Charlotte Caslick, Sharni Williams and Ellia Green to miss Japan World Series
AUSTRALIA’S silver medal-winning women’s sevens team head to Japan without three of their star players, who have been ruled out with injury after the Commonwealth Games.
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AUSTRALIA’S silver medal-winning women’s sevens team head to Japan without three of their star players, who have been ruled out with injury after the Commonwealth Games.
Sharni Williams will likely be sidelined for the remainder of the World Series because of a high ankle sprain and speedster Ellia Green will have cleanout surgery on her knee.
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Chief playmaker Charlotte Caslick will also remain in Australia after being ruled out under the Return to Play concussion after a head knock during the Games. Page McGregor, Yasmin Meakes and Lauren Brown come into the squad.
Players must quickly put behind them the disappointment of missing gold in extra time against New Zealand at the Commonwealth Games.
Captain Shannon Parry said the team was still feeling the emotional pain of the loss but there are still plenty of goals to tackle in 2018.
“Still bitterly disappointed at how it ended up, but in saying that, we fly to Japan and we play in a leg of the World Series and I guess we look forward to the challenges ahead this week,” Parry said.
“Any time you get to wear that Australian jersey is special and with the World Cup coming up in July it’s exciting times. It only comes around every four years and the World Series as well, we’re in a good position.”
As well as being without Caslick, Williams and Green, the Kitakyushu leg marks the first official tournament without head coach Tim Walsh.
Assistant coach John Manenti officially steps in as interim coach and he was pleased the team had something to focus on so quickly after the Commonwealth Games disappointment.
“The team has been through a range of mixed emotions over the last 48 hours after that thrilling final against New Zealand but fortunately, we don’t have to wait to get back on the park,” Manenti said.
“Our whole focus will be on this next challenge ahead of us and such is the nature of Rugby Sevens you have to get back up very quickly for the next round.”
Parry said the team was sad to see Walsh move on, but they were excited about the changes Manenti could bring.
“For us, it’s very clear that he’s going to be our head coach from now until the World Cup. He’s very familiar with the girls and the game plan. It’s a fresh start,” said Parry, who has been part of the program for the entirety of Walsh’s reign.
“The program is in really good shape. It’s not a distracter for us, we’re really looking forward to starting fresh with Johnny and looking forward to what he can bring.”
SQUAD: Shannon Parry (C), Demi Hayes, Dominique Du Toit, Emma Tonegato, Evania Pelite, Georgina Friedrichs, Cassandra Staples, Emma Sykes, Alicia Quirk, Emilee Cherry, Page McGregor, Yasmin Meakes*, Lauren Brown*. *uncapped players
Originally published as Charlotte Caslick, Sharni Williams and Ellia Green to miss Japan World Series
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