Fiji Airways Fijiana women’s sevens star Reapi Ulunisau scored four tries in her Test debut for the Vodafone Fijiana XVs 77-0 win over Papua New Guinea in the opening round of the Oceania Rugby Women’s Championship 2023 at Bond University in Queensland, Australia, on Friday night.

The DHL Impact Player of the HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series 2023 effortlessly transferred her skills to the 15s arena. Ulunisau, is no stranger in fifteens rugby playing fullback for Nadroga during the ANZ Marama Championship averaging two tries per match.

It took Fijiana 12 minutes to break PNG’s brave defence but once hooker Keleni Marawa peeled off the back of a maul for the first try, there was no looking back.

Ana Maria Naimasi then crossed twice in as many minutes before fellow sevens star Ulunisau got the first of her quartet as Fijiana kept the ball alive at every opportunity.

Fijiana even extended their lead when Naimasi was in the sin-bin for a dangerous tackle, tight-head prop Ana Korovata rumbling over from close range for a halftime score of 31-0.

The reigning Oceania champions stepped up a couple of gears in the second half and within 24 seconds of the restart, Ulunisau profited from a pop-up pass from the deck by Adita Milinia.

Ulunisau’s hat-trick try came on 48 minutes and she was involved in the next score, too, with an assist for impressive blindside flanker, Fulori Nabura.

A searing break from deep by rangy openside flanker Raijieli Daveua led to Ulunisau becoming only the second Fijiana player to cross for four tries in a test.

Daveua went from one 22 to the other before finding Ulunisau on her shoulder and the full-back strolled home to match the feat of Ilisapeci Delaiwau in last year’s 152-0 record win against the Cassowaries.

Fijiana were becalmed for a 15-minute period thereafter, but Sulita Waisega came off the bench and made a big impact, scoring a fine solo try. Fellow replacement Karalaini Naisewa followed her over the line before Nabura and then Waisega dotted down for their second tries.

Story By: Leone Cabenatabua

Feedback: leonec@fijisun.com.fj