Black Ferns co-captain Ruahei Demant has likened Portia Woodman-Wickliffe to All Blacks nice Jonah Lomu, after the legendary winger turned the primary New Zealand rugby participant to attain 50 Take a look at tries.
Woodman-Wickliffe scored seven tries in a single Take a look at towards the USA in Could, and later crossed for a five-pointer towards Spain in New Zealand’s 2025 Ladies’s Rugby World Cup opener, which have been each a part of the Black Fern’s journey to historical past.
After drawing stage with Doug Howlett’s long-standing report with that effort towards Spain at York Neighborhood Stadium, Woodman-Wickliffe had the prospect to go one clear on the prime after being named to begin towards Japan in Exeter.
Sakurako Hatada gave Japan a shock lead with an early attempt in that Take a look at, however the reigning World Cup winners struck again quickly after by means of Woodman-Wickliffe, who showcased some particular person brilliance to attain down the appropriate edge.
Woodman-Wickliffe broke two tackles throughout a powerful break down the sector, earlier than inserting the ball down for the historic rating. After New Zealand’s spectacular 62-19 win, co-captain Demant spoke extremely of the nation’s new all-time prime try-scorer.
“I feel lots of people name P the feminine Jonah Lomu. She is essentially the most influential girls’s rugby participant on the earth,” Demant mentioned post-game.
“I’m so proud and lucky that I’m able to play alongside her as a teammate and never in opposition. Whatever the accolades and the milestones, for these of us who know her she is without doubt one of the most humble, down-to-earth individuals that you just’ll ever meet.
“I do know that she’ll say the tries are simply her doing her job nevertheless it’s so good to have somebody like her outdoors you to complete off the alternatives that the ladies create.”
After Woodman-Wickliffe’s attempt, the Black Ferns actually took management, with teenage fullback Braxton Sorensen-McGee scoring a hat-trick of tries. Reigning HSBC SVNS Collection Ladies’s Participant of the Yr Jorja Miller was additionally among the many standouts.
Miller scored New Zealand’s subsequent attempt – the primary of two for the sevens ace – earlier than Katelyn Vahaakolo scored her first World Cup five-pointer. Sorensen McGee, World Cup-winning co-captain Kennedy Tukuafu and Risi Pouri-Lane additionally crossed for first-half tries.
New Zealand took a commanding 38-5 lead into the break, however Japan showcased some class throughout a valiant second-half efficiency. Whereas the Black Ferns ‘gained’ the second time period 24-14, Japan’s set-piece had been particularly spectacular throughout that interval.
“We’re nonetheless fairly a means off,” Demant mirrored post-game.
“I don’t assume now we have put collectively an 80-minute efficiency but and there have been moments in that recreation the place we had momentum and dropped off. That’s what we would like, we don’t wish to be excellent but. There’s nonetheless a possibility for us to proceed to construct as we make our means by means of the event.”
New Zealand face Eire subsequent in Brighton, which can decide which sides claims the highest seed out of the pool. Eire defeated the Black Ferns in a WXV 1 thriller in 2024, they usually’ll take some confidence out of that outcome going into this weekend’s Take a look at.
The Irish opened their World Cup account with a stable 42-14 win over Japan at Franklin’s Gardens in Northampton, with six completely different try-scorers making their mark. They backed that up with a hard-fought 43-27 conquer Spain on the similar venue.
“It’s at all times rivalry,” she added when requested about Eire.
“Personally, all our focus has been on this recreation so our focus hasn’t switched but. We’ll keep on this second and rejoice this one earlier than we flip and concentrate on the problem they’ll current.”
