, we're playing catch up. It's massively important for us to to get off to a fly this weekend, and then we'll build build on top of that."

Leadership

Legge was full of praise with the team's leadership group, which features Kolora Tamani, Bitila Tawake and Alfred Fisher.

Tamani will lead the team out against the Waratahs, having been retained at halfback, while both Tawake and Fisher are on the bench as covers for the forward pack.

Legge said the trio have worked together as leaders and with the team in building a bond that makes them stand together especially under pressure during matches.

"Having a good leadership group in place is important, where everyone supports everyone," he said.

"It's just about keeping calm, especially under pressure, walking towards the pressure. I think that is the biggest key for not just our leaders, but also our whole team.

"If we can absorb the pressure, you know, walk towards it, it's gonna go a long way to us winning this competition."

Fans

Legge and the team are hoping that the 4R Electric Stadium in Ba will be packed to the brim on Saturday.

They believe the 8th man has always boosted their performances, especially at home.

"It's hugely important and I think a packed-out Ba stadium is going to make it really uncomfortable for the Waratahs, and that's what we want.

"We want our fans to come out in numbers, come out in force, and just continue to lift and uplift the girls, especially during those down times during games.

"The crowd play a massive part in actually bringing them back up to you know the level we need them. It's a massive occasion, and we just calling out to all the fans to pack out the stadium."

The team

Legge has kept the same lineup that defeated the Reds last weekend in Lautoka for the final.

That will see Karalaini Naisewa running out for her 31st Drua game at loosehead prop, with Tiana Robanakadavu at tighthead and Keleni Marawa at hooker to complete the front row.

Mereoni Nakesa and Carletta Yee pair off at locks, while Nunia Daunimoala, Salaseini Railumu and powerhouse Sulita Waisega at number eight forming the loose trio.

Captain Lomani leads the backline, which will also feature In Varanisese Qoro at 10, wingers Aqela Raitubu (11) Atelaite Buna (14), with the midfield combination of Josivini Naihamu at inside centre and Merewairita Neivoha at outside centre.

Litiana Vueti will run at fullback.

Fijiana Sevens team captain Verenaisi Ditavutu will cover the backline from the bench.

Waratahs expect 'great atmosphere'

The Waratahs have named Wallaroos fullback Caitlyn Halse in their starting lineup for her first start since the opening round of the season.

Her return sees Desiree Miller, playing in her 25th game, move to the wing, whilst Waratahs Player of the Year Amelia Whitaker will come off the bench.

Wallaroos scrumhalf Piper Simons has been cleared to return from a knee injury via the bench and she is joined by flanker Taj Heald as part of a 6-2 bench split.

"The team is extremely excited about the opportunity we have this week to compete for another Super W title," Waratahs coach Mike Ruthven said.

"We have drawn a huge amount of confidence over the last few weeks from training and the way the players performed last weekend in Perth.

"We are expecting a great atmosphere over in Fiji and we can't wait to get over there."

Fijian Drua: 1. Karalaini Naisewa, 2. Keleni Marawa, 3. Tiana Robanakadavu, 4. Mereoni Nakesa, 5. Carletta Yee, 6. Nunia Daunimoala, 7. Salaseini Railumu, 8. Sulita Waisega, 9. Kolora Lomani (captain), 10. Varanisese Qoro, 11. Aqela Raitubu, 12. Josivini Naihamu, 13. Merewairita Neivosa, 14. Atelaite Buna, 15. Litiana Vueti

Bench: 16. Bitila Tawake, 17. Zipporah Sorokacika, 18. Keri Lawavou, 19. Karavaki Lutumaibau, 20. Alfreda Fisher, 21. Evivi Senikarivi, 22. Repeka Tove, 23. Verenaisi Ditavutu

Waratahs: 1. Brianna Hoy, 2. Brittany Merlo, 3.Faliki Pohiva, 4. Leilani Nathan, 5. Kaitlan Leaney, 6. Ruby Anderson, 7. Emily Chancellor (captain), 8. Piper Duck, 9. Tia Hinds, 10. Waiaria Ellis, 11. Desiree Miller, 12. Rosie Ferguson, 13. Pleuni Kievit, 14. Maya Stewart, 15. Caitlyn Halse

Bench: 16. Nancy Volkman, 17. Emily Robinson, 18. Bridie O'Gorman, 19. Grace Gillies, 20. Nicole Nathan, 21. Taj Heald, 22. Piper Simons, 23. Amelia Whitaker