Injured Caslick writes off Australia's World Cup opener but hopes to face US
SYDNEY - Injured former Olympic sevens champion Charlotte Caslick is confident she will play some women's Rugby World Cup in England even if she has already ruled out from taking the field in Australia's tournament opener against Samoa.
Caslick, who was named sevens World Player of the Year in 2016, damaged her ankle against New Zealand last month and was still in a moonboot when she spoke to reporters in Sydney on Wednesday.
Coach Jo Yapp included the 30-year-old in her World Cup squad on Monday, however, and Caslick said she was hoping to be ready to go against the United States in Australia's second Pool A game in York on August 30.
"When it happened, I knew it would be touch and go, and the time frame's probably a little bit tighter than I would have hoped," the backline threat said.
"It's a bit of a bummer but I guess it's all part of it. It's disappointing knowing that I probably won't be in the best shape of my career at this point, but I'm going to try and do everything I can to be as good as I can be."
Yapp also selected Siokapesi Palu in her squad despite the Wallaroos captain struggling with a foot problem. Caslick said the two injured players had been supporting each other.
"We're definitely in very similar positions at the moment," she said.
"I feel for her too, she's had an amazing season and being captain of the team but we're kind of bouncing off each other every day in training and just praying for each other."
The eighth-ranked Wallaroos concluded their preparations for the World Cup with a record 36-5 win over Wales last week and Caslick thought there was enough quality in the squad to fulfil Yapp's ambition of a spot in the quarter-finals.
"I think obviously the game against Wales last Friday just proved how much improvement we've had in the last 12 months," Caslick said.
"There's so many world class players in that side."
Australia, whose best finish at the World Cup was a run to the semi-finals in 2010, complete their pool stage campaign against hot title favourites England in Brighton on September 6. REUTERS
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
New Zealand crush Zimbabwe by record innings & 359 runs
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox New Zealand completed their biggest win in test cricket with a crushing innings and 359-run victory over Zimbabwe to clinch the series 2-0 in Bulawayo on Saturday. Zimbabwe, who suffered their heaviest test defeat, were bowled out for 117 after New Zealand declared overnight on 601-3 following centuries by Devon Conway (153), Rachin Ravindra (165 not out) and Henry Nicholls (150 not out). Seamer Zakary Foulkes completed figures of 5-37 to go with 4-38 in their first innings, the best by a New Zealander on debut. Nick Welch put up lone resistance for the home side with an unbeaten 47 and captain Craig Ervine (17) was the only other player to get into double figures. Extras (16) was the third highest scorer. "It's been a great series," New Zealand seamer Matt Henry said. "I think as a group we knew that we needed to capitalise on the new ball and ask questions early. "The skillset we have as a group, we can complement each other. The way the guys are coming in and backing their skillset, it's awesome to see." Trailing by 476 on their first innings, it was always going to be a tall order for Zimbabwe to make their visitors bat again, but they would have hoped their second innings lasted longer than 28.1 overs. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore 4 men arrested after police search operation in forested area near Rail Corridor Singapore SAF regular serviceman dies after being found unconscious at Hendon Camp swimming pool: Mindef World Three wounded in shooting in New York's Times Square Singapore Driver taken to hospital after car hits lamp post in Orchard Road Singapore Urban farming, robots, AI exhibitions: Public invited to share ideas for new Science Centre Asia 2 Malaysian tourists critically injured after being set on fire in Bangkok World Trump and Putin to meet on Aug 15 in Alaska Life The crypto bros are back: 'The hubris never really left' Having lost Brian Bennett (0) in the first over, they were quickly in trouble as Brendan Taylor (7), back from a three-and-a-half year ICC suspension, followed him back to the pavilion with Henry (2-16) removing both openers. When experienced batter Sikandar Raza (4) fell, the score was 54-5 and Foulkes ran through the tail. "It's obviously been disappointing, specially the way we finished today," Ervine said. "But we had a really tough, high-skilled opposition and it shows where we stand as a team in the test circuit." REUTERS
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
2025 US Open: dates, schedule, seeds, how to watch on TV
