The Sharpe-est tool in the box?

[Gagger]

A year ago at the RWC the Wallaby locking pair of Daniel Vickerman and Nathan Sharpe were probably only marginally second to Matfield and Botha as the kings of the line-out. 12 months on, and how things have changed.

Vicks is gone - if it wasn't for Cambridge it would probably be his dodgy shoulders - and you've got to say fair enough. Into his shoes has stepped James Horwill, and what a first season the Queenslander's had.

However, with only a hand-full of caps, what's really needed is a solid partner for the rookie.

Which brings us to Nathan Sharpe.

30 years old, 200cms tall, 64 caps under the belt and captain of The Western Force, on paper he's the ideal anchor. But judging by comments here and at other forums, there's something about the boggle-eyed chrome-dome's play that mean you either love him or loathe him.

I can understand that. Last year I was a defender of Sharpe. He brought the goods to the table when it counted in the line-out, and his mid-field running and recycling in traffic is a core part of the Force's and Wallabies' game plan. That Ashley-Cooper try against the Blucks at the MCG came on the end of a flat, double-miss cut out pass that Sharpe threw at full gallop.

But this year. Well, meh.

There's a fine line between providing a ball carrying option and sea-gulling out wide to avoid the hard yakka, and Sharpe seems to have stepped well over it. With Palu, Elsom and Horwill on the park, there's no need for an Eddie Jones appointed ball carrier just hanging around. On top of that it's defence at the Wallaby breakdown that needs attention, not more cattle out wide.

He's just missing that international X-factor of putting in the right tackle, turnover or run at the right time, which has been made even more obvious by the blinding form of the 23 year old Horwill. Instead, take the last test in Brisbane - he gets no-where near Conrad Smith to let in one try and then picking up loose ball in open play (good), runs away from any support (bad), gets turned over and another AB try results.

If you think I'm being harsh, then in my defense Aussie Robbie seems to feel the same, dropping Sharpe from the tour to RSA until Vickerman broke down. At this point in time neither McMenimen nor Mumm has grabbed a locking spot and it looks as though Chisholm might get another shot in Europe. Personally I would have liked to have seen what Kimlin, a specialist, has to offer, but that might be one too many rookies.

So for now Sharpe offers caps and a steady pair of hands in the line-out. At 30, should this be enough to keep him in the Deans programme for 2011?

 

[RugbyReg]

Good post. My answer to the last question is no.

Hopefully Horwill will be a 40 odd test veteran by then, 4 years as a S14 skipper. Then the likes of Hockings and Kimlin may have a couple of years of test footy around them.

Hell, Ealsey was 21 or so in 91, which means there may be a schoolboy out there at the moment (young Buchanan for eg) who could be the man.

 

[cyclopath]

I have been one of the Gull's most trenchant critics this year, but....
I was pleasantly surprised by his better application at times, and I don't doubt he can be a very useful player. He just does not seem to want to do the tough stuff, and his scrummaging oomph (read: lack thereof) worries me.
I just hope we don't meander down the path of playing MMM and/or Mumm at lock (although Mumm seems to at least get the hard stuff done) and leaving a potentially good young guy like Kimlin in the wings.
For now, I think he probably stays, but bring Kimlin into the fold to remind him that the fickle finger of fate is ready to tap him on the shoulder anytime.

 

[Gagger]

I just hope we don't meander down the path of playing MMM and/or Mumm at lock (although Mumm seems to at least get the hard stuff done) and leaving a potentially good young guy like Kimlin in the wings.

My fear exactly. The interchangeable lock and 6 is bullshit - and in this squad we have 3 of them lined up; Mumm, McMenimen and Chisholm. The glimmer of hope is that Chisholm applied himself to lock this year in the S14 pretty successfully.

For me though McMinimum was a dud at second row and needs to shit or get off the pot at 6. Every game he goes in as the aggressive natural athelete and never lives up to it. How long can the hype sustain him? Mumm hasn't had the chance to prove himself but he needs to choose 6 or lock and not fall into the trap.

