The NSW Waratahs Women’s round-three win over the 2022 Super W champions shows cracks in the Fijiana Drua’s new-look set up.
The Drua will be hurting from a 31-5 hiding, their first loss since entering the competition.
The last time the two sides met was the fabled 2022 grand final, when the Drua ended the Tah’s four-year reign as Super W champions.
The entry of the Fijian team last year shook up the Super W’s six-team format, and broke the persistent Reds and Waratahs duopoly within the competition.
Before the Fijians arrived on the scene, the Tahs were enjoying a 20-game win streak, highlighting the imbalance within the Super W.
But the Drua’s triumphs of last year were a distant memory on Saturday when the Tahs had their revenge and ran away with a 26-point victory at home.
The Fijiana Drua were unlucky to meet the Tahs for their first game back down under.
Round three coincided with the Drua relocating to Australia for the remainder of the season after two wins in Fiji.
The Drua have a new coach, Inoke Male — and only a handful of players from last year’s premiership-winning team.
Fans took to social media questioning coaching decisions that may have played into the poor result, such as leaving premiership players Karalaini Naisewa and Jade Coates on the bench.
The Drua now have nine points after three rounds and remain third on the ladder behind the Reds and the Waratahs.
They will face Western Force in Perth next Sunday.
The Force will be full of confidence coming off the back of an Easter weekend breakthrough, ending their 14-game losing streak in the Super W, and the Drua will be eager to feel like winners again.
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