Oceania women’s rugby: Fiji and PNG in final

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Fiji Airways Fijiana 15s player Lavenia Tinai looks for support during the Captain’s run at Churchill Park in Lautoka. Picture: REINAL CHAND

IT will be a repeat of the 2016 final when the Fiji Airways Fijiana XVs take on Papua New Guinea during the second round of the Oceania Rugby 2018 Women’s Rugby Championship at Churchill Park in Lautoka this afternoon.

The Fijiana VXs claimed the inaugural title after beating PNG 37-10 at the ANZ Stadium in Suva in November, 2016.

PNG and Samoa played a high scoring encounter in the first round last week which saw 17 tries being scored.

Though PNG lost 56-45, the side is ready to lift the tempo against the hosts.

Wingers Mala Mark and Jill Yallon will pose the biggest threat with their pace out wide.

Lanky lock Fatima Rama who managed to break through the middle of the Samoan defence time and again to give her side the territorial advantage will be another player to watch out for.

Fijiana XVs defeated Tonga 53-8 in the first match.

PNG captain Debbie Kaore said Fiji would be tough for them considering their top form.

“We hope to make a few changes in our game pattern against them,” she said.

Meanwhile Fijiana XVs skipper Rusila Nagasau has called on the fans to come in numbers to support them.

The match will kick off at 3.30pm. Entry fee is $5.

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