Fijiana and Samoa have set up a winner-takes-all title decider after winning their second round matches in the Oceania Rugby Women’s Championship at Sunnybank Rugby Club in Brisbane, Australia, on Wednesday.

Having beaten Tonga 48-3 in round one, Fijiana registered their second bonus-point win of the competition with an emphatic 85-6 victory against a new-look Papua New Guinea team that included 10 debutants.

Reigning champions Samoa, meanwhile, began their title defence with a 29-7 win against Tonga. Samoa had been awarded four competition points after their scheduled opening match against Papua New Guinea was cancelled because the Cassowaries were unable to travel due to logistical issues.

Wednesday’s results leave three-time champions Fijiana on the top of the standings on 10 points with Samoa one point behind in second leading into the final round on Sunday.

As they are guaranteed a top-two finish, both teams will take their place in WXV 3 2024 in Dubai later this year, joining the Netherlands and Madagascar in the six-team event.

Tonga take on Papua New Guinea for third place at 14:00 local time (GMT+10) before the competition’s two standout teams compete for the trophy at 16:00.

If it is anything like last year’s finale, a 19-18 win for Manusina, a thrilling spectacle awaits fans with tickets and those watching further afield on RugbyPass TV.

The Oceania Rugby Women’s Championship 2024 winners will become the ninth team to qualify for Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 in England.

FIJI 85-6 PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Outside-centre Atelaite Buna equalled the Fijiana individual record for most tries in a match after touching down four times in her side’s comprehensive 85-6 win over Papua New Guinea.

Fijiana ran in 13 tries in total, 10 of which were converted by their record points scorer Luisa Tisolo.

With Fijiana using their powerful maul and scrum as a platform to play from, Buna and the rest of the backs had plenty of good ball to show their running and handling skills and, for the most part, they executed the chances that came their way well.

Fijiana scored a point a minute in the first half with Merewai Cumu’s opening effort swiftly followed by a score from the back of the scrum, number eight and captain Karalaini Naisewa rampaging over from 20 metres out.

Buna, Iris Verebalavu and Asinate Serevi – the daughter of Fijian legend Waisale – then took Fiji past 30 points before Naisewa grabbed her second, Tisolo converting for a fifth time.

Joanne Lagona gave Papua New Guinea a much-needed lift on the stroke of half-time when she kicked a straightforward penalty.

Lagona kicked another three-pointer not long after the restart but by then Buna was already on her way to equalling the record jointly held by Adita Milinia, Reapi Ulunisau and Ilisapeci Delaiwau.

Buna’s pace and presence of mind to be in the right place at the right time was evident throughout as she crossed three times in 13 minutes to move onto four tries.

Wingers Merewairita Neivosa and debutant Repeka Tove then joined in the fun before Adita Milinia came off the bench and showed her class by running in try number 12.

Athletic forward Sulita Waisega then got the try her impressive display from the bench deserved when she bamboozled the try-line defender with a swivel of the hips and a quick step having received the ball five metres out form another dominant scrum.

-World Rugby