Canada's Charity Williams is tackled by New Zealand's Portia Woodman-Wickliffe during the women's gold medal match. Photo: AFP
Double Olympic gold medallist Portia Woodman-Wickliffe says she saved her worst for last in Olympic final.
She announced before the Games that she would retire from international rugby after Paris.
The 33-year-old went out on top Wednesday when the Black Fern sevens team beat Canada to make it back-to-back gold medals, and snag New Zealand's first in Paris.
But Woodman-Wickliffe was less than kind about her own performance.
"I think I played my worst game out there - a yellow card and another penalty. Man, that was terrible, I thought I learned my lesson from Rio," she told media afterwards.
Portia Woodman-Wickliffe after winning gold in Paris. Photo: Iain McGregor / www.photosport.nz
It wasn't just her yellow card for a high tackle on Charity Williams, New Zealand was trailing Canada 12-7 at halftime.
Woodman-Wickliffe said even then the team still believed they could win.
"It was just about being who we are and keeping things simple and just loving the game. I think that's what we showed out there."
Photo: Tysha Ikenasio/Instagram
It was a "privilege" to win gold, and to wear the fern.
"To do it with these girls, we've got some young players coming through the ranks and then we've got players who have been together a long time, through a lot of highs and lows. [I'm] Grateful."
So what was next for her? "Lounging on the couch, eating Maccas and KFC and popping out babies".
Woodman-Wickliffe is action in the 2022 Rugby World Cup. Photo: Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz
Woodman-Wickliffe is married to Renee and they have a daughter.
She also won two 15-a-side Rugby World Cups, two Commonwealth Games medals, has a silver Olympics medal from Rio and became the first woman to score 200 tries in Rugby World Sevens Series.
Tyla King, New Zealand's most capped women's sevens player, also announced Paris would be her last tournament.
Woodman-Wickliffe after winning gold in Tokyo. Photo: Instagram / Portia Woodman
Teamate Stacey Waaka described the pair as "awesome humans" as well as being highly skilled players.
"The mana and the respect they hold within the girls within the group - it's going to be missed but we send them off with our blessings."
Tyla King after the Black Ferns beat China in Paris. Photo: Iain McGregor / www.photosport.nz
Waaka told Sky Sport it was special to help them win gold in their final match.
"It's a surreal feeling, surreal moment. Some [players] in their first Olympic campaign, some second and for some it's their last.
"To see those girls off and to seize this opportunity we had I'm speechless really."
