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'She was a dominant force' - Black Ferns star Portia Woodman named in 2017 World XV

December 18, 2017
2017 Women's Rugby World Cup Semi-Final, Kingspan Stadium, Belfast 22/8/2017
New Zealand vs USA
New Zealand's Portia Woodman on her way to scoring a try 
Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Bryan Keane / www.photosport.nz

Black Ferns winger Portia Woodman has been included in a world rugby team of the year with five other New Zealand stars.

Woodman was the only female player to make the 2017 team judged by rugby website Planet Rugby .

The World Cup champion Woodman cemented the right wing position, joining a backline which included All Blacks winger Rieko Ioane (left wing) and the World Rugby player of the year Beauden Barrett at first-five.

The Black Ferns winger says coach Glenn Moore settled the team down after they entered the shed losing 10-17 at halftime.

All Blacks skipper Kieran Read was selected as No.8 with Sam Cane named at openside flanker and Sam Whitelock also included in the forward pack at lock.

Planet Rugby praised Woodman for her efforts in the 2017 season: "Thirteen tries meant Woodman was not only the top try scorer but also the top points scorer at the Women's Rugby World Cup, helping her side to the title.

"She was a dominant force in every game except the final but the Black Ferns managed to come out on top without her scoring, beating England in Belfast. Woodman won the World Rugby Women's Player of the Year award and rightly so after an incredible campaign."

Woodman won the best try of the year award at the NZ Rugby awards with the Black Ferns taking out the top prize of team of the year at the World Rugby and NZ Rugby awards.

The Planet Rugby XV – 2017:

15. Stuart Hogg (British and Irish Lions, Scotland), 14. Portia Woodman (Black Ferns), 13. Jonathan Davies (British and Irish Lions, Wales), 12. Owen Farrell (British and Irish Lions, England), 11. Rieko Ioane (All Blacks), 10. Beauden Barrett (All Blacks), 9. Conor Murray (British and Irish Lions, Ireland), 8. Kieran Read (All Blacks), 7. Sam Cane (All Blacks), 6. Siya Kolisi (Springboks), 5. Sam Whitelock (All Blacks), 4. Maro Itoje (British and Irish Lions, England), 3. Tadhg Furlong (British and Irish Lions, Ireland), 2. Malcolm Marx (Springboks), 1. Mako Vunipola (British and Irish Lions, England).

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