The resilience of the young women and staff that make up the Rooster Chicken Fijian Drua is something that head coach Mosese Rauluni is proud of.
Rauluni took over the team this season, filling in the successful shoes of former coach Inoke Male who continued the legacy set by Senirusi Seruvakula and his playing squad in their inaugural season in Super W.
He had to start with a new foundation as a lot of new faces had joined the squad.
Despite the rough seas, Rauluni and his young brigade were able to sail through and they are set for one last journey into the final.
“The players have been brilliant, the whole squad has been good all season, we came into this season with a late pre-season start,” he said.
“During pre-season, seven of our 16 forwards got injured but Kele Leawere and the forwards sorted that out and we still got to this point so, I’m so proud of them.”
He tested the waters throughout the season, rotating the players and giving chances which paved the way for speedster Atelaite Buna to shine as she showed potential at wing and fullback.
“We took the option of resting a few and taking some new girls last week and it cost us, we lost the game but, we tried to put out our best team against the Force and Atelaite Buna is now part of that team,” Rauluni added.
Drua women spent the weekend with their families and will reconvene in Nadi today to begin preparation for the grandfinal showdown against the Waratahs.
The final will be played on Sunday at 4pm at Ballymore Stadium in Brisbane, Australia.
