Sevens superstar Charlotte Caslick embracing new role in youthful squad

Australia faced off against Oceania at day three of the Oceania Sevens at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.

Charlotte Caslick admits she has embraced stepping up as a leader as they look to go back-to-back at the Olympics.

Caslick was one of the younger players on the squad when Australia claimed gold in 2016.

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Five years on, the 26-year-old enters the event as one of the most experienced players in the squad, having been in the side since 2013.

With the likes of Maddison Levi and Tia Hands coming into the side, who were still in school when Caslick took the top step in Rio, she admits her focus has changed as they look to guide those players throughout the Olympic experience.

“It’s obviously a little different being the second time around and the sport isn’t new but it’s still just as exciting,” she said ahead of the Games.

“We’ve got a pretty young group of girls so my role in the team has changed in the sense that I was one of the youngest in Rio and now I’m the third oldest player in the squad.

“We’ve been encouraging them in this first week to get all the fun stuff all out of the way and then next week they can focus on their specific role.”

After an interrupted preparation, she admits last month's Oceania tournament was essential in building their combination and confidence as they prepare for their first game on July 30 against Japan.

“It was crucial, we haven’t played much footy in the past couple of months so to play any kind of footy has been massive,” she said.

“We’re really fortunate to have Fiji and New Zealand, some of the best teams in the world in our region so we’re lucky that we have those teams to play and they were accessible.”

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Drawn in Pool C, their final group stage match against the USA looms as the deciding game as both teams battle for top spot in the pool

The two teams squared off in the group stages in 2016, with neither team able to come out with the advantage on that day as they drew 12-all.

Caslick expected a similar experience when they face off once again on the second day of competition

“Both teams probably play a similar style to what they played back then (in 2016) but I think we’ve both gotten quicker and faster as well as the game in itself has developed,” she said.

“They are big athletic girls. They have some world class players in there like Alev Kelter so they are definitely not going to be easy beats and we’re going to have to be switched on.”

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