Nathan Sharpe: Named Wallabies fourth captain this year
Nathan Sharpe will become the injury-hit Wallabies' fourth captain this year while Kurtley Beale has been dropped for their Rugby Championship clash with Argentina on Saturday.
Australia came from behind in Perth at the weekend to beat the Springboks 26-19 but it came at a cost with skipper Will Genia badly injuring his knee, which will keep him out for a prolonged period.
With first-choice captain James Horwill also sidelined, along with his successor David Pocock, Sharpe takes control for the showdown with the Pumas on the Gold Coast, the first Test to be played at the popular tourist destination.
"To have the privilege of leading Australia in the first ever Test to be played on the Gold Coast is an experience I will always treasure," said veteran Sharpe, 34, who has led the Wallabies twice before.
"But the memory is down the track. For now, it's important we keep our focus as a team, build on what we achieved last weekend in Perth, and add to that momentum.
"No one else in the squad has played Argentina before but I have and they will be tough, incredibly passionate and uncompromising.
"You only have to look at what they have achieved to date in their tournament matches to see what a threat they will be."
While winless in the championship to date, the Pumas have made both of their opponents uncomfortable, making most of the running in a 16-16 draw with South Africa at Mendoza last month.
They then gave the All Blacks a scare for much of last weekend's Test in Wellington, which was eventually lost 21-5.
Sharpe goes into the match with a new second row partner after a hamstring injury ruled out Perth man-of-the-match Sitaleki Timani, with Kane Douglas called on to take his maiden Test bow, the only change to the pack.
"He's a big man so he will help anchor the scrum on the tight head side in a similar way to how Sita has," said Wallabies coach Robbie Deans of Douglas.
Halfback Nick Phipps will step up for his fifth Test appearance to replace Genia.
A further change sees Berrick Barnes move from inside centre to full-back, to accommodate the return of regular inside centre Pat McCabe.
This means the out-of-form Beale, who started against South Africa, moves to the bench for the second time in three Tests after being dumped following his shocker in the opening game of the tournament against New Zealand in Sydney.
Australia: 15 Berrick Barnes, 14 Dom Shipperley, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Pat McCabe, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Radike Samo, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Dave Dennis, 5 Nathan Sharpe (c), 4 Kane Douglas, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Tatafu Polota Nau, 1 Benn Robinson.
Replacements: 16 Stephen Moore/Saia Fainga'a, 17 James Slipper, 18 Scott Higginbotham, 19 Liam Gill, 20 Brett Sheehan, 21 Anthony Fainga'a, 22 Kurtley Beale.
Date: Saturday, 15 September
Venue: Skilled Park, Gold Coast
Kick-off: 20:00 (10:00 GMT)
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant referees: Nigel Owens (Wales), Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
TMO: Matt Goddard (Australia)
Comments
jonesy2 says...
could not be more well deserved. considering the injuries this is an amazingly good team put together although with the usual deans moves like putting barnes at fullback and not selecting simmons.
UBA05 -- hes on the bench or are you blind aswell? well done on working a computer then. oh and by your rational, the six nations sides have maybe 2 quality players between them and south africa maybe 3 or 4.
Posted 06:10 13th September 2012
Ferdie says...
benski - moore for captain? he's out injured; didn't play last weekend either. Back to Sharpe then.
Posted 12:26 12th September 2012
benski says...
@melkdave... The obvious choice of Captain (for me anyway) would have been Stephen Moore.
Posted 11:33 12th September 2012
UBA05 says...
tweedledee49 Thanks for the heads up.
angrykoala Yes Deans is the worst coach in the world. Leads a nation with (barring injury of course) only 15 (i decided to be a bit generous) quality world class players to victories over anyone and everyone aside from the well oiled black machine and the bag pipers of course, hehehe.
Yes at his best no one would argue beale is one of the best backs in world rugby. But the hypothesis "at his best" is very far fetched at the moment dont you think??
Coincidentally, I would start Samo but not with Dennis, but with Higginbothom at the blindside.
I'll make a note to send over that resume. No hard feeelings koala, i understand the bile in your post, not easy to handle always being second best.
Posted 09:10 12th September 2012
Ferdie says...
will wallabies continue to kick? last week they kicked 45 times, sa 38. no ordinary game, the average across all the june test series was 25 per team per game, so both sides almost double that. and deans continues to say it is not part of the game plan, and today says it has been due to anxiety about their performance.
Pass it, don't kick it!
Posted 09:06 12th September 2012
Ferdie says...
firepower: Timani will miss the clash with Argentina on the Gold Coast due to a low-grade hamstring strain.
Posted 09:03 12th September 2012
kiwilad says...
Evidently Nathans heaalth insurance provider called him straight after this announcement to cancell his health insurance, as this job comes with major injury risks
Posted 05:05 12th September 2012
angrykoala says...