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Sep 8, 2024; Flushing, NY, USA; Jannik Sinner (ITA) celebrates with the trophy after defeating Taylor Fritz (USA) in the men's singles final of the 2024 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images/File Photo The U.S. Open is a hardcourt Grand Slam organised by the United States Tennis Association. The tournament was first held in 1881 and originally known as the U.S. National Championships. Here is what you need to know about the year's fourth and final major of the year: WHEN IS THE 2025 U.S. OPEN HAPPENING? * The 145th edition of the U.S. Open will run from August 24 to September 7. WHERE IS IT TAKING PLACE? * The U.S. Open is held in Flushing Meadows, New York. * The three main showcourts are the Arthur Ashe Stadium, Louis Armstrong Stadium and Grandstand. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore 4 men arrested after police search operation in forested area near Rail Corridor Singapore SAF regular serviceman dies after being found unconscious at Hendon Camp swimming pool: Mindef World Three wounded in shooting in New York's Times Square Singapore Driver taken to hospital after car hits lamp post in Orchard Road Singapore Urban farming, robots, AI exhibitions: Public invited to share ideas for new Science Centre Asia 2 Malaysian tourists critically injured after being set on fire in Bangkok World Trump and Putin to meet on Aug 15 in Alaska Life The crypto bros are back: 'The hubris never really left' * Arthur Ashe Stadium (capacity: 23,771) is named after the only Black man to win singles titles at Wimbledon, the U.S. Open and the Australian Open. He was also a prominent human rights activist. * Louis Armstrong Stadium (capacity: 14,053) was named after jazz great Armstrong who lived a few blocks from the venue until he died in 1971. It was opened during the 2018 event to replace the 1978 stadium of the same name and has a retractable roof like the main showcourt. * Grandstand (capacity: 8,125) was first used at the U.S. Open on August 29, 2016, the opening day of that year's tournament. WHO IS PLAYING? * The top-ranked players automatically enter the main draw, with 32 seeds announced prior to the draw, to ensure they do not meet in the early rounds. Seedings are based on world rankings determined by the points players collect on the tour. * Italian Jannik Sinner, who won his fourth Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in July, is the men's world number one. He is chasing back-to-back U.S. Open titles. * Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, a three-times major winner, is the top-ranked women's player and the defending champion. * Novak Djokovic will resume his quest for a record-extending 25th men's Grand Slam singles title, while Spanish world number two and 2022 champion Carlos Alcaraz chases a sixth major crown. * Organisers also hand out wildcards to local hopes and notable players who have dropped down the rankings. * A new format in the mixed doubles is being introduced this year, with the event featuring many big-name singles players as it will be taking place over two days in the week before the main competition starts. Former singles champions Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu are among those who have teamed up. TOP RANKED PLAYERS Men: 1 Jannik Sinner 2 Carlos Alcaraz 3 Alexander Zverev 4 Taylor Fritz 5 Jack Draper 6 Ben Shelton 7 Novak Djokovic 8 Alex de Minaur 9 Holger Rune 10 Lorenzo Musetti Women: 1 Aryna Sabalenka 2 Coco Gauff 3 Iga Swiatek 4 Jessica Pegula 5 Mirra Andreeva 6 Madison Keys 7 Zheng Qinwen 8 Amanda Anisimova 9 Jasmine Paolini 10 Elena Rybakina WHERE TO WATCH THE U.S. OPEN 2025 ON TV? * Asia: CCTV, CJ ENM, Eclat SPOTV, JioStar, PCCW, Sportcast, TDM, WOWOW * Africa: SuperSport, beIN Sports * North America: ESPN, RDS, TSN * South America: ESPN International, Globo (SporTV) * Europe: Eurosport, Puls4, SRF/RSI, Sky Sports, Sportdeuschland, SuperTennis, Telefonica/Movistar * Oceania: Digicel, Nine/Stan Sport REUTERS
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Spain's Coll lost her bottle, notes in Euro 2025 final shootout
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Spain keeper Cata Coll was left without her tactical notes during the penalty shootout in last month's European Championship final, because England keeper Hannah Hampton had thrown the bottle they were written on into the stands. Hampton replaced Coll's bottle with her own as the 24-year-old Chelsea keeper led England to their second continental title in a row, beating the world champions 3-1 in the shootout after a 1-1 draw in Basel. "It wasn't hard. When she's in the goal it's on its own... you just pick it up," Hampton told TalkSport. "I just put mine in there, chucked her one into the fans and she had an empty bottle. She was looking for where it is. She was walking back and I was walking the other way. She was so confused. I was trying so hard not to burst out laughing." Australia keeper Andrew Redmayne did the same to Peruvian counterpart Pedro Gallese during a qualifying playoff for the 2022 World Cup. Redmayne saved the final penalty as Australia won the shootout 5-4. Coll saved Beth Mead's re-taken penalty as Spain took the lead, before Hampton saved two spot-kicks and Spaniard Salma Paralluelo shot wide. Hampton said she wrote down her notes on her arm to keep them safe. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore 4 men arrested after police search operation in forested area near Rail Corridor Singapore SAF regular serviceman dies after being found unconscious at Hendon Camp swimming pool: Mindef World Three wounded in shooting in New York's Times Square Singapore Driver taken to hospital after car hits lamp post in Orchard Road Singapore Urban farming, robots, AI exhibitions: Public invited to share ideas for new Science Centre Asia 2 Malaysian tourists critically injured after being set on fire in Bangkok World Trump and Putin to meet on Aug 15 in Alaska Life The crypto bros are back: 'The hubris never really left' "I never put it on a bottle because anyone can do that," she added. REUTERS
