Woodman in World XV with ABs
New Zealand try-scoring machine Portia Woodman has forced her way into a world rugby team of the year alongside five All Blacks.
Woodman is the only women’s player to make the 2017 team of the year judged by respected rugby website Planet Rugby.
The star of the Black Ferns’ World Cup victory has gained the right wing berth and joins a backline that includes World Rugby’s player of the year Beauden Barrett at No 10 and has Rieko Ioane on the other wing.
All Blacks captain Kieran Reid has been named at No 8 and New Zealand’s consistent openside flanker Sam Cane has also made the forwards pack alongside lock Sam Whitelock.
The website had this to say about Woodman as she scored an unexpected hit for the women’s game: ‘‘Thirteen tries meant Woodman was not only the top try scorer but also the top points scorer at the Women’s Rugby World Cup, helping her side to the title. She was a dominant force in every game except the final but the Black Ferns managed to come out on top without her scoring, beating England in Belfast. Woodman won the World Rugby women’s player of the year award and rightly so after an incredible campaign.’’
Woodman was also a finalist for the World Rugby try of the year
award for her largely solo effort in busting through the USA line at the WRWC to dot down under the sticks.
The award was won by Argentina men’s player Joaquin Tuculet.
The international accolades continued a year of recognition for Woodman, the Black Ferns and the New Zealand women’s game in general.
Woodman, the wonder wing, won the best try of the year at the New Zealand Rugby awards. The Black Ferns won team of the year at both the World Rugby and NZR awards. Black Ferns mentor Glenn Moore was named the coach of the year at the NZR awards.
The Planet Rugby combination side included seven players from the British and Irish Lions side that drew their series against the All Blacks in New Zealand in what was the most anticipated test series of the year.