Waratah-Drua rivalry adds extra spice to Fijiana Test

Tue, Jul 2, 2024, 4:52 AM
Nathan Williamson
by Nathan Williamson

The Wallaroos admit there's more pleasure in taking on the Fijiana this year after a wild Super Rugby W Final added spice to Saturday's Test match.

Jo Yapp's side will look for their first win of the season against a familiar opposition in Fiji in Sydney.

Tickets to the Wallabies 2024 Home Tests are available to purchase here.

The majority of the Fiji national side comes from the Drua, who dominated Super Rugby W in their opening seasons.

During this time, they built a fierce rivalry with the NSW Waratahs, ending their unbeaten streak as they took out back-to-back titles.

The NSW Waratahs got revenge and ended their title run in April, with the Drua picking up four cards in the Final, including a late red for a stomp.

There are 13 Waratahs in the Wallaroos squad, including lock Kaitlan Leaney, who admits there's extra motivation and pleasure out of toppling the Fijians given their history.

“Losing against them in the past two Super Rugby W Grand Finals hurt and we’ve worked really hard as a squad this year to bounce back,” Leaney admits.

“That gives us a bit of confidence going into the Test match.”

The regular exposure to the Drua gives the Wallaroos a better idea of how to stop their expansive and fluid style of play.

With the best of both nations coming together, scrumhalf Layne Morgan believes it'll deliver a quality encounter in Sydney

“We love playing Fiji and we get to play them more often where it is always a battle in Super Rugby W so to get them on the world stage is even better," she notes.

“We’re getting the top of their crop and they’re getting the top of us so you put those teams together it’s always fan and there’s always a big heat when it comes to the games.

“I’m excited to take them on.”

“It gives us that bit of exposure playing against some of the Super players who will be similar going into the international series,” Leaney added.

“We know what their threats and who their key players are but it’s Fiji, you never know what they’re going to throw at you.”

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