Woodman walks the talk after taking dig at NZR
Black Ferns star calls for equality and then grabs 13th try of Sydney Sevens.
THE Black Ferns will play Australia in the final of the Sydney Sevens today, after easing past Canada in their semifinal.
They scored four tries to none yesterday to register a 26-0 win and set up a trans-Tasman showdown in the decider at Allianz Stadium.
Portia Woodman grabbed her 13th try of the tournament in the opening minute and Gayle Broughton extended the lead just two minutes later.
Kelly Brazier and Michaela Blyde then sealed the result with secondhalf tries. Tyla Nathan-Wong slotted three of her four conversion attempts.
Earlier yesterday, they cruised into the the last four, thumping Ireland 36-0 in their quarterfinal.
Try-scoring machine Woodman troubled the scoreboard again after scoring three hat-tricks during the pool stages on Friday, with two more tries against the Irish. Blyde – second only to Woodman on the try-scoring charts in the series – broke the deadlock in the quarterfinal when racing down the left flank with great pace in New Zealand’s first serious attack.
Woodman’s 11th try in Sydney doubled their advantage and Blyde then touched down for her second as the Black Ferns led 17-0 at the break.
Woodman, the 2017 World Rugby player of the year, then bagged a brace as the Black Ferns stretched their lead in the second half.
Stacey Waaka and Broughton both strolled over the line in the final minutes to wrap up the win.
Woodman’s performance came after she criticised New Zealand Rugby for dismissing the idea of hosting a women’s tournament concurrently with the men’s at the Hamilton Sevens, which will take place next weekend.
At the Sydney Sevens the men’s and women’s sevens’ world series tournaments were being held at the same venue over three days for the first time .
‘‘Other countries can either step up and try and mingle it a bit more, and it’s the standard here Sydney has set," Woodman said.
She took aim at NZ Rugby for not hosting a women’s tournament when New Zealand’s leg of the sevens world series takes place at FMG Stadium Waikato.
‘‘If we keep showing we are as good as we say we are, and we keep performing as well as we do, they can’t not let us play at home,’’ Woodman said.
‘‘[NZ Rugby] have said [it’s a lack of] money at the moment, but they can seem to find money for certain
We’ll just keep fighting and doing our thing. Portia Woodman
things. We’ll just keep fighting and doing our thing.
‘‘It’s exciting that they’re mixing the boys and girls together [in Sydney[, there’s no back field, we’re all playing on that No 1 field. It’s a step towards equality and setting girls on the same standard as the boys.’’
Olympic champions Australia beat Russia 31-0 in the other semifinal. Today’s final will kick off at 4.37pm (NZT).