Wallaroos' big selection call as Caslick settles in
Wallaroos flyhalf Arabella McKenzie has been left out of the squad to face Fiji, as sevens convert Charlotte Caslick ticks all the boxes ahead of a potential Test debut.
Coach Jo Yapp reduced the 40-player squad by 10 on Monday, ahead of the side's Test against Fijiana on Saturday in Suva.
Olympic gold medallist Caslick was among those retained, but NSW Waratahs playmaker McKenzie was a notable omission.
Faitala Moleka, Lori Cramer and Tia Hinds, a sevens teammate of Caslick, will instead jostle for the No.10 jersey, while Caslick eyes a potential start at fullback or off the bench.
Bienne Terita is the third sevens talent in the squad, an initiative that's led to suggestions of disharmony as the program looks to bolster itself ahead of this year's World Cup in England.
But veteran back-rower Emily Chancellor dismissed any notion of a rift, heaping praise on the "newcomers" after their impressive starts to the Canberra training camp.
"Often you get fear and nervousness, which comes out in looser rugby, or they go within their shells," she said.
"But they've come in with a desire to be a part of it and felt involved.
"I'm blown away by their quality ... taking on board the environment, being sponges to the 15s game.
"Charlotte has been so open and keen to learn, asking questions, making mistakes, changing the behaviours.
"All three of those sevens girls have really committed to being part of this squad and there isn't any divide, nothing to be worried or talked about.
"They're here to be 15s players and put their best foot forward, like everyone else."
Chancellor said she hadn't discussed McKenzie's omission with Yapp but that, with seven Tests before their World Cup opener, it didn't mean the door had been closed on her.
The Wallaroos finished 2024 in winning form in South Africa, but lost six of their first seven games of the year, including by 48 and 64 points to New Zealand.
Currently ranked No.6 in the world, the Australians have only reached the semi-finals once in seven World Cup campaigns.
"Often, if we've had time away from this international environment, it feels like we have to start again," Chancellor said of the side's intent to improve this year.
"This time there's been conversation about how we're starting where we left off."
Katalina Amosa, Ruby Anderson, Ashley Fernandez, Martha Fua, Manu'a Moleka and Faliki Pohiva are the other uncapped players in the squad.
Star centre Georgina Friedrichs will have her run of 29 consecutive Test appearances ended by a finger injury suffered in the Super Rugby Women's decider.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sydney Morning Herald
40 minutes ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Don't drop it': Gleeson silences inner critic with Lions dream in sight
'I remember the second Reds game this year, I dropped a few balls and after the game, I saw my parents, my head was down, I was just in the dumps, worried about the next game, what's going to happen, and then my Mum (Elizabeth) helped me out with it, like mistakes are going to happen...' Gleeson's chosen position is a tough one for a man who doesn't relish attention. The trademark red headgear is also thanks to his Mum, who initially chose it to try and spot her son on Manly Oval alongside his brother Ben, now a regular at the Marlins. The No.8 is often the physical focal point of the team, used to provide inspiration when needed when defences are at their toughest. Gleeson has now established himself as one of the premier back rowers in Super Rugby, standing in contrast with the young man from Dee Why who arrived at the Waratahs in 2022. 'My first year of debuting for the Tahs, I was shitting myself on the bench. I was scared. I didn't want to play,' Gleeson said. 'But I reckon, once you're in the game, like physically in the game, and you make your first carry, everything else just goes out the window. 'If I'm looking at the crowd, my mind just wanders. Especially in the Wallabies it's daunting because you can't be perfect, but the coaches expect you to be perfect. So every little thing you have to think of, it's doing your job right.' At 23-years-old Gleeson was faced with a crucial decision early in his career at the start of this year, to stay or go. He had interest from Northampton and Exeter in England and Montpellier. Ultimately, he decided that a move to France would not only push him out of comfort zone off the field, he would return a far better rugby player to Australia. 'I thought I'd probably do it (move) later in my career. But I just feel like mentally and physically, I just feel a bit stagnant the last four years. I've sort of been in the same position,' Gleeson said. 'So I just thought, Top 14 is one of the biggest rugby competitions and as a player I need to adapt, I just want to learn a few new things as well. 'Obviously, money comes into play as well. I'm definitely going to come back, but I just feel like it's a good time in my career to do that (move).' Gleeson hasn't been in regular contact with Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt since the start of the year when he was uninvited from training camp. Gleeson was told he would still be considered for selection if he played well enough, and he is not alone. Brumbies pair Noah Lolesio and Tom Hooper are also overseas-bound, but likely to be in the squad. 'It would mean everything (to get picked),' Gleeson said. 'It's either the Lions or the World Cup I think they're one of the biggest things in our sport, it would be a dream, if I don't play, I'll still come support the boys, I'll still try and either watch them on TV or come and see them. Loading 'It's hard because there are so many good performers this year, especially in the back row Carlo (Tizzano), Tom Hooper who's also leaving is killing it. 'I think it just depends on what Joe and the coaching group wants, I tried to give everything I could this year, especially to the Tahs. 'I just wanted to leave something there and leave it all on the field for the boys. Obviously I feel sad that I'm leaving, I just wanted to put my body on the line for this year and leave a legacy.'
