Though she may be exalted as the greatest female player, Portia Woodman-Wickliffe does not possess a particularly effective poker face. The 34-year-old’s expressions leave precious little room for interpretation.
Woodman-Wickliffe jokingly rolls her eyes at mention of her standing in the game and how many observers believe her to be the best of all time, stressing that mistakes in training are common. However, she cannot suppress a smile at Stephen Donald’s recent suggestion that her attributes blended those of Jonah Lomu and Cory Jane, a pair of blockbuster All Blacks. “I saw that,” says Woodman-Wickliffe. “It was out the gate [New Zealand slang for crazy].”
Yet upon being asked about Braxton Sorensen-McGee, the youngest member of this Black Ferns crop at just 18 who scored hat-tricks in the Women’s Rugby World Cup pool wins over Japan and Ireland as well as another two in the quarter-final against South Africa to become the tournament’s leading try-scorer, there is a two-minute stream of platitudes.
“With our little Brax, the world is absolutely not ready for her,” says Woodman-Wickliffe. “To be able to witness her take on the world stage, to create her own name and experience what it is like to represent her nation and have her whanau travel around the world to watch her play… that’s just unbelievable. I’m so grateful I get to see it.
“Braxy’s 18 but she has so much knowledge. She’s so coachable, she’s so mature. You hope that any player at that age striving to be in the black jersey is like her because she’s so amazing.”
A heartfelt tribute is not finished. Indeed, the biggest compliment is yet to come. In Woodman-Wickliffe’s words, “a seven-year-old Portia did not have female rugby players to look up to” – and Sorensen-McGee is already inspiring the next generation.
“I keep saying to Brax that I want my daughter to play alongside her,” Woodman-Wickliffe continues. “My daughter looks up to Braxy big time – she has as many photos with her as she can possibly get. I think my daughter’s really lucky to have an idol like Brax.”
How do you follow that? Fortunately, Sorensen-McGee is strikingly mature and composed. She bursts into giggles twice when describing what it is like to play in the same back three as Woodman-Wickliffe, for both the Blues and New Zealand. Over 20 minutes, that is not a bad ratio.
“Her communication [on the pitch] is constant, which helps me to be confident in myself,” says Sorensen-McGee of her senior colleague. “Playing alongside Portia… it’s amazing. I can’t say much more than that. It helps my game, knowing that she’s on my outside. It helps me to just be me, if that makes sense.”
Woodman-Wickliffe and Sorensen-McGee became team-mates this year when the former reversed her retirement. At her third World Cup and looking as sharp as ever – she became New Zealand’s record try-scorer with her 50th against Japan – Woodman-Wickliffe must feel as though that decision has been vindicated.
“Yes, it does,” she says, before pausing. “Then sometimes, when I wake up really sore, I think, ‘Why did I do this? Why did I say yes?’ But when you get out on the field, even in the p***ing rain – that’s what I love. It’s come to a dream finish but there’s a lot of work to do, both for myself and for the team.”
Sorensen-McGee did have female role models; Woodman-Wickliffe among them. But she also admired male rugby league stars such as Nathan Cleary of the Penrith Panthers and had a choice to pursue the 13-a-side route. Her brother, Dredin, has played league professionally and was a guiding light.
“I think what swayed me towards rugby [union] was the people in it, how excited they are for me as an individual and others,” explains Sorensen-McGee, who scored two tries on her Black Ferns debut against Australia in May.
“They’re not just trying to grow their game, but my game and the game of other players coming up. It’s the care, as well, from coaches I’ve had in rugby, from physios when I’ve been injured.”
Having brought up four kids on her own, mother Nicole is another inspiration. “My mum raised me and my siblings by herself,” Sorensen-McGee adds.
“I saw her go through that and she always had a smile on her face. She always made sure we ate, even if that meant she didn’t eat. She was a good role model to me and my brother, and seeing my brother play is what sparked my passion for rugby and league.
“My siblings and I never had to worry that we wouldn’t have enough money to play a tournament or anything like that. She took it on the chin and always said yes to what we wanted to achieve. She kept our dreams going. And if she didn’t have the money for it, she’d come up with it… out of nothing, it felt like.”
Watching her daughter combine with Woodman-Wickliffe must be a thrill for Nicole Sorensen. In the final of Super Rugby Aupiki against Matatū four months ago at Eden Park, the explosive Woodman-Wickliffe pressed out of the defensive line and caused a rushed pass.
Sorensen-McGee shot up from full-back, snaffled an interception and held off chasers to score from 70 metres. The Blues, whose backs were coached by Carlos Spencer, went on to lift the trophy with a 26-19 victory. Defending the World Cup and collecting more silverware with New Zealand is now the aim.
“The game has progressed again for this World Cup,” says Woodman-Wickliffe. “You have the likes of Canada, Ireland, France and England, obviously, right at the top. It’s such an even playing field now that the game requires more from players.”
Having won it six times, and never having lost to England at a World Cup, the Black Ferns know their way around these tournaments. Tellingly, with a sunny smile and a sprinkling of Māori vocabulary, Woodman-Wickliffe is unafraid to address what lies on the horizon. New Zealand need to oust Canada in Friday night’s semi-final, which is no easy task, yet they are also motivated by the prospect of a special decider.
“The possibility of meeting the Red Roses in the final at a sold-out Twickenham… man, what a dream,” finishes Woodman-Wickliffe, her excitement palpable.
“That is one of the places that is rugby legendary, right? To have the opportunity to do that… out the gate, dream come true. We’ve got a bit of mahi [work] to do before we get there, but it would be the ultimate, definitely.”