@UBA05
If you think having an opinion in line with Robbie Deans shows how clever you are, you need to think again. At his best, Beale is one of best full backs in world rugby. What's the best thing to do to have him at peak form? Leave him out of the side all together. Brilliant. Congratulations, you have the same idea as the worst Wallaby coach in living memory. You are probably the only other person in the world besides old Robbie who would start Samo and Dennis while Higginbotham's on the bench. Why dont you submit Deans your resume, he'll probably put you in charge of offense.
Posted 03:35 12th September 2012
tweedledee49 says...
@UBA05,forget about it mate. That troll named jonesy will never admit when hes wrong, he just crawls back into his hole and hopes everyone forgets about his comments. Eg, after Scotland v Australia....Reds V Sharks
Posted 02:49 12th September 2012
georgesmith says...
@ Houston_11... i agree with you. Why still no R. Simmons in the team? He ain't bad at all.
Better than K.Douglas of Waratahs, who like N.Sharpe failed to any impression whole season. R. Deans is a hopeless coach because of his poor selections. I think the players must be paying him for getting selected in the team.
Posted 23:39 11th September 2012
georgesmith says...
It's not all gloom. Maybe the captains curse hits in the opening minute or during one of the training sessions and N.Sharpe will break an arm and get ruled out for 6months. That will bee good-riddance. On the flip side, N.Sharpe can also be red-carded in the opening minute for his usual lazy and foul plays. Either way, I don't see this bunch of Wobblies gettng past the Pumas, who based on form, are better than both the Wallabies and Springboks.
Posted 23:35 11th September 2012
georgesmith says...
Real sad day for Wallabies rugby. B. Robinson would have been a better option. R. Deans is favouring N.Sharpe and D. Dennis too. Together they are two of the most hopeless performers in Rugby Championship. It's time to give some leadership to Q. Cooper as well. Maybe vice-captain.
Posted 23:31 11th September 2012
firepower says...
Where is Sitaleki Timani?? I think he played well against the Springboks last Saturday and the PR praised him for his tireless effort again he didn't get a spot on the match 22?? What the hell is that??
Posted 20:53 11th September 2012
UBA05 says...
@idiot2 errr.. sorry i meant jonesy2
"This means the out-of-form Beale, who started against South Africa, moves to the bench for the second time in three Tests after being dumped following his shocker in the opening game of the tournament against New Zealand in Sydney."
Remember calling me a 'brainless idiot' on another thread for suggesting that beale be dropped from the starting line-up for a while to "rethink" his current form? Well guess what Mr. Outofthisworldintelligence, Deans seems to think along those lines as well. I'm guessing that if australia currently had many quality options out wide then even the "world's 2nd best fullback" as you put it wouldnt make the matchday 22.
Argentina's first win on Saturday. Cant wait.
Posted 13:20 11th September 2012
passtheball says...
As others have said - fully deserved - he always leads from the front anyway even if he might be offside!
Posted 12:22 11th September 2012
new_j4a says...
@isthatrightref says..."Mrs georgesmith...etc" LOL, nearly wet myself....funniest comment this tournament.
And good one Mr Sharpe! Last man standing and all that....but well deserved Captain selection (and win last week, buggerary!)
Posted 11:51 11th September 2012
melkdave says...
Well 1st off congraulations to N.Sharpe,it may have come about though injuries to others,,but realistically who else could be captain,.I also think the backline is better balanced,with the welcome return of McCabe,and Barnes at 15, K.Beale imo is way out of form and having a nightmare season /championship,thought PR was very generous with his 6 for last game ,myself thought he was a 5 at best.The center pairing no longer looks a soft option for the oppostion,and both players will give the wallabies go forward.Shame about Genia as he would really have taken advantage of it ,but thats life ..As for the forwards ,will have to really step up again this weekend ,and we will see if the wallaby scrum has improved or not.Myself i think the bokke props are past their best now,and have done for sometime.Also a shame Timani, he is turning out to be a real find for Australia imo,can K.Douglas step up also if yes then 2nd row looks very decent going forward.The backrow battle will also be titantic this weekend ,the pumas have been very good at the breakdown ,and will want to be on the front foot this match.One thing you know is the pumas wont give up ,and will just keep comming,so 1st up tackles again will be an issue,wallabies fronted up against the bokke and made them ,needed again this Saturday .As to the final score ,i beleive it will be close ,no more than 3-5 points to the winner at the end ,as to the winner,well a very close call ,but as its a home game for Australia ,Australia by a whisker.
Posted 10:46 11th September 2012
ruckingkiwi says...
I thought Stephen Moore would get it but looks like he's only a chance for the bench. I still expect Australia to win this game.
Posted 10:16 11th September 2012
Ramage says...
Well done Nathan Sharpe a well deserved honour.
Posted 09:33 11th September 2012
zambokke says...
Come on George Smith, give us a laugh!!!
Posted 09:05 11th September 2012