History beckons as Fijian Drua earn first home Super Rugby Women’s final

History is waiting for the Fijian Drua.

For the first time, the Drua will host a Super Rugby women’s grand final after a dominant 31-5 semi-final victory over the Queensland Reds in Lautoka on Saturday 25 July.

The Drua are chasing a third championship when they meet the New South Wales (NSW) Waratahs at Four R Stadium in Ba on Saturday 25 July.

The Waratahs overcame the Western Force 33-22 in their semi-final in Perth on Saturday.

This weekend’s final is also a chance for the Fijian side to lift the trophy in front of their home supporters, having won their previous titles away from home.

For Drua right winger Atelaita Buna, there was never any doubt her side was capable of reaching another Grand Final.

Fijian Drua Women's celebrate after their 31-5 semi-final victory over the Queensland Reds. Photo/Facebook

“We didn’t have any doubt about it, we were confident of making the final,” Buna told Fijian Drua media in an Instagram post.

“We came and we did the work, we also learnt a lot of stuff on the ground, but we did not lose focus to reach the final once again.”

Standing in the Drua’s way is a Waratahs side that beat them 42-29 in the opening round of the season at Leichhardt Oval in Sydney.

But the Fijians have grown stronger as the competition has gone on, winning two of their final three matches before beating the Reds in the semi-final.

The winner of Saturday’s final will progress to the Women’s Super Rugby Champions Final on 1 August, to face the winner of New Zealand’s Super Rugby Aupiki competition.

Blues live to see another day

Across the Tasman, the defending champions Blues refused to surrender their title.

Needing a win to keep their season alive, the Blues upset already-qualified Matatū to book another Grand Final meeting between the two sides this Saturday

The result also ended the Hurricanes Poua’s finals hopes despite a commanding 47-33 victory over Chiefs Manawa in Wellington.

Blues captain Maiakawanakaulani Roos, of Cook Island heritage, said it had been a tougher campaign than last year’s unbeaten title run.

“It’s been a really challenging season for us but I think the grit that we’ve shown, the determination and just the want to be better week on week for each other has gotten us to where we are now,” Roos told Sky Sport.“I’m really proud of this result and we’ve got another week to build.”

The Grand Final between Fijian Drua and the NSW Warratahs will kick off at 1.05pm (NZT), before the Matatū and Blues at 4.20pm (NZT) at One New Zealand Stadium, Christchurch.