They’re on the brink of a sporting feat no Australian team, male or female, has ever achieved: winning the rugby sevens world title.
Over the weekend, Australia’s women’s team flew out to Clermont, France, where, given their current 12-point lead over New Zealand in the competition, nothing short of a tactical implosion next week will prevent them making history in the green and gold.
But given this is an Olympic year, world domination is but the first step.
“The first job is to win the world title,” Australia’s captain Shannon Parry told The Australian.
“But we said at the beginning of the year we’re about dominance and destiny.”
And destiny for this group means spring-boarding from glory in France to the top of the Olympic podium in Rio in a little over two months.
“We’ve put a good foot forward heading to Rio … we’re all about taking it one match at a time and focusing on the process,” Parry said.
“Leading into Rio was about showing that dominance. We’ve done that. We’ve got a really good culture, we’ve got a really good breed of young and experienced athletes that have come together.
“You can see that on the field, there’s a lot of trust and a lot of belief for what were trying to do and our coach (former Queensland Red Tim Walsh) has instilled that into us.
“We’ve had an exceptional year and we plan to finish it off with a solid Olympic performance.”
What makes the journey of the sevens team — which now bases itself on Sydney’s northern beaches courtesy of funding form the Australian Rugby Union and Australian Olympic Committee — all the more remarkable is that they were essentially thrown together three years ago through a series of talent identification camps.
One of those headhunted into the side was Charlotte Caslick, 21, who was spotted playing touch football for Australia.
The rise of talented halfback from Corinda just outside of Brisbane has been nothing short of meteoric. Last year she was one of four nominated for women’s world sevens player of the year — and the inside word is she’s a red-hot chance to win that title this year.
“I just want to keep getting better and I don’t want to let those individual accolades get in the way of the team. I wouldn’t be able to do anything without the rest of the girls out there,” Caslick said.
She said the team was very much aware of how important it was to ensure the last tournament before Rio “wasn’t a dud”.
“At the moment statistically we’re the best Australian rugby team and we could definitely get more support and recognition for what we’re doing if we won,” she said.
“It would be incredible for rugby sevens — and especially women’s rugby sevens — for us to be world champion.’’
