We caught up with New Zealand flyer Portia Woodman to talk try-scoring heroics, the Olympic dream and the challenges that lie ahead at round four of the World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series in Canada this weekend.
Portia, how do you sum up the season so far for yourself and the New Zealand team?
For myself, I’m looking to work on my defence and tackle and that’s progressing well throughout the tournaments. For the team, in every tournament we try and work on our defence and defensive systems and keeping connected. Heading into this tournament in Canada we are working on that and we’ll see how that goes when we get there.
You scored five tries against USA in the Atlanta final – how does that rank among your sevens highlights?
To be honest I wasn’t aware of that until Sarah Goss came up to me and said about scoring five tries in the final. I was like, ‘is that the team, what are you saying?’ It’s just a bonus and a result of what the team does on the field. If they get me the ball then I score.
That made it 14 tries in the event – breaking your record of 13 in Brazil. What’s the secret to scoring so many tries?
Having a Kayla McAlister on your inside! She draws in the defence and leaves me free on the outside with a run in. Also, having the forwards doing all the work and getting the ball out to me.
You’ve only been playing sevens for three years. Have we seen the best of Portia Woodman yet?
No, no, not at all. There’s still more to come from me yet. I’m still learning and I’ve still got a lot to prove and I’ve still got a lot to show.
How has your netball background helped with rugby?
Netball has given me a lot of footwork and movement and has helped me with my vision and speed. I think it has helped heaps in terms of the attacking side and finding where the holes are (in the defence). Without netball I don’t think I’d be half the player I am now.
What changes have you noticed in the series this season to previous years?
The competition, the opposition teams are getting fitter, faster and stronger. It is a good challenge for us, they are making us work on our ‘work-ons’ and strengthening our strengths; it is awesome.
New Zealand have won 30 series matches in a row. What’s at the heart of this unbeaten run?
Our connection, our feel off the field and our defensive system we employ on the field. We work so hard on different scenarios while we are in New Zealand so that when we get to the field in competition it is a lot easier and freer.
How do you and the team keep raising the bar even higher to keep such success going and does that come from the players or coach Sean Horan?
I think it is from within. If the girls didn’t want to get better, faster and stronger then they wouldn’t be here. It is definitely driven from the girls and Sean helps pave the way.
"I’m still learning and I’ve still got a lot to prove and I’ve still got a lot to show."
Five titles in a row and New Zealand could wrap up Olympic qualification in Canada. What would it mean to you to play on the Olympic stage?
It would be indescribable right now because I really don’t know what it would be like. But I guess for myself, it would be an experience of a lifetime to be alongside the Mahe Drysdale, the Valerie Adams, Usain Bolt … just to be in the same competition and area as them is huge and a dream that has been coming a long time.
What are your hopes for the Canada Sevens this weekend?
I really want to work on my defence and tackle. I know the attacking side comes easily because if I get the ball I just run like heck. The defence is my biggest work-on, making the tackle and driving the player down to the ground.
New Zealand will face Fiji, USA and Spain in the pool stages. What challenges do they pose?
Fiji are an unpredictable team, they’re strong and fast so we will have to work hard on our defence and stay connected. USA are strong around the rucks and looking after the ball will be important. Spain are another unpredictable team and love to give it their all whenever the face a black jersey, so there won’t be any complacency against any of them.
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