Sharpie To Coach The Wallabies

[Scott Allen]

Nathan Sharpe will help the Qantas Wallabies to prepare for the British & Irish Lions.

Although Australia’s most capped forward never received the opportunity to play a Test against the combined side himself; Sharpe has signed on to assist the Wallaby forwards ahead of this year’s British & Irish Lions tour of Australia.

The recently retired second rower, who hung up his boots after last year’s Spring Tour with 116 Test appearances to his name, will lend that experience to Australia’s preparations for this year’s highly anticipated series; placing a particular emphasis on the Wallaby lineout.

“It was nice to be asked to be involved. I’m looking forward to doing all I can to help get the team ready for what is coming,” Sharpe says.

An experienced guy running the lineout.

Good move.

 

[JSRF10]

Will Fox be axing him from their coverage of the Lions series now? He'd have a serious conflict of interest clouding what he says.

Apart from that its a good move, he'd be very well respected by the camp I imagine and was a good lineout operator in his time so will have lots to pass on.

 

[Scott Allen]

Will Fox be axing him from their coverage of the Lions series now? He'd have a serious conflict of interest clouding what he says.

Apart from that its a good move, he'd be very well respected by the camp I imagine and was a good lineout operator in his time so will have lots to pass on.

No, the press release says he'll be continuing with his Fox role.

 

[Paradox]

Will Fox be axing him from their coverage of the Lions series now? He'd have a serious conflict of interest clouding what he says.

I don't think that has ever mattered in any country.

 

[No4918]

Will Fox be axing him from their coverage of the Lions series now? He'd have a serious conflict of interest clouding what he says.

Sarcasm?

 

[JSRF10]

Not that it ever applies to the media but it would be nice if you had a panel who had nothing invested in either camp. Obviously Fox is going to be more Aussie focused which is fine, but in Sharpies role as an analyst how can we take anything he says seriously on the Aussie camp if he has a vested interest in not pissing off players that he is coaching? Its not a major issue just something that I think media should take on board.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Scott Allen, the title of this thread has raised the hopes of 3/4 of the Gaggerland Dingo haters.

For them, they will be somewhat distressed when they realise that it is not the Full Monty.

 

[louie]

Is it weird coaching players you've played with? Never coached before i'd never know. Seems odd.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

too soon retired and hence too close to the players to have real input into anything other than deciding what the calls are

 

[jay-c]

i think sharpie could be a vital 'disinformation' tool through fox with calculated comments which would be picked up and spread through the papers- and i hope robbie is thinking the same thing= this is war

 

[Scott Allen]

too soon retired and hence too close to the players to have real input into anything other than deciding what the calls are

And the technical stuff - I've watched him at Wallabies practice running the lineout and was good at picking up technical issues that need working on and explaining to other players what needs to be be done.

The last training session before Bledisloe 3 last year Sharpie ran the lineout session for the starting pack - Andrew Blades had no involvement at all and took the reserves and non-playing forwards away to work separately.

This role will probably just be a continuation.

 

[Gagger]

My whispers:

1. Sharpie was asked if he'd coach the forwards even before he left the Wallabies
2. Earlier this season when it wasn't clear Kev would make it back, he was approached about coming out of playing retirement. No joke

 

[Gagger]

Completely unrelated - he's our 100th Podslam Guest!

 

[Braveheart81]

This seems to be the only photo of Nathan Sharpe with hair on the internet.

I believe that back then, John O'Neill was paid less than $1 million a year. That's why his smile isn't as big as in later years.

 

[jay-c]

sharpie look at those pants!