0
Star Emirates Western Force lock Nathan Sharpe returned to the training track this week and laced up his boots in preparation for his 15th FxPro Super Rugby campaign.
Already the most capped player in Super Rugby history (across all three SANZAR nations) with 147 matches under his belt, Sharpe is coming off a stellar 2011 season in which he again set the bar for second rowers and was awarded the RUPA’s Medal for Excellence for a third time in his illustrious career. He also surpassed 100 caps with the Wallabies with important contributions in the World Cup and UK Spring Tour.
Following a well-earned break Sharpe said he is refreshed and ready to tackle another pre-season head-on, along with fellow Wallabies David Pocock and Ben McCalman who also started back with the squad this week.
While Sharpe has been keeping himself fit he said the competition in the team environment was key to getting the best out of every player.
“All the guys that came back into the group on Monday are in good shape and we’re really looking forward to getting stuck into the year together as a side after a staggered start with different guys returning at different times,” said Sharpe.
“You do your own training on your break but it’s nice to come back to training and start running around the field again with the team. You’re starting to test yourself again and feel the pressure of competition from the others fighting for the same position.
“While you might have a couple of weeks with your feet up as you recover from a long year but after that you’ve got to maintain your fitness or you’ll come back behind the eight ball.”
Sharpe believed the team were looking great at this time of year and were focussed on putting together a finals worthy performance in 2012.
“That’s where we want to get to,” Sharpe said of the squad’s motivation this year.
“I think some of the guys that we’ve brought in this year mean we have an incredibly talented group and getting to know them and getting to know each other’s playing abilities quickly is the focus initially.
“The start of the season in Super Rugby is a critical time for any team and certainly for us we’ve been guilty of slow starts to the year so we want to make a fast start to the season and go from there.”
When quizzed on Willie Ripia’s recent departure, Sharpe said it was a disappointing event but the team had resolved amongst themselves what had happened and were simply now concentrating on the season ahead.
“I think first and foremost the most important thing is that Willie gets the help that he needs to get through this situation. It’s a shame that it came to pass the way it did but the group has moved on,” said Sharpe.
“The trust in the group is the most important thing and certainly that is something that needs to be paramount in this team and that’s what we’re working towards.”
Sharpe and the rest of the Emirates Western Force squad will head to Margaret River for a three day training camp this Thursday with a focus on gelling as a group and taking rugby to their fans in the South West region.
http://www.westernforce.com.au/NewsE...4/Default.aspx
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by KenyaQuin
