Nathan Sharpe asked to prolong farewell
NATHAN Sharpe has been asked to shelve his retirement plans one more time to lead the Wallabies on their end-of-year trip to Europe next month. Wallabies coach Robbie Deans and ARU chief executive John O'Neill have asked Sharpe to continue his triumphant farewell tour.
Sharpe's leadership of the Wallabies in the absence of injured captains James Horwill, David Pocock and Will Genia has been remarkable. Even if Horwill and Pocock recovered from their injuries to make the tour, they might not have enough match fitness to start in the Tests against France, England, Italy and Wales, which means Sharpe would probably retain the captaincy.
Ironically, Deans and Sharpe have not always seen eye to eye, but they have forged a wonderful coach-captain partnership.
...... The Wallabies were soundly beaten by the Springboks in Pretoria, but their 25-19 win over Argentina in Rosario last Sunday was one of the most courageous by any Australian team. The injury-ravaged Wallabies had made a gruelling 20-hour trek from Johannesburg to Rosario to play a formidable opponent in an hostile environment where Australian teams had been ambushed in the past.
Yet they prevailed and Sharpe played a big part in the victory with his outstanding leadership and general play.