Samoa Manusina win down to 'a higher power'

Samoa Manusina head coach Ramsey Tomokino says he had a moment of deja-vu watching their nail-biting victory against the Fijiana to win the Oceania Rugby Women's Championship.​

The game was in the dying minutes when Cassie Siataga's conversion sealed a dramatic win 19-18.

Tomokino says the victory reminded him of last year's final, in which the Fijiana came out on top.

“I watched the game over again, and I was so impressed with how our girls played and followed the game plan.

“I was confident we could do the job, and we actually did it. We talked about it being ‘our time’ - we were close last year but lost at the last minute.

“It almost looked like we lost it again, it was almost deja-vu ​.”

With only a minute to go, the Fijiana were up 18-16 until a Manusina line-out and Siataga's conversion.

The game was played on a Sunday, a day on which the Manusina havent played many games. In Pacific culture, Sunday is a day reserved for church and for rest.

Reflecting on game day, Tomokino said it was important to keep their culture in mind before heading into the big clash.

“In the back of my mind I thought ‘it’s Sunday. My mum wouldn't have it if we didn’t have lotu!”.

He then put out a message to management that before the game, the team needed to have a church service.

“I was reflecting back and if we’d lost that game, it would’ve been because we didn't have lotu first.

“But again, it’s our time, was it divine intervention? Possibly.”

In the 79th minute, the Manusina were down 16-18 before a lineout gifted them a penalty which was converted by fly-half Cassie Siutaga. Putting the team over 19-18.

What’s next for the team?

Samoa's Manusina will now face tier two nations in the new World Rugby Women's XV competition.

Manusina Head Coach Ramsey Tomokino says this is an opportunity for the team to branch out.

“Since I’ve taken over in 2018 we’ve only played Fiji, PNG and Tonga. We’ve had Hong Kong and Australia A.

“Now we get to face new teams in the tier 2 competition - Scotland, Japan, South Africa, Spain or Italy.”

The win means Manusina XV will play in the World Rugby Tier 2 World Competition held in South Africa, while Fijiana play in the Tier 3 World XV Competition held in Hong Kong.