The Vodafone Fijiana XV delivered a spirited performance but were unable to hold off a second-half surge from Springboks Womens Team, going down 29-22 in a hard-fought encounter.

Fiji made an impressive start, with tries from Atelaite Buna and Adi Vani Buleki helping the visitors take a 10-5 lead into halftime after a dominant opening 40 minutes.

South Africa responded strongly after the break, applying sustained pressure to overturn the deficit. Despite the challenge, the Fijiana refused to back down, with Salote Nailolo crossing the line to level the scores at 17-17 and keep Fiji firmly in the contest.

Ivamere Nabura then added another crucial try as Fiji continued to push the Springbok Women, staying within striking distance late in the match.

However, South Africa proved just too strong in the closing stages, with Maria Tshiremba completing a hat-trick to secure a 29-22 victory for the hosts.

While the result did not go Fiji’s way, the Fijiana showed resilience and determination throughout the contest, matching the visitors for long periods and producing plenty of encouraging signs ahead of their next outing.