NSW captain’s spicy speech after Waratahs three-peat
Updated . First published at
NSW Waratahs captain Emily Chancellor revealed the team had been carrying a sizeable chip on its collective shoulder before completing a three-peat of Super Rugby Women’s titles in Fiji on Saturday.
The Waratahs outclassed the Fijian Drua 34-17 in Ba in what was the first SRW grand final to be played in the country.
The NSW Waratahs lift the trophy. Stan
NSW’s player of the season, Amelia Whitaker, came off the bench to ice the game with two second half tries.
Whitaker also scored a brace in the semi-final win over the Western Force but was dropped to the bench for the grand final to accommodate star fullback Caitlyn Halse.
Unusually, the Waratahs had to play their finals fixtures on the road after dropping regular season games against the Force and Queensland Reds.
“I feel like rugby in Australia wrote us off. We lose two games and that’s it for us,” Waratahs captain Emily Chancellor said.
“This is the response. I’m so proud of this team. I couldn’t be more proud of the way we played today.”
It was the Waratahs’ seventh championship since the tournament kicked off in 2018.
The Drua, who joined the competition in 2022, are the only other team to have lifted the trophy.
The Fijians went back-to-back in 2022 and 2023.
Drua captain Kolora Lomani was in tears after the match as she apologised to the 4097 fans at Four R Stadium.
Chancellor acknowledged the support in a classy victory speech.
“To Drua, what an incredible game. Every time we come out, and we play Fiji in Fiji or at home, we know that we’re gonna have an incredible game,” the flanker said.
Faliki Pohiva of the Waratahs in action with the ball. Getty
“The way you play with direct rugby, creative offloads, it’s a really tough game to play against, and you really threw it at us today, so well done, girls.
“To the crowd. Wow. We dream at home of playing in front of crowds like you guys. You just know how to support rugby, to come out and be so loud and so energetic, it just lights my heart to know how much support women’s rugby has.”
Test wingers Maya Stewart and Desiree Miller both scored first half tries while prop Falika Pohiva and centre Rosie Ferguson crossed in the second term.
Pohiva was named player of the match while pint-sized prodigy Waiaria Ellis directed traffic from No.10 with maturity beyond her 18 years.
“What an incredible group. The belief we have in each other is unbelievable,” Chancellor said.
The Waratahs will now take on the New Zealand champion Blues at Sydney’s Leichhardt Oval next weekend.
The Blues also completed a three-peat by beating Matatū in the Super Rugby Aupiki grand final at One NZ Stadium in Christchurch on Saturday.
Maiakawanakaulani Roos of the Blues celebrates with her team after winning. Getty
Katelyn Vahaakolo ran in for the match-winning try in the 82nd minute.
Vahaakolo had been injected early into the contest for a concussed Braxton Sorensen-McGee, and it was her second try of the evening, to go with a double to Atlanta Lolohea.
“I am so proud of the team, we had our backs against the wall. Never had a doubt, we supported each other and had belief we could do it with nothing to lose,” Blues captain Maiakawanakaulani Roos said.
NSW Waratahs 34 (Whitaker 2, Stewart, Miller, Ferguson, Pohiva tries; Miller 2 conversions) Fijian Drua 17 (Daunimaola 2, Waisega tries; Qoro conversion)
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