‘Whole different ball game’: Lomani ready to build on strong domestic campaign as historic Springbok series looms

Fijana’s new captain Kolora Lomani was one of several players who featured at the delayed 2021 Women’s Rugby World Cup – and came off the bench in their first-ever clash against the Springbok Women.

While Fiji prevailed that day 21-17, when the sides meet again tomorrow in the first match of their historic two-game series, with the newly christened Ubuntu–Bula Trophy on the line, the skipper is expecting a difficult, physical contest on home soil.

“Back in that Rugby World Cup, the only game we won was against South Africa – and it wasn’t an easy game,” Lomani told RugbyPass.

“They’re a big, physically strong team. This game tomorrow, it won’t be different. We’re looking forward to the game, we’re expecting a good challenge from them.

“We’ve looked through the week [at] what we can do to be able to come up against a strong side of them. It’s a whole different team. We’re not underestimating them for the game.”

The Springbok Women have come a long way since that Women’s Rugby World Cup, climbing to 10th in the World Rugby rankings, and in the last twelve months achieved a first-ever win over Guinness Women’s Six Nations side Italy, and beat the USA Women’s Eagles last month for the first time in 15 years.

However, the last few years have also come with massive growth for Fijiana, with many players transitioning from Super Rugby Women’s side the Fijian Drua into the national team, fresh off making the grand final where they lost 34-17 to the NSW Waratahs.

The 2026 season has seen a new generation of stars emerge, with two debutants set to be part of the Fijiana side this weekend in centre Ruth Raketekete and winger Adi Vani Buleki, the latter making her XVs debut after several years at the Western Force and in the Fiji Sevens program.

Combined with tomorrow’s game being the first in charge for three-time Super Rugby Aupiki-winning head coach Willie Walker, Fijiana are set to bring an unpredictable element of their own.

“There’s been a mix of emotions at the moment,” Lomani said. “It’s the first time for us to host the Springboks women’s team. It’s a historical game tomorrow.

“A lot [of players] that’s in the Fijiana XVs now transferred from Super Rugby. We’ve played together for quite a while now so it’s not new to us.

“But obviously, this match is a whole different ball game and it’s different from Super Rugby.

“She’s [Buleki] not new to this environment as well. So she’s found her feet well and she’s really deserved her starting spot for tomorrow. I’m looking forward to what she can bring.

“He’s [Walker] really gelled in with the team. We’re actually looking forward to what he can deliver for us girls leading into the next couple of test match games.”

Lomani expects South Africa to attack through the set piece, their physicality both in set piece and in contact a key developing weapon for the side, having played a major part in victories over the likes of the Black Ferns XV in the last year.

However, the skipper, along with several players who also featured in that 2022 victory, know that if Fijiana can match them up front, the weapons out wide have the potential to cause huge damage.

“The expectation for us is just to stand our ground, it’s a home game for us. We’re expecting a strong collision game against the South African side,” Lomani said.

“I’m backing my girls all day. We’ve looked through the week, how we’re going to go up against them in the middle.

“Having that flair on the edge is always the key point into our game. We [have] our offload game, we’re not going to use that early, [but] find our feet in the first 10-20 minutes of the game.

“I think it’s always a good feeling for us girls to have a home game. Having our friends, our family and the supporters that we have here in Fiji is massive. We’re looking forward to that again tomorrow.

“Obviously having not just us, but having the young generations, the school teams as well… it’s going to be a good mixture of good footy tomorrow.”

Fijiana will take on Springbok Women at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva, with the second match of the series taking place next week at Churchill Park in Lautoka.