The NSW Waratahs Women will focus on “connection” when they kick-off their ISPS Handa NextGen 7s Series campaign in Round 1 at Sunshine Coast Stadium on Sunday.
NSW Waratahs NextGen 7s Head Coach Blake Cavarallo said “connection” was the principal theme of their preparation for Sunday’s opening round.
“We've named this week “connection week,” Cavarallo said after naming the first NSW Waratahs side from the extended squad of twenty six players named earlier this week.
“Going into round one, it’s about connection on and off the field. We’ve been big on that. It’s about staying connected.
“If things get tough, make sure we get together as a group and be connected in every single way. That's going to help us guide out the wins.”
With the NextGen 7s Series a four-round competition between the NSW Waratahs, Queensland Reds and ACT Brumbies, no team can afford a poor start on Sunday.
“We need to start strong. For the first couple minutes of each game, we've talked about starting strong, being positive and making sure we start from the go,” Cavarallo said.
“I feel we've got the players that are starting in round one team have got experience in that kind of level. I'm hopeful that they'll show the leadership group and take control.”
Cavarrallo said his Round 1 squad of thirteen is his strongest, but that he would later consider team selection based on how a player’s development is being managed.
“We want to put the best team forward and put up our best chances to win, but we also want to make sure we're also developing everybody inside our program,” he said.
“So, after this weekend, we will have a good chance of watching the opposing teams and playing against the opposing teams.
“We will reflect over the next four rounds of what the team could look like. “
Tatum Bird ©
Charlie Brigstocke
Edie Burke
Keira Callaghan
Milla Elaro
Poppi Flanders
Lola Harvison
Logan Lemusu
Anika McCarthy
Darci Turinui
Lusiana Vesikula
Amelia Whitaker
Chanel Williams
Where: At Sunshine Coast Stadium
When: Sunday
• 9.30am: Reds v Brumbies
• 11.00am: Waratahs v Reds
• 12.30pm: Brumbies v Waratahs
• 2.00pm: Reds v Brumbies
• 3.30pm: Waratahs v Reds
