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3 months ago
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Aussie Rugby Sevens star Charlotte Caslick has started a sporting feud after questioning why the Matildas receive so much fanfare given they have only ever won one piece of major silverware while her team has consistently been among the best in the world.
In 2010, the Matildas hoisted the Asian Cup in China after beating North Korea 5-4 on penalties in the final.
The tournament featured just eight nations.
They have since become a sporting juggernaut, and had the nation in a frenzy after reaching the World Cup semi-finals on home soil last year.
Coach Tony Gustavsson's squad eventually finished fourth - as opposed to Caslick and the Aussie Sevens girls, who won gold in Rio back in 2016.
Caslick admitted she has been envious watching the rapid rise of the Matildas - but boldly predicted they won't do well in Paris.
'I don't know if they [Matildas] will get out of the pool stages,' she told News Corp.
'We [Sevens Rugby] have been at the top of our game for years and years, always up there ... with podium finishes in all of our series. And we probably don't get the recognition [we deserve].
Aussie Sevens Rugby star Charlotte Caslick (pictured) has questioned why the Matildas receive so much fanfare given they have only ever won one piece of major silverware
The Matildas have become a sporting juggernaut, and had the nation in a frenzy after reaching the World Cup semi-finals on home soil last year (pictured, young gun Mary Fowler)
Caslick was part of the Aussie Sevens Rugby women's squad who won gold in Rio back in 2016, and she pointed out that the team is consistently among the best in the world
'So I think, if we can perform at the Paris Olympics we will really be able to show Australia how great the team is. There's some superstars that deserve accolades that other people [Matildas], are getting.'
Caslick does admire how the Matildas have made women's sport increasingly marketable - and loves the opportunities emerging female athletes now enjoy.
Australia take on South Africa in their first Women's Sevens Rugby pool match on July 29 from 12am AEDT, before then lining up against Great Britain (3.30am, July 29) and Ireland at 10.30pm AEDT on the same date.
Tim Walsh's squad are widely expected to be a gold medal contender alongside New Zealand and England.
The Matildas tackle Germany on July 26 from 3am AEDT in Marseille, with further matches against Zambia (July 29, 3am) and the US (August 1, 3am).
Steph Catley will captain the side in the absence of injured superstar striker Sam Kerr.
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