 

[Cutter]

Mumm is a 6 who has been forced to play lock for the Tahs because of Kanaar's retirement, Vickerman's injury history and being better than Caldwell. MMM cant scrum so is a 6 only. I agree that he needs to convert the potential we have all heard about into results.

 

[Lee Grant]

Good posts guys.

Mumm and 3M are in the same category: 6/locks who are adequate indeed as second rowers at the S14 level but not top notch at the 3N level in test matches.

They should be battling it out to be Elsom's replacement at 6 and to make it hard for him to come back when he has completed his sojourn in Dublin. Bu you can't blame either of them if they are picked to play in the 2nd row in crunch test matches and don't play like Vickers in his prime, or Big Kev.

As I have said before: Oz have to find another lock of the Vickerman type or even the Sharpe type if you count those occasional games when he plays with grunt. Ideally he should be a lock that plays on the tight head side for his S14 team, so that Oz has two scrummaging locks at scrum time - and three would be better.

There will be a lot of interest in next year's S14 to see if any non-Wallaby fits the bill.

 

[naza]

Last year I was a defender of Sharpe.

Then your opinion is completely and utterly worthless.

 

[Biffo]

Good posts guys.

Mumm and 3M are in the same category: 6/locks who are adequate indeed as second rowers at the S14 level but not top notch at the 3N level in test matches.

They should be battling it out to be Elsom's replacement at 6 and to make it hard for him to come back when he has completed his sojourn in Dublin. Bu you can't blame either of them if they are picked to play in the 2nd row in crunch test matches and don't play like Vickers in his prime, or Big Kev.

As I have said before: Oz have to find another lock of the Vickerman type or even the Sharpe type if you count those occasional games when he plays with grunt. Ideally he should be a lock that plays on the tight head side for his S14 team, so that Oz has two scrummaging locks at scrum time - and three would be better.

There will be a lot of interest in next year's S14 to see if any non-Wallaby fits the bill.

Surely, Kimlin and Hockings are the two most promising.

 

[Gagger]

Last year I was a defender of Sharpe.

Then your opinion is completely and utterly worthless.

:lmao: :bird

 

[Thomond78]

I have been one of the Gull's most trenchant critics this year, but....
I was pleasantly surprised by his better application at times, and I don't doubt he can be a very useful player. He just does not seem to want to do the tough stuff, and his scrummaging oomph (read: lack thereof) worries me.

Which is the problem. Proper second-rows love pain, love doing the grunt work in close, smashing people. It's fun. Look at POC's insane love of contact - Sharpe is actually slightly taller than him, I think - who would you have said was bigger and more physical?

 

[Lee Grant]

Look at POC's insane love of contact - Sharpe is actually slightly taller than him, I think - who would you have said was bigger and more physical?

No contest, POC is the physical guy and unfortunately it has cost him with injuries. He gets himself involved in hitting so many rucks, so many tackles and ball carries that he's always prone to getting hurt. He misses quite a few tests because of that which drives him crazy, and it also stops him stepping up to greatness. But he doesn't know how to play any other way; nor would he want too.

Nobody could accuse the Giant Seagull of having those attributes; he's a survivor.

Paul O'Connell isn't the most gifted player with the natural talents of a John Eales, an Ali Williams or even a Malcolm O'Kelly, his countryman, but he is the type of big-hearted second rower that Oz lacks, big time.

.

 

[fatprop]

from what Chisholm was saying in the papers I think a memo has been sent out from Deans reminding tight forwards to be tight forwards

 

[Scarfman]

Last year I was a defender of Sharpe.

Then your opinion is completely and utterly worthless.

OK naz, you know the rules. If you are going to be a "passionate supporter" you have to provide some realistic options, not bay at the moon.

 

[Spook]

The glimmer of hope is that Chisholm applied himself to lock this year in the S14 pretty successfully.

