Woodman chops down USA
Bad memories of a ‘‘kick up the bum’’ in the Dubai and Sydney tournaments spurred New Zealand sevens star Portia Woodman and her team to new heights in Glendale, Colorado.
The wing played a starring role as the New Zealand women claimed back-to-back USA Women’s Sevens titles, for their 28th consecutive victory, yesterday.
Woodman scored three tries in the final at Infinity Park as her side beat the hosts 33-7 in the opening tournament of the 2018-19 World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series.
Woodman handed the accolades to those inside her such as captain Sarah Goss and speedster Ruby Tui – with her and fellow winger Michaela Blyde ‘‘just finishing it off’’.
Tui was named player of the final.
Asked what makes her side so dominant, not dropping a game since January 28 at the Sydney final, Woodman said it was team reflection and focusing on the basics.
‘‘Last year we obviously had the muck up in Dubai and then in Sydney so it was kind of the kick up the bum we needed, but we didn’t want to go through that experience again,’’ she said.
In December the defending champions finished fifth in Dubai. Then in Sydney this year they lost to Australia 31-0 in the final.
‘‘We are always thinking about doing the basics right. You know we go home, we review this tournament and we review what we could work on and continue to work on our strengths.’’
The final was also New Zealand’s fifth straight tournament win, including the World Cup tournament in July.
Playing against host nation the USA, it was always going to be tough for the Kiwi women to continue the streak.
‘‘Obviously having USA in the USA was going to be a wild ride,’’ Woodman said. ‘‘So heading in to that game we just knew we would have to take them up front and I’m fresh at the start so I knew I had to give it my all then hopefully get a sub and then come back on fresh again.’’
The US opened the scoring through Nicole Heavirland as she scampered 20 metres.
But Woodman hit back, grabbing two tries before halftime with her searing speed down the left wing.
Goss added another try after the halftime hooter to put New Zealand in a commanding position, up 21-7.
Niall Williams pushed New Zealand further ahead after halftime, grabbing her first try of the tournament.
Woodman completed her hattrick two minutes from time with her easiest try of the final, finishing off a sweeping move by her team-mates.
That took her tournament tally to 10 and her career world series tally to 195 in 157 matches.
In the 28-19 semifinal win over Canada, Woodman bagged two more tries, giving Canada’s Julia Greenshields a torrid time on her right wing.
Earlier yesterday, they easily accounted for Ireland in their quarterfinal, winning 34-7. Blyde scored a hat-trick in that win.