Manusina

The Manusina are set to face-off against the Black Ferns XV in Auckland next month as they prepare for the start of World Rugby's much anticipated ew women's 15s rugby competition - WXV - in October.

The Samoa Rugby Union said the fixture versus the New Zealand development team would be "a unique opportunity" for supporters of rugby "to witness the relentless determination and skill that define the women's rugby landscape".

Manusina XV's win in the just-completed Oceania Championship has seen them move up two places to 16th.

Fiji has slipped three places to 19th.

Tonga remains 29th and Papua New Guinea 49th.

England tops the women's rankings, followed by New Zealand and France.

The team defeated the Papua New Guinea Cassowarries 83-0.

It is the second heavy defeat in a row for the Cassowarries, who lost 77-0 to the Fijiana XV in round one at Bond University in Queensland.

There was a trial for interested players in Brisbane on Sunday and then a second one in Sydney at the Cambelltown Harlequins Club on Monday.

The two trials were made necessary because of the level of interest from players with Samoan heritage who are keen to represent the national side.

ABC Radio Australia reports the trials were supervised by coach Ramsey Tomokino, with his assistant and former Manusina international, Taala Cynthia Ta'ala-Timaloa.

It will be the first time the Manusina have played the Wallaroos since 2009 and their first Test since beating Tonga in November to advance to the final Rugby World Cup repechage.

Head coach Ramsey Tomokino said it was the first time he could remember the Samoa women being a part of a Test series and not just a one-off match.

"We're just grateful for any opportunity we can get and...for our players opportunities that you cry out for, that we've been seeking and wanting to have," he said.

Both the Manusina and their male counterparts remain in contention for a place at Tokyo 2020, and are scheduled to compete in the Olympic repechage tournament in Monaco next month.

The two teams came close to qualifying for Rio 2016, as Manu Samoa lost the repechage final to Spain on the last play of the match, while the country’s women were beaten by Kazakhstan in their quarter-final.

Should either team be able to secure their place at a first Games, then Sapani hopes it can provide some cheer for a country currently in political deadlock.

The Manusina are through to the final qualification tournament, expected to take place in Europe in May, four months before the World Cup kicks off in New Zealand.

All of the players are amateurs, and Coach Ramsey Tomokino said if they had to spend a month in quarantine on top of the World Cup proper it could be a bridge too far.

"It would mean some players might have to leave their jobs or just say no because their employment is their livelihood, and that is the difference between the men's and the women's game, where we're not full-time professional athletes.

 The opportunity was her first to coach a team.

Misili and her team will be preparing for the second round of the trials that will be held on Friday at the Apia Stadium.

The 33-year-old started playing for the Manusina 7s in 2007-2008 and moved to 15s in 2009.

Misili also represented the country in Touch Rugby at the Mini Games in 2009 before going back to 7s in 2010, the Pacific Games in 2011 and  Manusina 7s in 2014.

She also competed in the Touch World Cup in 2015, the Manusina 7s Pacific Games in 2015, and the Manusina 7s in the 2019 Pacific Games.

The home side outscored the Manusina by six tries to two in Lautoka on Saturday, with fullback Aloesi Nakoci scoring two long-range efforts in the first half and first five Lavena Cavuru finishing with two tries, four conversions and a penalty goal for an impressive 21-point haul.

Fijiana XV captain Sereima Leweniqila said, despite an impressive scoreline, the game was far from easy.

"They were a tough team - we knew they were going to come out hard," she said.

The Manusina led 43-0 at half-time in Lautoka and ran in nine tries to two over the Palais, who they only beat by 11 points last year, with fullback Saelua Leaula and right wing Apaau Mailau scoring three apiece.

Captain Nina Foaese said it was a great start to the tournament.

"It was good. We achieved what we wanted in this game. We've just got to get quicker on attack and set up on d(efence), just reaction," she said.

PNG captain Margaret Naua said her side needs to improve their defence, line-speed and ensure they work as a team.