In her final column before Women's Rugby World Cup 2010
kicks off three weeks today, Cheryl Soon reveals the positive vibe
in the Australian camp as they attempt to secure a unique World Cup
double.
READ CHERYL'S PREVIOUS COLUMN >>
It has been a busy time since my last column as we've had
a couple of camps, some internal matches and trial matches which
meant the coaching staff have been able to have a look at everybody
to see how they are progressing before the selection camp three
weeks ago. We have one more assembly in a couple of weeks, on 9
August in Canberra before we leave for the World Cup.
Everyone has worked really hard, the Wallaroos' squad has
been selected now and there are some very happy girls and obviously
some very disappointed ones as well who didn't make the squad.
It has been a busy and hectic schedule, but now we are looking to
ramp it up a bit. Everyone is just really excited and wants to get
over there to England. We know what it's like to be successful
and we want to aim to do it again.
We have a few characters in the squad named by our coach John
Manenti. There is a big one in Debby Hodgkinson, the IRB
Women's Personality of the Year. She certainly is a special
character. We have other girls, a few Pacific Island girls, they
are very interesting, vocal and very caring. We have girls who like
to be heard, who are very funny, all sorts of characters. Everyone
compliments each other and gets on and that is crucial when
seclectinbg a team.
There are some funny people. We have story times and people get
up and tell stories. A couple of girls got up and told stories
about their personal lives, how they got proposed to, funny stories
about their boyfriends.
It has been very entertaining and relaxing. Sometimes you
need to switch on and switch off and this is a great way to do
that, hearing stories about what happened to them. One girl has a
nickname which her GP gave to her, although I'm not sure I
should continue with that story! Sharing stories creates a strong
bond between the squad.
Sevens success an inspiration
We do have a few girls from the Sevens, although we lost one
of them in the last camp to injury which is a huge loss. We have a
lot of depth coming into the squad anyway and we are very fortunate
that we do have a lot of experience with girls from the Sevens
World Cup and other World Cup 15s as well because that kind of
experience is invaluable.
We been focused on getting over there and getting the job
done and while we have achieved a lot before with the Sevens, our
main focus is 15s and trying to go there and do our best. We are up
for the challenge ... it is going to be a huge challenge but we are
all up for it.
Australia obviously travel to England as Sevens world
champions and that is inspiring. The girls who weren't part of
that success are definitely inspired by what we achieved and they
know that the Sevens' girls had a taste of what it is like to
be successful and that is something we are aiming to do in 15s and
having the Sevens' girls there is inspiring.
We are confident, but that is not to say we're cocky. We
are just confident and really excited about it and everyone has
been working hard and it shows in our testing we get back. We have
all been doing the hard work and just can't wait to get over
there.
We have one more camp first though and I hope everyone gets
through that unscathed and that we gel as much as we can in that
last camp. We have got a really good team harmony, all the girls
are best friends and gets on with each other. We have had that
taster of success and I think we have got a pretty good chance of
bringing home the silverware again.
A dream come true
There has been talk about united the Sevens and 15-a-side
World Cup and that would be amazing, it would be incredible ... I
would probably hang up my boots after that and be happy. It would
just be amazing. The girls can do it and they believe we can do it
and that is what it comes down to, 26 girls just believing we can
do it.
They want it and it would be absolutely phenomenal, a dream
come true. It would just change the future of the Women's Rugby
in Australia. We did it for Sevens and everyone was inspired, a lot
of girls wanted to give the sport a go and to do that for 15s too
will definitely be good for growth in Australia.
That said we know it will not be easy to realise that goal
and we will take each game as it comes, starting with our pool
games against New Zealand, Wales and South Africa. Everyone knows
they can't afford to take anyone lightly, but we are chomping
at the bit to get going.
I don't think anyone is an easy opponent to be honest,
this is a World Cup, everyone wants to win and it is the team who
wants it the most who will win. You can't say any pool is
easier than any other, you have to play each game like it is a
grand final, the grand final of the World Cup and that is how we
are going to play.
Looking at New Zealand, they are the World Cup benchmark that
everyone is striving to try and reach. South Africa, one of our
pool opponents, are bridging that gap. I know South Africa have
invested a lot of money into their World Cup campaign and are
becoming a formidable side, especially in Sevens.
There are no weaknesses in any pool. This is going to be the
toughest World Cup so far and that is how it should be, it's a
World Cup and you are playing against the best in the world.
No forgone conclusion
I would much prefer to have a hard pool than going in with
easy wins and be half cooked and come to the crunch time in the
tournament and say jeez, we have now got a game on our hands. We
want to test ourselves against the best and you have to play the
best that you can and that is what we have got to do.
You have to beat the best to win and that is what we are
looking to do. It is a difficult pool, but I am sure other teams
have difficult pools. It is going to be interesting and intense.
I think the standard just keeps improving each year and that
is definitely what will be on show in the World Cup. I know the
focus is 15s, but it was definitely on show in Dubai at the Sevens
World Cup. Women are very athletic and talented, the game is going
to continue to grow across the globe.
It is changing and it has changed a lot, it is no longer just
New Zealand and England, there are a lot of other nations in the
mix. We are bridging that gap and the World Cup is not just going
to be an England-New Zealand final, it could be anyone. That is
what it should be and it is exciting. The World Cup is going to be
like that, a lot of people will come and support it.
Over here they are going to be showing games on Fox Tel and
that is huge for Australia. They haven't shown our games on TV
before. It isn't live, but it's being broadcast on TV and
that is a huge thing. There are a few expectations on us doing well
over there and we will just see how it all goes.
This Australian squad will bring physicality, the girls have
been working on their physicality. Coming from a Sevens and Touch
background you expect really sharp skills, the standard level is
high and from what I have seen and the experience we do have that
never give up attitude and the passion.
We want it, we desperately want the 15s World Cup and I
believe we can do it.
Next week we catch up with Sweden captain Ulrika Andersson-Hall
to find out how their preparations for a first World Cup since 1998
have been going and learn more about the squad that will travel to
England.
