SHARPE FIT AND FIRING

[RugbyWA]

Emirates Western Force skipper Nathan Sharpe has declared himself a certain starter for the Wallabies all important test against the Springboks on Saturday in Bloemfontein despite rolling his ankle in Australiaâ??s loss to South Africa last weekend.

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[blueandblack]

Hooray!

[PerthGirl]

Thank Goodness!

[BeeJay]

Go you good thing!!!

[travelling_gerry]

Was interesting watching the clip just then on the Rugby Club. Sharpie talking to the team and Rocky listening intently.

[Burgs]

Interesting as in not surprising TG?

Sharpe will on Saturday night [Sunday morning, AEST] become Australia’s fifth most capped player in his own right as he represents the Qantas Wallabies for an 87th time, surpassing the 86 caps gathered by both John Eales and Joe Roff.

After this weekend, just George Gregan (139), George Smith (110), Stephen Larkham (102) and David Campese (101) will have worn the Qantas Wallabies jersey on more occasions than has Sharpe.

By my counting, Sharpie has 16 scheduled fixtures plus 1, 2 or 3 World Cup finals depending on how far we get, therefore potential 16-19 more matches to end 2011.
By that track record if he plays 17 of the 19 he will become the third most capped Wallaby.
Not a bad way to go out, holding Bill III aloft in your 105th match.

Alternatively, he may defy all experts and play on to the 2013 Lions Tour...
He would then be 35, and consider Matfield will be 34 at the end of the RWC.