Wallaroos and Sevens star Charlotte Caslick is doing everything in her power to be fit for Australia’s crunch World Cup match against the USA at the Rugby World Cup.
Caslick suffered an ankle injury in the final seconds during last month’s O’Reilly Cup defeat to New Zealand, undergoing the most significant surgery of her illustrious career.
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The 30-year-old was named in the Wallaroos’ 2025 Rugby World Cup squad with a view towards being available for the must-win game against the Americans.
With England and Samoa in the pool, the clash with the Eagles shapes as almost a knockout game for the quarter-finals.
Caslick, who was a starring performer in their last match against the USA, is doing everything in her power to be fit.
“I think as soon as it happened I knew it wasn't good, but then I've been trying to be as positive as possible,” she conceded to reporters.
“When it happened, I knew it would be touch and go and the time frame is probably a little bit tighter than I would have hoped it would be, but I'm doing what I can to get as best as I can to some stage of the tournament.
“We're aiming for the USA game, but yeah, I think that's above my pay grade….I just turn up to training and then other people make decisions around that (laughs).”
Caslick has company in the rehab department, with captain Siokapesi Palu also aiming for a return for the second match of the group stages.
“We're definitely in a very similar position at the moment so I feel for her too. She's had an amazing season and being captain of the team,” she notes.
“I think we just can support each other through it and bounce off each other every day that we're in here at training and just praying for each other.”
The injury came at a frustrating time for the two-time World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year as she started to find her feet in the new format.
“I felt like I was learning a lot every single time I played, and I think I was getting better at every test I had on the field, but I do think back in Wellington, I was starting to hit my straps, so that's a bummer,” she admits.
“I'm sure I haven't forgotten how to play rugby in the last three weeks. So I'll be okay.”
The Red believes the Australian side is on an exponential rise as they look to go better than their quarter-final appearance in 2022.
“I think they have so much potential,” Caslick added.
“The game against Wales last Friday just proved how much improvement we've had in the last 12 months, and there are so many world-class players in that side.
“Maya Stewart coming back from injury I think she scored in her first touch and that's just something that not many players can do so having her back in the fold is amazing.
“We've got just so much depth, not just our backline but I feel like the amount of game time we've had in training, we just keep getting better and better."