The Age
44 minutes ago
- The Age
‘Don't drop it': Gleeson silences inner critic with Lions dream in sight
'I remember the second Reds game this year, I dropped a few balls and after the game, I saw my parents, my head was down, I was just in the dumps, worried about the next game, what's going to happen, and then my Mum (Elizabeth) helped me out with it, like mistakes are going to happen...' Gleeson's chosen position is a tough one for a man who doesn't relish attention. The trademark red headgear is also thanks to his Mum, who initially chose it to try and spot her son on Manly Oval alongside his brother Ben, now a regular at the Marlins. The No.8 is often the physical focal point of the team, used to provide inspiration when needed when defences are at their toughest. Gleeson has now established himself as one of the premier back rowers in Super Rugby, standing in contrast with the young man from Dee Why who arrived at the Waratahs in 2022. 'My first year of debuting for the Tahs, I was shitting myself on the bench. I was scared. I didn't want to play,' Gleeson said. 'But I reckon, once you're in the game, like physically in the game, and you make your first carry, everything else just goes out the window. 'If I'm looking at the crowd, my mind just wanders. Especially in the Wallabies it's daunting because you can't be perfect, but the coaches expect you to be perfect. So every little thing you have to think of, it's doing your job right.' At 23-years-old Gleeson was faced with a crucial decision early in his career at the start of this year, to stay or go. He had interest from Northampton and Exeter in England and Montpellier. Ultimately, he decided that a move to France would not only push him out of comfort zone off the field, he would return a far better rugby player to Australia. 'I thought I'd probably do it (move) later in my career. But I just feel like mentally and physically, I just feel a bit stagnant the last four years. I've sort of been in the same position,' Gleeson said. 'So I just thought, Top 14 is one of the biggest rugby competitions and as a player I need to adapt, I just want to learn a few new things as well. 'Obviously, money comes into play as well. I'm definitely going to come back, but I just feel like it's a good time in my career to do that (move).' Gleeson hasn't been in regular contact with Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt since the start of the year when he was uninvited from training camp. Gleeson was told he would still be considered for selection if he played well enough, and he is not alone. Brumbies pair Noah Lolesio and Tom Hooper are also overseas-bound, but likely to be in the squad. 'It would mean everything (to get picked),' Gleeson said. 'It's either the Lions or the World Cup I think they're one of the biggest things in our sport, it would be a dream, if I don't play, I'll still come support the boys, I'll still try and either watch them on TV or come and see them. Loading 'It's hard because there are so many good performers this year, especially in the back row Carlo (Tizzano), Tom Hooper who's also leaving is killing it. 'I think it just depends on what Joe and the coaching group wants, I tried to give everything I could this year, especially to the Tahs. 'I just wanted to leave something there and leave it all on the field for the boys. Obviously I feel sad that I'm leaving, I just wanted to put my body on the line for this year and leave a legacy.'
7NEWS
an hour ago
- 7NEWS
Australian equestrian Heath Ryan issues statement after horse whip video emerges
Australian Olympic equestrian Heath Ryan has been forced to defend himself after shocking vision of him whipping a horse emerged on social media. The vision is two years old and it shows Ryan, 66, whipping a horse called Nico 42 times. The video was shared on YouTube and Facebook by DressageHub, with the title: 'Australian Olympian Heath Ryan Hits a Horse 42 Times in 30 Seconds .... Pretty sure this video will get pulled. Watch it while you can.' 'It's never-ending ... this horse is completely shut down. It's traumatised,' DressageHub says. has chosen not to show the viral video, which takes place in an indoor training arena. The sound of the cracking whip can be clearly heard, and the horse reacts by kicking its rear legs and swishing its tail. But Ryan was quick to defend himself when he realised the video had surfaced, and said that all the facts needed to be taken into account before any judgement was made. 'Oh my goodness! The most awful video of me on a young horse has just surfaced,' he said in a lengthy statement on Facebook. He then explained that it was a a 'life-and-death' situation for the horse and it was in fact saving it from the 'knackery'. 'I have never ridden anything like it. I am so sad this was caught on video. If I had been thinking of myself, I would have immediately just gotten off and sent Nico to the knackery,' he said. 'That video was a life-or-death moment for Nico and of that I was very aware. I felt I genuinely had to try my very hardest to see if Nico would consider other options. Anyway, by the end of that initial ride I did feel Nico was responding. 'I rode Nico for another couple of days and he responded very well and started to go without the use of excessive driving aids.' He said Nico — who had been 'beautifully bred' by his best stallions — had always been a 'problem child'. And before the horse was dropped off to him for training, Nico had a put his owner and good friend in intensive care. 'Nico, before he came to me, always had the best of best homes. He wanted for nothing. He was in wonderful condition, he was always rugged, he had his own paddock, he was regularly ridden and he was loved. Here is the question: if a beautiful 6yo horse turns up at your facility and it was bred by your stallion and it belonged to a lifelong friend of yours who had been put in hospital in intensive care by this horse, would you just send it to the Knackery??' He said he felt obliged to retrain the horse to 'see if it was possibly salvageable'. He said after that training session he found a 'brilliant' new home for Nico and the horse was 'thriving in a loving and competitive home with an exciting future'. 'All of this transpired sincerely with the horse's best interests the sole consideration. Unbelievably it was so successful for everyone except me with the release of this video. What can I say?' he said. 'If you think I did that flippantly, you are wrong. I hated reaching out in those moments to Nico and asking the hard questions. That was the last place I wanted to be. I have never before ridden a horse that reacted like that and I certainly will never do it again. 'Was it worth it?? Well, not for me, however, I am very happy for Nico. I need to add that this happened about two years ago and the video has been posted by an unhappy ex-employee. All I can say is that this awful video was collateral damage of me from the bottom of my heart launching a rescue mission.'
