Atelaite Buna has saved Fijian Drua’s blushes with a scintillating hat-trick in Suva to put her side within reach of a third consecutive Super Rugby Women’s title.
The hosts beat a poised Western Force 25-14 in front of a roaring sell-out crowd of close to 15,000 on Friday afternoon.
THE HAT-TRICK HERO 🎩 🤩
Atelaite Buna seals semi-final victory for the @Fijian_Drua 💥#SuperRugbyW pic.twitter.com/HsO5p6ApFX
— Rugby Australia (@RugbyAU) April 19, 2024
But it was closer than they would have preferred, the Drua missing two penalty kicks and three conversions – all from directly in front or on a slight angle – to leave the margin at just one point late in the second half.
They trailed 11-10 at halftime but all Buna needed was some clean air to put distance on the improved Force, streaking for two long-range tries to go with a first-half effort from close range that was sealed with an emphatic swan dive.
The two-time defending champions will play the winner of NSW Waratahs and ACT Brumbies – to be played later at Allianz Stadium in Sydney – in the final at Brisbane’s Ballymore on April 28.
