Match Report | Fijiana Take Key Lessons from Heartbreaking Canberra Loss
The Vodafone Fijiana XV exit Canberra with their heads held high despite a 33-15 loss to the Wallaroos, with Head Coach Mike Legge describing the Test as one that got away after a performance full of fight and missed opportunities.
From the opening whistle, the Fijiana showed they were in Canberra to compete. Despite conceding an early solo try to Wallaroos debutant Nicole Ledington in the 14th minute, the visitors’ defense stood firm through multiple Australian assaults on their five-metre line, repeatedly denying the home side despite their territorial dominance.
Fijiana got on the board in the 30th minute when fullback Litiana Vueti slotted a penalty from just outside the 22 after the Wallaroos were caught offside. The visitors then seized momentum, with Merewairita Neivosa breaking clear into Australian territory, only to be denied by a crucial turnover from Wallaroos flyhalf Sidney Taylor.
The Wallaroos extended their lead just before halftime when prop Bridie O’Gorman pounced on a loose ball to make it 14-3, but the Fijiana response was immediate. In the 36th minute, Carletta Yee crashed over from close range after the forwards kept the ball tight, sending the teams into the break with the score at 14-10 and everything to play for.
The second half saw the Fijiana continue to push. After Wallaroos captain Siokapesi Palu Sekona powered over in the 46th minute to extend the lead to 21-10, the visitors hit straight back when Kolora Lomani created a break and Josivini Neihamu powered over to bring the score to 21-15.
The defining moment came in the 57th minute when Neihamu raced 60 metres from her own 22 and looked certain to score, only for Ledington to produce a desperate try-saving tackle. Minutes later, Australia extended their lead through Maya Stewart in the corner. Fiji thought they had answered back in the 65th minute, but the try was denied after the TMO spotted a clear knock-on in the build-up.
A yellow card to Salanieta Kinita in the 79th minute for a deliberate knock-down left the Fijiana down to 14 players, and Australia sealed the result in the final minute through Desiree Miller.
Speaking after the match, Legge expressed immense pride in his side while lamenting the moments that slipped away.
“It was the one that got away, I think,” Legge said.
“It was there for us – for the taking, and just a couple of key moments there. We sort of lost our way, but extremely proud of the girls. We stayed in the fight pretty much the whole game, and like I said, just a couple of key things. I’m hugely, hugely proud of the girls. Hugely proud of the effort not just of today, but our whole prep. They’ve worked extremely hard – they put out a performance today that did us proud.”
Legge emphasized that the team was asked to put up a good platform to build toward not only the current season but also the next World Cup, noting that this match was an important step in that journey.
“We asked the girls to put up a good platform for us to build. Not just this season, but obviously to the next World Cup. This game was quite an important step in that.”
The coach highlighted the importance of allowing the team to play freely with their natural Fijian style, a philosophy that had the Wallaroos on the ropes multiple times throughout the contest.
“That’s the natural ability of how our girls play. Just giving them the license to go out and play what’s in front. With not too much structure. That’s exactly how we want the girls to play. Again, like I said, we had the Wallaroos on the ropes a couple of times here. We just missed a few opportunities there to nail it.”
Legge also stressed that more quality Test matches against top-tier nations are essential for the team’s continued development.
“We’re competing against nations like the Wallaroos, Australia. We want to continue to build and play nations like that, like New Zealand. That’s the only way we’re going to improve.
“Moving forward, we’ve got quite a full test calendar this year. We’ve got a test series against South Africa after Super W, which is massive for us. And then the WXV.”
Vodafone Fijiana XV Captain Betila Tawake echoed her coach’s sentiments, praising her teammates for the fight they displayed until the final whistle.
“Honestly I’m just really proud of the girls and the fight they put up for 80 minutes,” Tawake said.
“We didn’t get that five – it’s 80 minutes rugby – one is going to win, and one is going to lose and we are going to take the lessons from here.”
The Vodafone Fijiana XV will now return to Fiji to prepare for the Oceania Women’s XV where they will face Tonga and Samoa in the only international XV matches hosted in Fiji this year, scheduled for 17, 21, and 25 April.