Perfect pair prepare for final push for gold

Thu, Apr 12, 2018, 4:50 AM
Sam Phillips
by Sam Phillips
They've achieved a lot firsts together and Tim Walsh and Charlotte Caslick are chasing a first ever Commonwealth Games gold medal when the tournament kicks off tomorrow. The pair influential in changing the landscape of women's sport in Australia.

When Australia's Commonwealth Games campaign draws to a close on Sunday, the curtains will be drawn on one of Australia's most successful player-coach pairings.

Like Craig Bellamy, Cameron Smith and the Melbourne Storm or Wayne Bennett, Darren Lockyer and the Broncos, Tim Walsh and Charlotte Caslick are synonymous with the Australian Women's Sevens side.

Together they have won Olympic gold, Australia's first Women's World Series crown and, as a direct result of their success, put Sevens on the map in a sports mad nation.

Caslick has several superstar teammates but she remains the face of the sport, having shot to fame when Australia won gold in Rio.

Her sublime skill set as the team's chief playmaker has earned as many individual accolades as one can claim in the world of Sevens but she has also shown there is a softer side to the sport through her ever increasing public profile.Caslick is synonymous with the Australian Women's Sevens team. Photo: RUGBY.com.au/Stuart WalmsleyWhere some coaches may have hamstrung Caslick's self-expression both on and off field, Walsh has allowed the 23-year-old to flourish.

"He has let us be who we want to be," Caslick said.

"He didn't try and change the fact that I like wearing ribbons in my hair and all that sort of stuff.

"He just took it as who we were and that was really special for a lot of us - that we could be rugby players but we could also keep our girlier side, I guess.

"For women's sport in general he has been a massive leader in putting us on an equal playing field with the men."

The Australians now want to send Walsh off in style, which can only be done by claiming gold on Sunday.

"It was a little bit sad and when he first told us there were a few tears but as a group, we moved on quite quickly," Caslick said of Walsh's impending departure.Caslick will play a prominent role in Australia's push for gold. Photo: RUGBY.com.au/Stuart Walmsley"I guess we know that for both of us to grow and evolve, it's the right thing to do.

"He's excited for his future, we're excited for our own future and I think we are just happy for him and want to finish the Commonwealth Games on a high."

As Caslick's star has risen, Walsh has quickly become a highly sought after figure on the World Series circuit.

He ended New Zealand's long standing run as the dominant force in women's Sevens and it is a significant coup to have him remain in Australia to take charge of the men's side.

But coaches can only do so much and without the brilliance of Caslick and co, Walsh may not be regarded as the best women's Sevens coach on the planet.

"She's phenomenal, on and off the field," Walsh said.

"Not only to our team but to the game of rugby.Tim Walsh's tenure is drawing to a close. Photo: RUGBY.com.au/Stuart Walmsley"There's been a huge pioneering aspect in the way she has rebranded and almost created a new genre for women's contact sport.

"The skill that she has and the way she makes decision is unbelievable and as a coach and to see and train with her every day, she trains like she's second.

"Every session she goes beyond expectations and that's why she is good as she is."

Walsh has been at the helm of the Australian side as Caslick has risen to stardom and he pointed to a moment in the gold medal match in Rio which defined the player she is today.

"We analyse all our tournaments and you look at Rio and there was a really defining moment," Walsh said.

"You look at the first half - she didn't have the best first half in that gold medal game but she had the resilience and the mental determination to not let that worry her and to go on.

"She owned that second half, she was amazing and that was a defining moment for her as a player."


Caslick's performances at the Olympics put a target on her back and Walsh paid credit to her ability to find a fresh way to dominate matches.

"In Sydney, she was incredible," Walsh said.

"She was heavily marked and all this other stuff and she trained and trained and played some really good games.

"I think she was a bit disappointed last year but form is temporary, class is forever.

"Charlotte has that and the way she trains, she'll always find form."

It will be an emotional moment when the curtains are drawn on Walsh's time in charge, on Sunday.

It will be the end of an incredible era - an era both Walsh and Caslick have played a vital part in building.

The Australian Sevens campaign at the Commonwealth Games kicks off on Friday at Robina Stadium, broadcast LIVE on Channel 7.

FIXTURES

Australian Women's Sevens Commonwealth Games pool matches

Friday, April 13 (all times AEST)

Australia vs Wales, 5:37pm

Australia vs England, 8:17pm

Saturday, April 14

Australia vs Fiji, 7:21pm

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