'That's going to blow the competition open': Waratahs cop fastest try in Super Rugby Women's history
The Fijian Drua made a record breaking start to the Super Rugby Women's season by scoring a try after just eight seconds in Sydney.
Drua centre Vitalina Naikore - who is also on the books of the NRLW's North Queensland Cowboys - swooped immediately in Friday's season opener as the defending champion NSW Waratahs failed to deal with a regulation kickoff at Allianz Stadium.
The Drua were hunting revenge for last year's grand final where they were pounded 50-14 by the Waratahs.
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Josivini Naihamu of the Drua celebrates with team mates after scoring a try. Getty
Naikore's try is believed to be the fastest in the competition's history.
"How good is that? Look, we knew that Fiji were going to be exciting," former sevens star Dom du Toit said on Stan Sport at half time.
"It only took them eight seconds to do it, but they've had so much intent. I love the style of footy that they're playing with too.
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Drua players celebrate victory. Getty
"They're testing the limits a little bit. We've seen a couple of chip and chases, but just to back themselves completely. This was the first example with Naikore going over, to show that desperation, and then they held that right throughout the first half.
"A lot of their ties came from broken play, and that's when they really come to life."
Waratahs star Georgina Friedrichs scored a try with 30 seconds left to give the home side a sniff of a comeback win.
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But the Drua held on to win 23-17 and celebrated like they had won the grand final.
"That's a huge upset. No-one saw that coming. You can see how much it means to every single player. That's going to blow the competition open," Wallabies legend Tim Horan said on Stan Sport.
The game was played in front of a healthy crowd before the Waratahs and Drua men's teams squared off in Super Rugby Pacific.
Waratahs players look dejected. Getty
"What a disappointment. It's never a nice way to start a season like that. You can't win a game without the ball," Waratahs captain Emily Chancellor told Stan Sport.
Triple international Allana Ferguson described the Drua as "quite incredible."
"We saw them come out with a lot of intent," Ferguson said on Stan Sport.
Georgina Friedrichs of the NSW Waratahs scores a try. Getty
"We highlighted Naikore for being a try scorer, and she proved that quite early, but you could just see the intent behind what they were doing - that they wanted to be physical.
"They used the ball a little bit to bring in some fatigue, but totally played to their strengths."
The Drua had endured a difficult preseason after the distraction of an ugly homophobic scandal back home.
Laijipa Naulivou. Fiji Rugby
Fiji Rugby Union director of rugby Laijipa Naulivou - a former national women's captain - was sacked this month just four days into her job.
Naulivou sensationally told the Fiji Sun newspaper that the country had a "gay problem" and "those who played with me know that I do not condone being gay for women in rugby."
