RUGBY: Australia will be respresented by two sensational teams when rugby returns to the Olympic program for the first time since 1924.
We look at some of the the Aussie stars set to shine in Rio.
The women’s side head to Deodoro as World Series champions and kick off their campaign on Day 1 of the 2016 Rio Olympics. The men’s team begin their quest for gold on Day 4 with what could be a pivotal clash against the unpredictable French.
The Superstars
The talk of superstar Wallaby fly halves Bernard Foley and Quade Cooper wanting to represent their country in Rio appears to have stirred incumbent playmaker Lewis Holland to new heights. Holland starred at the inaugural Sydney 7s in February with coach Andy Friend a huge fan of the 23-year-old from Braidwood in country New South Wales.
Charlotte Caslick is the gem in a team packed with superstars for the world champion Australian outfit. Caslick pulls the strings in midfield and is always asking question of the opposition defence through her game awareness, pace and quality of passing. Unsurprisingly, the Queenslander has been nominated for World Player of the Year for the past two years.
The Skippers
Hulking forward Ed Jenkins is the most-capped Australian sevens player of all-time, having played 45 World Series tournaments and won two Commonwealth Games medals in 2010 and 2014. The Sydneysider is also one of only two Australians to have scored 100 tries or more in the annual Sevens World Series.
Sharni Williams and Shannon Parry have shared the captaincy duties for the women’s team ever since the former returned from a long-term knee injury. Known as the self-titled Bash Brothers, the duo are not only among the most feared forwards in the women’s game but also great mates.
The Sharpshooters
Often an underrated element of rugby sevens, the Australians are fortunate to boast two of the best kickers in the world. Experienced campaigner James Stannard is one of the finest tactical kickers and set-piece exponents in the game. The 33-year-old also became the leading Australian points scorer of all-time when he passed Peter Miller in Wellington in January.
Chloe Dalton’s metronomic restarts and conversions added a whole new element to Tim Walsh’s charges since she made her national debut in December 2014, somewhat ironic since the 23-year-old crossed over from a sport where kicking is non-existent – basketball. Dalton scored 110 points from four tournaments in the 2015-16 World Series.
The Speedsters
Teenager Henry Hutchison was named Rookie of the Year by World Rugby in May after scoring 27 tries in seven World Series tournaments. Hutchison made his national debut in the pressure cooker tournament that was the winner-takes-all Olympic Regional Qualifier in Auckland last November. His importance to the team’s success grew substantially after fellow winger Pama Fou picked up a knee injury in June ruling him out of the Rio Olympics.
Ellia Green, aka The Green Machine or The Fastest Woman in Rugby, has pace to burn and she’s not afraid to use it having scored 19 tries in three tournaments this past season. One of the sights of these Games could be if the Aussies face their old foes New Zealand which could see Green square off against the deadly Portia Woodman.
The Bolters
Perhaps it’s somewhat harsh to tag Gemma Etheridge with the term “bolter” given the utility forward has 10 World Series caps to her name since making her debut in November 2012. But it’s fair to say Rio seemed a fair way off when Etheridge picked up a serious knee injury at training in March. However, after undergoing LARS surgery and then extensive rehab the 29-year-old earned a call-up to Walsh’s final 12-strong squad.
John Porch only debuted for Australia in January this year and could be the man to watch out for at Deodoro Stadium. An outside back in the XVs form of the game, coach Andy Friend has also utilised the Cumnock man at scrum-half. Porch scored two tries as Australia defeated world champions-elect Fiji in the third place play-off in Vancouver in March.
Steve Stammers
olympics.com.au
