Woodman aims for gold hat-trick
With three gold medals up for grabs across two codes within four months, Black Ferns star tells her coaches she’s up for the unique challenge,
Black Ferns star Portia Woodman is trying to convince her coaches she has what it takes for a bullish pursuit at a trio of gold medals in 2022.
After two years where Covid-19 had rendered plenty of white space in her calendar, the flying 30-year-old wing’s schedule has now never seen so much ink.
In fact, 2022 presents such a programme that is unlikely to ever be repeated, and which has New Zealand’s top women’s cross-code footy talents with some big decisions to make, and big discussions to have.
In a year which was already a key one in the sevens game, with the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham from July 28 to August 8 and the World Cup in Cape Town from September 9-11, the XVs World Cup is now firmly on the agenda – in New Zealand from October 8 to November 12 – after being postponed from last year due to the pandemic.
Throw in next month’s maiden edition of Super Rugby Aupiki, then sevens World Series events in Canada (April 30 to May 1) and France (May 20-22) around the same time as a XVs Pacific Four series, and just how viable is it to go hunting a golden hattrick this year?
For Woodman – World Rugby’s women’s sevens player-of-the-decade – there’s really only one answer.
‘‘I’d love to have a crack at all of them,’’ she revealed to the Sunday Star-Times.
‘‘Logistically, physically, mentally, maybe there might be some challenges and sacrifices . . . and whether both sets of coaches are willing to take me in both competitions.
‘‘I’ve put my hand up for all three, we’ll see whether that works out. Body might be a little bit of a thing, but I’m hoping the coaches will also give me a chance.
‘‘Their biggest concern is loading-wise.
‘‘I’ve told them what I want, and at the end of the day, if they don’t pick me, then that’s fine. I’m just going to get myself in the best state possible.’’
Woodman’s Chiefs Manawa team-mates Stacey Fluhler and Kelly Brazier will be others in the same boat. The trio are the only Black Ferns Sevens contracted players who also played on last year’s XVs tour to England and France.
It’s not like the motivation can be fuelled by a revenge mission or anything, though – New Zealand are reigning champs in all three events.
For Woodman, who was also part of last year’s Olympics sevens victory, it’s just about trying to ‘‘solidify my own belief in myself’’.
‘‘If the body’s going to get me there, then I’m going to do it.
‘‘Definitely looking for – you’ll never have a perfect game, but – a game that you’re really proud of. And I haven’t quite found that yet, since a few of the injuries.’’
Woodman admits ‘‘it’s taken its damn time’’ for her ruptured Achilles from October 2018 to come right, then her hamstring tear down the same leg a year later further stalled her.
‘‘I think, physically, I’m back, it’s just I haven’t quite got the speed back,’’ she said.
‘‘And I think it’s because of the [lack of] consistency with sevens training. Usually we’d be travelling with a tournament every
now and then, and then with Covid thrown in there with lockdowns and all this other crap, it’s really hard to stay on top of it.’’
Woodman ended a fouryear absence from the international XVs game when making her return on last year’s ill-fated tour, and though she struggled to make an impact in a well-beaten side, it’s helped her come to grips with the things she needs to bear in mind on this year of switching back and forth.
‘‘For sevens, obviously there’s more space, when I get the ball, just run as f . . . king hard as I can, and just go for it,’’ is how she succinctly sums it up.
‘‘Whereas in XVs, any gainline is good. So just remembering that I don’t have to have a 10-metre gap, just get over that advantage line.
‘‘But then also going back from XVs to sevens is quite a big change, too, because [I get] so used to the contact and the crash and bash, that I forget that I can use my footwork to go around.’’
To that end, Woodman said she and her fellow sevens’ mates were ensuring they kept a big focus on their speed work during their preparation for this groundbreaking women’s Super competition, which kicks off at Owen Delany Park next Saturday.
‘‘We’re looking forward to this finally being here, it’s taken a while to get to this point.
‘‘In the perfect world it would have been nice to have two rounds with a semi and a final, and maybe introduce some Australian teams. But as a starting point, I think this is great.
‘‘I think we’re at the peak of the turn for women’s sport, and I’m really excited, and grateful to be a part of it . . .’’
‘‘I’d love to have a crack at all of them.’’
Portia Woodman