📰 Portia Woodman-Wickliffe breaks record as Black Ferns win title

By Christopher Reive

Black Ferns director of performance Allan Bunting will have plenty to consider in the weeks ahead.

With a 79-14 win over the United States at North Harbour Stadium on Saturday, the Black Ferns not only ended the Pacific Four Series on a high but also did enough to wrestle the title back from Canada.

Tied on points coming into the final round, Canada edged ahead in the standings after ending their series with a 45-7 win over Australia.

That left the Black Ferns needing to win by 25 points to take back the title after Canada claimed it in 2024.

First-half hat-tricks to wingers Katelyn Vahaakolo and Portia Woodman-Wickliffe put the Black Ferns well on their way to meeting that requirement. Woodman-Wickliffe would go on to score seven to become the Black Ferns’ all-time leading try-scorer with 45 to her name.

After making eight changes to the starting side before the game, including three players on debut in the run-on side, there could have been some cohesion issues early.

The US team were able to put the pressure on early through a strong lineout drive and patient work in the forwards to open the scoring through blindside flanker Freda Tafuna. But when the Black Ferns did get possession, they looked as confident a side as they have at any point in the season so far.

The injection of the players from the sevens series had an impact on the pace of the attack, but it was the accuracy in the offloading of the Black Ferns that allowed them to find their flow.

It looked promising any time they were able to get the US on the back foot, and it paid off with six first-half tries – three to each winger.

Closer in, reigning sevens player of the year Jorja Miller and halfback Risaleaana Pouri-Lane impressed in their test debuts; Miller in particular showing her strength, elusiveness and decision-making with ball in hand at openside flanker. Lock Alana Bremner was again a workhorse in open play, while first-five Ruahei Demant and No 8 Kaipo Olsen-Baker also had strong outings, and the scrum was dominant for much of the contest.

There were still a couple of issues to tidy up, but this was the most complete Black Ferns performance of the series.

While the Americans were able to challenge the Black Ferns at times – particularly with their work from attacking lineouts and pick-and-go play from close range to score through Tafuna and prop Hope Rogers – once the hosts got going, there was little the visitors could do to slow them down.

The home side held a 20-point lead at halftime, which was soon extended when Woodman-Wickliffe added her fourth try. That was followed by a try to Demant, then a fifth to Woodman-Wickliffe and a fourth to Vahaakolo.

Woodman-Wickliffe continued to be among the points when she added a sixth, while Stacey Waaka also added some points late. Woodman-Wickliffe had the final say, scoring her seventh in the corner.

The side have one more test scheduled, against Australia in July, before the World Cup in England in late August and an outing like their win over the US showed they were trending in the right direction leading into that tournament.
 
This article was first published on nzherald.co.nz and is republished here with permission.