Oceania Women's Rugby Championship

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.

A suspected case of measles in the Tonga Women’s 15’s team has forced the cancellation of the game between Tonga and Australia A in the Oceania Women’s Rugby Championship in Fiji.

Pacific Rugby Players Welfare Director Daniel Leo said they are disappointed about the cancellation.

“While we were extremely disappointed about the cancellation of the planned matches, as were the players themselves who all put in the hard work preparing for the competition, given the circumstances we are confident this is the correct decision, given the seriousness of the situation.”

The Manu Sina haven't played a test match since finishing 11th at the Women's Rugby World Cup four years ago and have 23 new caps in their squad to take on hosts Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Tonga over the next week and a half.

Despite being the only Pacific Island nation to compete at a World Cup (in 2002, 2006 and 2014), head coach Ramsey Tomokino doesn't believe they will be the favourites this time around.

"We'd definitely be underdogs - we haven't had an international programme for a long time," he said.