Sharpe could give Reds belated rugby gift

[The InnFORCEr]

Seven years after controversially leaving the Queensland Reds, Super Rugby stalwart Nathan Sharpe has the chance to give his former side a belated parting gift by leading the Western Force to victory over the Crusaders on Saturday night.

Reds' fans were left devastated at the end of 2005 when Sharpe made the decision to head to Perth to link up with the Force for their inaugural season.

Sharpe has since established himself as one of Australian rugby's greatest players, tallying 91 appearances for the Force to bring his Super Rugby tally to a competition-record 161 games.

The 34-year-old, who has also notched more than a century of Test caps for the Wallabies, will retire from Super ranks after lining up against the Crusaders in Christchurch.

And although the 14th-placed Force are well out of finals contention, a win over the Crusaders would hand the biggest favour imaginable to the seventh-placed Reds.

Should Queensland beat NSW but fail to gain a four-try bonus point, they would need the Crusaders, Bulls or Sharks to lose in order to make the finals.

Trouble is, the Crusaders, Bulls (versus Lions) and Sharks (versus Cheetahs) are all expected to win, given they're taking on inferior opponents.

Sharpe's No.1 focus is helping the Force snare a rare win to give the Perth-based franchise a valuable morale boost heading into the off-season.

But the former Reds lock said it would be an added bonus if a Force win opened the door for Queensland to join the Brumbies in the finals.

"Yeah, it would be nice to kick the Crusaders out and promote another Australian team through to the finals," Sharpe said on Friday.

"But we just want to win the game and win it for the pride of the club.

"It would be a great way to finish the season.

"The Crusaders are the biggest challenge in Super Rugby without a doubt. We're here to try to pull that off."

Sharpe almost missed the chance to play a farewell game after his back locked up badly last Saturday, but he has recovered well and will take over the captaincy against the Crusaders.

The veteran said he was sad knowing his time with the Force was nearing an end.
The Crusaders sit in fourth spot and will guarantee themselves a home quarter-final should they defeat the Force.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/spo...ed-rugby-gift/

[TOCC]

It would be great if the Force beat the Crusaders...

Great for the Reds and also a fantastic send-off for a Australian Rugby stalwart

[The InnFORCEr]

News from Happy at the Captains Run in Christchurch is that Nathan Sharpe is going to donate his final training shirt to us (the last Captian Run he will preside over) which will be fully autographed by the squad for us to auction off framed with all proceeds going to Nathan Charles Charity - 65 Roses

Will consider trade for new Mini

[GAFFA]

I thought about this today have a look at the team below of injured players not a bad team

1.Maafu
2.
3.Longbottom
4.Wykes
5.Battye
6.Hodgson
7.Pocock
8.McCalmam

9.Turner
10.Stannard
11.Wara
12.Stanley
13.
14.Rapana
15.Sheppard

[Ecky]

The "if" in the article is currently the world's biggest "if".

If we even lost by a small margin I'd be amazed. Sad to say.

[hertryk]

Seven years after controversially leaving the Queensland Reds, Super Rugby stalwart Nathan Sharpe has the chance to give his former side a belated parting gift by leading the Western Force to victory over the Crusaders on Saturday night.

Reds' fans were left devastated at the end of 2005 when Sharpe made the decision to head to Perth to link up with the Force for their inaugural season.

Sharpe has since established himself as one of Australian rugby's greatest players, tallying 91 appearances for the Force to bring his Super Rugby tally to a competition-record 161 games.

The 34-year-old, who has also notched more than a century of Test caps for the Wallabies, will retire from Super ranks after lining up against the Crusaders in Christchurch.

And although the 14th-placed Force are well out of finals contention, a win over the Crusaders would hand the biggest favour imaginable to the seventh-placed Reds.

Should Queensland beat NSW but fail to gain a four-try bonus point, they would need the Crusaders, Bulls or Sharks to lose in order to make the finals.

Trouble is, the Crusaders, Bulls (versus Lions) and Sharks (versus Cheetahs) are all expected to win, given they're taking on inferior opponents.

Sharpe's No.1 focus is helping the Force snare a rare win to give the Perth-based franchise a valuable morale boost heading into the off-season.

But the former Reds lock said it would be an added bonus if a Force win opened the door for Queensland to join the Brumbies in the finals.

"Yeah, it would be nice to kick the Crusaders out and promote another Australian team through to the finals," Sharpe said on Friday.

"But we just want to win the game and win it for the pride of the club.

"It would be a great way to finish the season.

"The Crusaders are the biggest challenge in Super Rugby without a doubt. We're here to try to pull that off."

Sharpe almost missed the chance to play a farewell game after his back locked up badly last Saturday, but he has recovered well and will take over the captaincy against the Crusaders.

The veteran said he was sad knowing his time with the Force was nearing an end.
The Crusaders sit in fourth spot and will guarantee themselves a home quarter-final should they defeat the Force.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/spo...ed-rugby-gift/

Tough decision...however could not see InForcer folding himself into a mini...

[Burgs]

"Seven years after controversially leaving the Queensland Reds"
It's all about perspective, was nothing controversial about it over here, but I guess if you want to bear a grudge...

Re shirt, Good on you Sharpie, should be able to get a couple of $k out of hertryk on that one, especially unwashed

[jono]

News from Happy at the Captains Run in Christchurch is that Nathan Sharpe is going to donate his final training shirt to us (the last Captian Run he will preside over) which will be fully autographed by the squad for us to auction off framed with all proceeds going to Nathan Charles Charity - 65 Roses

Will consider trade for new Mini

Just tell me what you want for it

[Burgs]

Just tell me what you want for it

Don't want to pre-empt her goodself, but sounds like we have ourselves an auction!

[jargan83]

Don't give a stuff about the Reds but would be nice to see Sharpie go out a winner!

[TOCC]

"Seven years after controversially leaving the Queensland Reds"
It's all about perspective, was nothing controversial about it over here, but I guess if you want to bear a grudge...

Lol nice fishing...No one is holding a grudge, the contractual process at the time was controversial..

Not sure if begrudging departed players is something which the Force can claim innocence from either

[Alison]

Not sure if begrudging departed players is something which the Force can claim innocence from either

I begrudge all of the ones who came for the money and then buggered off - Giteau and wolf-features in particular.

Blimey, am I agreeing with TOCC?? More beer now please barman!!!

[GIGS20]

Re shirt, Good on you Sharpie, should be able to get a couple of $k out of hertryk on that one, especially unwashed

"I HAVE NATHAN SHARPE'S DNA?????

Not sure if begrudging departed players is something which the Force can claim innocence from either

Don't want to be a stick in the mud TOCC, but your reaction to Berrick after his leaving the Reds doesn't exactly make you an impartial observer either.

At least we're consistent. We hate players who dick us around and then run out on us......Digby, rabbit, Genia, (all coincidentally Queenslanders) but the blokes who have put into the club and move on at the end of their contract get the respect they deserve.

[Moono74]

Sharpie is a Champion and if the boys could send him off with a win all the better. If it benefits another team who cares. Sharpie has done enough to earn his own headline. Go Sharpie Go the Force!

[Burgs]

"Fishing" would indicate I give a rats clacker about your opinion TOCC.