Caitlyn Halse reveals personal ambition ahead of 100th Wallaroos Test match

The last 12 months have been a period of ups and down for Caitlyn Halse, but with a new look squad having touched down in Auckland and commencing preparations for the Black Ferns, the 19-year-old is determined to make the next two weeks count.

The Wallaroos are set to chase a maiden victory over the Black Ferns in their 100th Test match next week, and their hopes have been significantly bolstered by the injection of sevens stars and coaching staff as the alignment between the two programmes commences.

Halse, who has indicated an interest in playing sevens to improve her skillset, is looking to make the most of the next week in camp, praising several sevens stars who made a big impact on the squad last year.

“It’s super exciting to have the sevens girls in here,” Halse said.

“They’ve been an elite programme for many, many years and I think it’s refreshing to have a new perspective: how they train and what they bring to us, and what we can also bring to them in terms of like the learning side of it.

“I think everyone watched the Golden Girls, the 2016 [Olympic gold medal winning] girls. Ever since then, every year I try and watch the sevens in Sydney or in Perth.

“You watch those girls and you try and pick little bits of their game and see how you can incorporate into yours. Obviously Maddi [Levi], super quick. One of the hardest people to stop on that sevens field when she gets in space.

“Hopefully they can translate that over into the XVs game for us.

“Having Dolly [Hinds] last year, I definitely picked her brain a lot about sevens. I think she has one of the best footy brains, ever. She’s really smart.

“Her IQ is like out of this world for sevens and XVs. It was really good to have her last year. I’m yet to pick the rest of their [other sevens players] brains, but I definitely will be in the upcoming days.”

It has come at a good time for Halse, the full-back having returned to form quickly with strong showings in Super Rugby Women’s and the Super Rugby Champions Final after a difficult stint of injuries.

“I was trying hard to work back, but every time it seemed that I could progress, I would be set back,” Halse added

“It was just probably my body not quite being ready for the next steps.

“Especially with Achilles [injuries], you want to be really careful. You don’t want to push it and then do something worse. They were just trying to take it one step at a time and make sure I was going to be back for the rest of the season rather than pushing me.”

Despite the short time together, Halse has made the time to make introductions to Director of Women’s High Performance, Tim Walsh, with a plan underway over key areas the side will look to improve upon against the Black Ferns.

With so many quality players up for the selection in the sevens, Halse has decided to embrace the competition, and is hungry to be part of that team that will make up the Wallaroos’ 100th side.

“We’ve had a few conversations, with all the backs about kicking and what we’re looking for attack wise in their backfield,” Halse explained.

“Having a lot of class girls in their position brings that positive competition. It only betters the individuals and the squad by competing every session.

“Whether that’s in the gym, on field, no matter what it is, having that healthy competition where you’re actively trying to better yourself; by doing that, you’re bettering your teammates. I think that will only help the team and our performance on the weekend.

“I would love to be in the [100th] team.

“Anytime I get to wear the green and gold jersey is a very special moment for me. It’s one of the greatest privileges and honours I can have to pull on the green and gold.”