After coming across from Sevens to take a stab at playing for the Wallaroos, Charlotte Caslick’s persistence has paid off - being named in the squad that will fly to England for the Rugby World Cup.
Caslick will be fighting for selection in Australia’s USA clash in early September and is expected to starting running next week following an injury sustained against New Zealand in Wellington.
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Whether she does make it back in time for the USA clash or not, the Sevens star acknowledged that time in the Wallaroos camp has been one of the most enjoyable of her career.
“It's been great,” Caslick told reporters on Wednesday.
“It's been super challenging at times, but I've really enjoyed it. Not that I was hesitant, [but] it's always hard doing something that's out of your comfort zone. When you're in an environment so long, and Sevens has always sort of been home for me, it was challenging and hard to do something new.
“But I'm really proud of myself. I really want to get to this Rugby World Cup. And at this stage, I hope I do. But if not, I've still made amazing friends and memories. I'm proud of myself, no matter what.”
Caslick, alongside Tia Hinds were well supported by the Sevens players when the Wallaroos won big over Wales at North Sydney Oval, with several making the journey out to watch.
It’s a collaboration that Caslick, now having been on both sides of, is excited to see grow - believing a tight system between the Sevens and XVs programs would be mutually beneficial.
“I would love that,” Caslick smiled.
“You could see at the Wales game at North Sydney Oval, there was like eight or nine of our Sevens girls that could come and watch and they had signs and they were cheering and they loved watching Tia play that night.
“They've been watching us the whole time and supporting us throughout the journey. I think a lot of them would love to be a part of the Wallaroos in some capacity in the future. I hope that the programs can definitely coexist and we can help each other get better.
“Players like Maya [Stewart] and Desi [Miller] totally have a space in Sevens, and not just those two. I think there's many girls within the Wallaroos that would be capable of crossing over and vice versa.”
When asked further, Caslick highlighted some of the skills she has picked up over the course of XVs, which she plans to make use of on her return to the seven-a-side code.
“My skillset’s developed even further,” she said.
“We do a lot more kicking and those sort of skills with the Wallaroos. The skills are so similar, they transfer across very easily. It's obviously just rugby at the end of the day.
“I think, even the contact aspect, we do a lot. It's a lot heavier contact in XVs… There's a lot more detail and structure you have to be across. I did a lot of work off-field with the attack coach in particular about getting my positioning right.
“At times I was probably really hard on myself and wanted to perfect it in a short time. I think the fact that we were in camp, spending so much time together also helped… you're around rugby and talking about rugby all the time and watching rugby.
“We're just like getting a lot of rugby in that's helping us get better.”
Caslick singled out head coach Jo Yapp, but also Reds veteran Lori Cramer for helping her transition over to XVs.
“At the beginning, obviously, I just wanted to be on the field,” Caslick explained.
“The best place to learn is just being out there and doing it.
“I think Jo [Yapp] knew that as well. So she just wanted me to be trying to get as much game time experience as possible throughout the Pac-4 series. I like being close to the ball.
“Coming from the Reds as well, Lori Cramer has been awesome to me, not just on-field but off-field. She's become like an incredible friend of mine now and having that friendship within the squad.
“We're all fighting for similar positions and we all want to be in that 23. At times we're not all there. I think the way that the whole group and Lori in particular supports myself has been really special.”
It has also helped Caslick to have the likes of Bienne Terita and Tia Hinds also have time in the squad, with the latter looming as an exciting long term prospect at flyhalf, enjoying a strong performance on park against Wales.
“I've been a part of Tia's whole journey, we were actually roommates for her debut in Dubai when she first started Sevens,” Caslick added.
“It's been really cool just to even watch her grow and watching her play number ten is just amazing, seeing her lead the team around.
“It makes me really proud of the player that she's becoming. Her confidence and development, having that role within this side is going to be really crucial for her career moving forward.”
