Manusina beats Tonga and turns focus to Fiji
Photo:
Oceania Rugby
Samoa's women's national team, the Manusina, dominated their first game at the Oceania Women's Rugby Championship in Sigatoka, Fiji on Tuesday, with a big 64-14 win over Tonga.
Captain Masuimatamaalii Tauasa Pauaraisa said after the game it was a good start, with seven new players making their debuts.
Pauaraisa, the recipient of the Seiuli Fiao'o Fa'amausili Women's Player of the Year at the Pasifika Rugby Hall of Fame awards earlier this year, said their focus now shifts to Fiji.
The two teams are set to play off for the winner's crown on Saturday.
The Fijians defeated Tonga 59-15 last weekend, and meeting Samoa will confirm which of the two teams becomes the 2025 champion.
The Fijiana are the defending champions.
"So one down, and we have a lot of work leading up to the Fijiana game," Pauaraisa said.
"We came over from Auckland and we got seven debutants and I'm so proud of them."
Manusina led 33-0 at halftime.
Photo:
Oceania Rugby
A former New Zealand Warriors player in the NRL-W, Pauaraisa told
RNZ Pacific
in an previous interview they are focused on using the Oceania meet as their warm-up to the Women's Rugby World Cup, which will be in England from 22 August.
Fiji will also be at the event.
Meanwhile, Tonga Lofa XV captain Tonga Tuiaki said they are learning a lot from the tournament, especially with a number of new players included in their team this year.
"Congratulations to [Samoa] on the win. Since we're getting to this level, I know we have to put in a lot, since we're playing at this very high level.
"I think our team did great and I'm super proud of them - even though for some of the girls it's a new level, they showed themselves and I respect them all."
The side scored two tries in the second half and showed resilience of defence in the second 40-minute spell.
The majority of the Tonga players are local based.
Saturday's Manusina XV and Fijiana XV battle at Lawaqa Park will kick off at 3pm local time.
Meanwhile, Rugby Australia has announced Australia A Women will face Manusina Samoa in a pre-World Cup clash on 28 June in Canberra.
The Wallaroos will play Manusina in the opening match of the Rugby World Cup in Manchester on 23 August.
Samoa won last year's clash in Apia, a late penalty goal securing a 20-17 win.
Rugby Australia said the clash will also serve as a chance for Wallaroos hopefuls to press their claims for selection, ahead of tests against New Zealand and Wales in the build-up to September's World Cup in England.
The fixture is supported by the Australian Government's PacificAus Sports programme.
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