The Wallaroos have received a major blow for their Rugby World Cup campaign with Olympic gold medallist Charlotte Caslick ruled out of the tournament with injury.
The Australian women’s squad depart for England on Monday morning but they’ll be without star sevens convert Caslick, who was racing the clock to overcome an ankle injury she suffered against the Black Ferns in July.
Caslick, who shifted from the Australians’ sevens team this year to play XVs full-time in the hope of making the World Cup squad, had surgery on syndesmosis injury in mid-July.
The injury usually takes 10-12 weeks to heal, but there was hope that Caslick would be able to fast-track her recovery to play in some of the Wallaroos’ World Cup pool games, which start on August 23. The 30-year-old was named in the squad last week but it became clear to medical staff late in the week that Caslick would not be fully fit until the quarter-finals, which start on September 13.
Given the Wallaroos play three pool games against Samoa, USA and England before that – and need to win two to progress to the playoffs – coach Jo Yapp made the difficult call to scratch Caslick and call in 18-year-old Manua Moleka.
Moleka is the younger sister of Faitala Moleka, and was a star sevens player from Penrith who emerged for the Brumbies in Super W this year.
Charlotte Caslick of the Wallaroos runs the ball during the Pacific Four Series International Match between Australia Wallaroos and USA.Credit: Getty Images
There remains some chance Caslick could join the squad later at the World Cup as an injury replacement, but only if a spot opens up due to a tournament-ending injury to someone else in the squad.
Speaking to media last week before the decision was made, Caslick said she was being realistic about her chances.