Late surge earns Samoa World Cup spot, promotion shot

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.  

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.

With two to play Nu'uausala plowed through multiple defenders to secure one of her nation's most famous results.