A late brace from captain Annetta-Claudia Nu'uausala has ended Fetu Samoa's decades-long wait between Women's World Cup appearances, with their 16-12 comeback victory over Fiji Bulikula securing qualification to the 2026 tournament, the Pacific Bowl title and a shot at promotion to the top tier for next year.
Having last appeared at a World Cup in 2008, Jamie Soward's charges looked set to miss the chance to earn immediate entry this time around when they trailed 12-4 with 25 minutes to go, before Nu'uausala scored twice to propel them to a famous victory at Go Media Stadium in Auckland and earn Player of the Match honours in the process.
Annetta-Claudia Nu'uausala 2nd Try
Samoa will now turn their attention to a promotion-relegation match next week against either New Zealand or Papua New Guinea, which will give them a chance to join the Jillaroos in the top tier Pacific Championships competition next year.
Meanwhile Fiji's World Cup hopes now rely on them emerging from the 2025 World Series against Ireland (Europe), Nigeria (Africa) and the winner of November's Americas qualifying tournament between Canada, Jamaica and USA.
In addition to Nu'uausala's late strike, fellow bookend Evah McEwen was immense for Samoa, carrying 13 times for 111 metres, along with Jetaya Faifua who changed the game when she entered off the bench.
Nu’uausala surges through
Early on Fetu Samoa had come close to finding points on their first trip to the opposition 20, but the ball came flying from the grasp of Nu'uausala as she attempted to spin over the line.
Eventually that was where they found success down the left, with a quick shift ending in Jessica Patea diving over in the corner.
Jessica Patea Try
But when Fiji finally did hit go on 30 minutes they quickly delivered a series of devastating blows which saw them take a 12-4 lead into the break.
First Sienna Laing beat the Samoa defenders to a Losana Lutu kick and darted in from close range, before Abigayle Sekitoga picked up a loose ball and sprinted 95 metres, with Vitalina Naikore on target with both conversions.
Sienna Laing Try
Samoa flew out of the gates to start the second period, but whatever they threw out in attack Fiji had an answer for, while they weren't helping themselves either by making eight errors through the opening 45 minutes.
But eventually the toll of Samoa's intimidating pack told, with McEwen laying on a try for her captain which breathed life into their comeback.
At the other end Lindsay Tui kept the game alive with a brilliant try-saver on a charging Teaghan Hartigan.
Hartigan within inches
With two to play Nu'uausala plowed through multiple defenders to secure one of her nation's most famous results.
Match: Fetu Samoa v Fiji Bulikula
Week 3 -
home Team
Fetu Samoa
1st Position
away Team
Fiji Bulikula
2nd Position
Venue: Go Media Stadium, Auckland
Match Snapshot
- Samoa are through to a Women's World Cup for the first time since 2008, while they'll play either New Zealand or Papua New Guinea in a promotion-relegation match next week.
Fetu Samoa wins the Pacific Bowl
- Fiji's World Cup hopes now rely on them emerging from the 2025 World Series against Ireland (Europe), Nigeria (Africa) and the winner of November's Americas qualifying tournament between Canada, Jamaica and USA.
- Annetta-Claudia Nu'uausala scored two tries and carried for 150 metres in the win.
- Fetu Samoa made six line breaks to Fiji's two and broke 59 tackle to their opponents' 23.
Samoa desperate in defence
- The match was the first time Fiji Bulikula had played on New Zealand soil.
Play of the Game
Who doesn't love a piece of interplay between two front-rowers? A ferocious carry from Evah McEwen looked set to finish in her crossing for a stunning solo try, before she linked with skipper and Auckland native Annetta-Claudia Nu'uausala to cross in front of her hometown crowd and ignite a brilliant comeback.
Annetta-Claudia Nu'uausala 1st Try
What They Said
Pacific Championships Women's Press Conference: Samoa v Fiji - Week 3, 2024