MANCHESTER, England – 18-year-old Caitlyn Halse stated her World Cup debut was “surreal” and “fairly bloody wonderful” as Australia thumped Samoa 73-0 on Saturday to open their marketing campaign.
Halse, from Picton, New South Wales, turned the youngest Australian to play at a Girls’s Rugby World Cup and marked the event with two tries in a file win for the Wallaroos.
With 11 caps beneath her belt heading into the event, Halse stated she had her sights set on making the World Cup squad from the beginning of 2024, together with her dream changing into a actuality at Salford Stadium.
When requested concerning the expertise, Halse informed ESPN: “I would in all probability say surreal. Simply going on the market, I do not assume I’ve ever been in a stadium with so many followers watching me play.
“It was so cool however positively surreal to be on the market.
“Since I obtained put in to that squad, I do not assume it has been sure that I used to be coming however as soon as I obtained into the squad it has been one thing I have been working in the direction of. To be right here is fairly bloody wonderful.”
Whereas they piled on the factors, the Wallaroos managed a whole shutout regardless of Samoa placing them beneath loads of strain, significantly within the second half. Halse stated their resilience will give them loads of confidence forward of a vital conflict with the US subsequent week.
“It was a full 80-minute recreation, they’re [Samoa] so powerful that they had quite a lot of alternatives, however we stopped them. We will take quite a lot of confidence out of that,” she stated.
“They’re [United States] going to be powerful. Extra of a tactical aspect than Samoa however they will be in it for the total 80 once more and I believe we have simply obtained to stay to what we’re good at.”
Once they turned to their expansive, attacking rugby, Australia seemed unstoppable with Halse’s double and Desiree Miller’s first half hat trick displaying what the aspect is able to after they run the ball.
Together with proper winger Maya Stewart it is a back-three able to racking up the factors regardless of dropping sevens star Charlotte Caslick to harm previous to leaving Australia.
“Sadly we misplaced Charlotte earlier than the event to an ankle harm, however we have got some robust finishers in Desiree and Maya after which myself as we speak,” Halse stated.
“We have got some robust outdoors backs so hopefully we will maintain constructing on that and get the ball of their arms a bit extra.”
