'I don't think she realises...': Black Ferns icon taking teammates by surprise

Portia Woodman-Wickliffe is back in black, having had a change of heart after retiring from the international arena late last year. The Kiwi icon’s return has come as music to the ears of fans and teammates alike.

Black Ferns co-captain Ruahei Demant played alongside the top try-scorer in Rugby World Cup history for the Blues this Super Rugby Aupiki season, a campaign in which Woodman-Wickliffe rediscovered her love for the game en route to the Aupiki title.

Demant told reporters in Christchurch that the 33-year-old Woodman-Wickliffe is still adding strings to her bow.

“For me, it’s exciting. I’ve had the opportunity to play with P at Aupiki, and we played in the midfield often. Wherever she is on the field, she’s a threat, and she attracts so many defenders,” she said.

“To have her back in this space, to see the growth that she’s had in the 15s game. She’s a powerful player, a fast player, and that’s what people see, but what I’ve noticed is how much her rugby IQ has grown. I don’t think she realises how much it’s grown, and when she says little bits of gold in training, people look at her twice, because it’s not something we’re used to hearing come out of Portia’s mouth.

“I love that for her. How is she going to go from great to great? That’s exactly what she’s doing, she’s evolving, she’s continuing to evolve. She’s still world-leading and world-class in my opinion.”

Head-to-Head

Last 4 Meetings

Wins

1

Draws

1

Wins

2

Average Points scored

29

26

First try wins

25%

Home team wins

0%

Portia herself was shocked to hear it had been over 900 days since her last Black Ferns game – a 2022 Rugby World Cup final that only lasted 17 minutes for the superstar. She acknowledged that what she thought was her final game for the team didn’t end the way she would have liked.

“It didn’t, but I don’t take anything away from my 17 minutes on the field and all the games leading up to that point.

“Yes, the concussion was really scary at the time, but I was grateful for that experience. To have a World Cup at home, I got to run out at Seminoff Stadium, but I know it as Otara Park. Those memories were amazing.

“This next opportunity to play for New Zealand, it doesn’t come often. It’s about taking every opportunity I can.

“So if this is just the start of a journey towards the World Cup, then amazing. If I don’t get there, then cool. I’m happy for our girls. I just want to experience and enjoy this game this weekend.”

Saturday’s game sees New Zealand lock horns with Canada, the No. 2-ranked side, who beat the Kiwis for the very first time in this exact fixture last year.

Woodman-Wickliffe was nowhere near that contest, busy preparing for an Olympics campaign with her sevens teammates.

Now, back in the environment, she’s amazed at how much the Black Ferns have grown since 2022.

“It’s different because the game has changed a lot since the last time I was here. There’s a lot more to the menu, there’s a lot more going on.

“But at the end of the day, I’ve just got to focus on my thing; just get the ball and run like heck.”

The Blues employed the bruising speedster in the midfield during the Aupiki campaign, an experience Woodman-Wickliffe says helped her prepare for the new responsibilities of being a modern winger, the position she’s been selected to play against Canada.

“Like I said, the game has changed a lot, and I think as a winger, there’s a lot more emphasis on looking for work. I used to hang out on the edge, (Wayne) Smithy told me not long ago, ‘I’ve got clips of you just hanging out wide, doing something, can you go in the middle?’

“So, it’s a big change for me going from centre to wing, because at centre I got to play a bit more of a pivotal, game-driver role, whereas on the wing I get to have a look throughout the field and play wherever I want.

“And then in Aupiki, you’re playing with different game-drivers. They had (Hannah) King down at Matatu, there’s players throughout, so it’s just learning who takes what and how do work with them and running lines and all that sort of stuff