The NSW Waratahs want payback after securing a Super Rugby Women's grand final rematch with Fijian Drua following contrasting semi-final victories.
Atelaite Buna saved the Drua's blushes with a scintillating hat-trick in Suva to beat the poised Western Force 25-14, scoring four tries to one in front of a roaring sell-out crowd of close to 15,000 on Friday afternoon.
The Waratahs were far more clinical in Sydney later in the day, running in seven tries to four in a 47-27 defeat of the ACT Brumbies.
It was closer than the Drua would have preferred, the hosts dropping plenty of ball and missing two penalty kicks and three conversions - all from directly in front or on a slight angle - to leave the margin at just one point late in the second half.
They trailed 11-10 at halftime but all Buna needed was some clean air to put distance on the improved Force, streaking for two long-range tries to go with a first-half effort from close range that was sealed with an emphatic swan dive.
Friday's results meant the trophy won't be going anywhere new, the Waratahs winning the first four instalments of the tournament before the Drua entered the competition and won the next two.
The hosts put on seven tries to the Brumbies' four at Allianz Stadium, NSW wingers Desire Miller and Maya Stewart scoring three and two tries respectively.
"Absolutely ecstatic; it is such a good feeling and we really had to earn that," Waratahs captain Piper Duck said.
"After a pretty hard 12 months last year the work we've done has paid off and I'm more than proud."
The Drua beat the Waratahs by six points in the 2022 decider and then knocked them out in last year's semi-final.
But the Waratahs whacked them 62-21 in their only encounter this season.
"Fiji is absolutely electric, they have been the last two years they've been in the comp," Duck said.
"But it 's about what we can do and trusting one another."
