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Fijian Drua one win away from third consecutive Super Rugby Women’s title

By AAP
Fijian Drua celebrate during the Super Rugby Women's Semi Final match between Fijian Drua and Western Force at HFC Bank Stadium on April 19, 2024 in Suva, Fiji. (Photo by Pita Simpson/Getty Images)

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.

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.