Sevens superstar 'set up to fail' in rushed World Cup bid
Having Maddison playing at this year’s World Cup could be disastrous for the superstar, believes Mat Rogers, arguing that the sevens star is being “set up to fail”.
Levi has never played 15-a-side rugby, and dual international Rogers, Levi’s agent, doesn’t think the try-scoring whiz has enough time to adapt if added to the Wallaroos’ squad ahead of August’s showpiece in England.
She had planned to debut for the Queensland Reds in this season’s Super Rugby Women’s competition but was sidelined by a hand injury.
Sister Teagan and fellow sevens talents Kahli Henwood and Bella Nasser all played twice for the Reds before returning to the sevens program that remains their priority.
But veteran Charlotte Caslick committed fully to 15s and, along with Brumbies pair and fellow sevens Olympians Bienne Terita and Tia Hinds, was named in this week’s 40-player Wallaroos squad.
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They could be selected to play Fijiana on May 3 – the same weekend as the Los Angeles World Sevens finale – the first of seven Tests before their World Cup opener on August 23.
Coach Jo Yapp can tweak that squad, though and it’s expected more sevens players will be included and available to face USA on May 17.
That would leave any newcomers five Tests to push their Cup cases and train exclusively in the 15s program.
Levi said this month she was “hopeful” of playing for the Wallaroos in England later this year.
The 22-year-old has torn the World Sevens Tour to shreds, notching her 200th try in just her 26th tournament earlier this month.
Unstoppable on the wing, Levi’s size and height could see her employed in the second row as a 15s lineout weapon for a Wallaroos side already flush with talented outside backs.
Yapp on Tuesday said it would be “unfair” on Levi to rush her into a Test debut, given her inexperience, and that they wanted “to make sure we’re setting Maddi up for success”.
That plan might need adjusting after former league and union international Rogers’ remarks, though.
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“I just don’t think it’s an appropriate step to take now,” Rogers said on Stan Sport’s Inside Line program.
“Purely out of care for her. I don’t want her to be set up to fail, and I think that’s what’s happening if they pursue it further this year.
“I would love to see nothing more than Maddi go over there and dominate, and Australia win the World Cup.
“I just think through injury and circumstance, it’s going to be tough this year.
“She’s not going to have enough game time.
“It’s just unfair on her, and it’s unfair on the squad to throw her in there and expect her to be a world-beater that she is in sevens. It’s too much pressure.
“I think this one, through an unfortunate set of circumstances, is going to get away, and the 2029 [World Cup in Australia] is the one that’s got to be focused on.”
