Charlotte Caslick hints at Matildas tension as rugby sevens battle for supremacy at Paris Olympics

Australian women’s sevens captain Charlotte Caslick has hinted at a simmering rivalry with the Matildas after urging fans not to forget about them and their gold medal chances.

Charlotte Caslick has hinted at the simmering rivalry with the Matildas over the battle to be the No.1 women’s team in Australia, as her Rugby Sevens team prepares for their own Olympic campaign.

Caslick, a veteran of the gold medal team in Rio eight years ago, has watched the rise of the Matildas with a mix of admiration and envy.

While the sevens girls have been perennial podium finishers, the Matildas have walked away from a succession of major events with little to show for it in the way of medals.

Caslick hinted at the underlying tension between the two teams when she suggested the Matildas may struggle to get out of the pool phase - they open their campaign against Germany on July 25 in Marseilles.

Charlotte Caslick has called for Australia to not forget about the rugby sevens team, rated among the top medal contenders at the Games. Picture: Getty Images

At the same time, the sevens girls are among the gold medal favourites.

“I think that as a team we deserve Australia to see how good we are,” Caslick said.

“We’ve been at the top of our game for years and years, always up there like a podium finishes in all of our series. And, we probably don’t get the recognition.

“I don’t know if they’ll (the Matildas) get out of the pool stages - they (have a) really tough pool to get through. But I think we’re kind of held to the standard of we have to podium to get any sort of attention.

“We’re more than capable. We’re super proud to be a part of this movement in women’s sport. At the same time, we’re achieving some amazing things and people sometimes at times aren’t paying attention to us or we play in hard time zones and difficult places for people to view it.

“So I think, like if we can perform at the Paris Olympics will really be able to show our Australia like how great the team is. There’s some superstars of that team that deserved accolades that other people, are getting.”

The Matildas caught the Australian public’s attention like virtually none before them during their Women’s World Cup run. Pictrure: Adam Head

Caslick was at the forefront of women’s sport eight years ago when she helped the women’s team reign in Rio, a moment she is hoping to emulate in Paris.

She has a good chance. The women are coming off a victory in his year’s World Sevens series and arrived in France among the genuine contenders to finish on top of thew podium.

“I think as a female, I was looking at the opportunities that young girls now have in all different sporting codes is amazing,” Caslick said.

Charlotte Caslick was part of the rugby sevens team which won gold at the Rio Olympics in 2016. Picture: AFP

“Like, it’s just super cool to be a part of. I guess we kind we’re at the forefront of it in 2016 and then to see the change that’s happened in the last eight years, I think there’s still obviously massive growth in that space.

“The Matildas are really leading the front in showing how marketable women’s sport is. I think every time I get to represent Australia, I’m really honoured and proud and I feel like I’ve got a responsibility to do that jersey justice.

“So I feel like every single time I put on the jersey, I’m out there doing my best. But, the Olympics definitely hold a special place in Australian sporting history, so, to be a part of that is pretty cool.