Hi Gagger

First I want to say I have enjoyed your posts. Keep up the good work. However, I can't agree with the statement I've quoted. Chisolm was a sea gulling fluffy bunny this year more than ever. He didn't get selected and didn't deserve to. He has stated in the press this week that he has copped himself on and will play tighter. That is great news as he is physically imposing despite lacking a few cms. Sharpe was not a good role model for him but Jim Williams and Dingo don't tolerate locks who don't get stuck it. Thank god for that.

Cheers.

 

[disco]

MMM will be the starting blindside flanker n Hong Kong & I can bet that he'll be one of our best forwards when the full time whistle blows.

I don't see him as a test lock either but to bag him after the Jo'burg test is a bit rough considering that on PR he polled more votes than any other wallaby & was one of the only forwards that day that tried to lift the tempo.

Every other test he has seen about 9 minutes max so it' s bit much to make a huge impression in that amount of time.

I think Kimlin & Hockings should have been in the spring tour squad as they are genuine locks unlike MMM, Mumm & Chiz who are probably all better served off the bench or at blindside flanker.



Does anyone else think that Deans will go with a 5-2 bench in HK??

 

[cyclopath]

MMM will be the starting blindside flanker n Hong Kong & I can bet that he'll be one of our best forwards when the full time whistle blows.

I don't see him as a test lock either but to bag him after the Jo'burg test is a bit rough considering that on PR he polled more votes than any other wallaby & was one of the only forwards that day that tried to lift the tempo.

Every other test he has seen about 9 minutes max so it' s bit much to make a huge impression in that amount of time.

I think Kimlin & Hockings should have been in the spring tour squad as they are genuine locks unlike MMM, Mumm & Chiz who are probably all better served off the bench or at blindside flanker.



Does anyone else think that Deans will go with a 5-2 bench in HK??

There's a difference between "bagging" him, and saying he is not a lock. He can lift the tempo all he likes, but if he does not deliver at lineout or scrum time, it is not enough. I think he's a great footy player, but please play him where it is best, i.e. 6 as you nominated. It is wasting time playing him at lock - we should just get on and develop the next good young guy there, and let MMM focus on becoming a good 6.

 

[Gagger]

The glimmer of hope is that Chisholm applied himself to lock this year in the S14 pretty successfully.

Chisolm was a sea gulling fluffy bunny this year more than ever. He didn't get selected and didn't deserve to.

Fair enough, I think Sky Sports up here only showed 1 Brumbies games in which he was
a) playing at lock
b) being used as a lineout option
c) made a decent break to score a try

I'll go with the seagulling fluffybunny though as that's where I'd had him previously pegged.

 

[Thomond78]

Look at POC's insane love of contact - Sharpe is actually slightly taller than him, I think - who would you have said was bigger and more physical?

No contest, POC is the physical guy and unfortunately it has cost him with injuries. He gets himself involved in hitting so many rucks, so many tackles and ball carries that he's always prone to getting hurt. He misses quite a few tests because of that which drives him crazy, and it also stops him stepping up to greatness. But he doesn't know how to play any other way; nor would he want too.

Nobody could accuse the Giant Seagull of having those attributes; he's a survivor.

Paul O'Connell isn't the most gifted player with the natural talents of a John Eales, an Ali Williams or even a Malcolm O'Kelly, his countryman, but he is the type of big-hearted second rower that Oz lacks, big time.

.

Ah, the Editor's Choice in Which Softcock.

Actually, untrue. POC's got better hands and is actually better in the air than O'Chokelly.

Paul's not actually missed that many tests, either. Any second row who puts it in will end up missing some due to a back problem, but bar that, it's been broken bones in his hand that have cost him most game time.

Still only 28, too.

 

[RugbyReg]

I reckon Hockings may well have featured this year, but he's injured and I think out for a fair bit of the off-season.

 

[Cutter]

Malcolm O'Kelly isnt a particularly skilled player - he is dogged. POC is far more skilled and far smarter than MOK.

I think MMM does have the skills and size for a lock. However he cant scrum and, until he is taught, can only be a 6.