Sharpe to lead Australia
Rugby:Veteran lock Nathan Sharpe has been named to lead Australia against Argentina in their Rugby Championship clash on Saturday, the third captain named by Wallabies’ coach Robbie Deans this season.
Sharpe, who had planned to retire after the Super Rugby season but was persuaded by Deans to play on in the southern hemisphere tournament, replaces Will Genia as captain after the scrumhalf ruptured a knee ligament in the Australia’s 26-19 win over South Africa in Perth on Saturday.Genia had been handed the captaincy after David Pocock sustained a season-ending knee injury against New Zealand in their first match of the championship. Pocock had in turn taken it from regular captain James Horwill, who was ruled out of the test season when he sustained a hamstring injury during the Super Rugby competition.
Argentina have made two changes for the match. Pumas’ coach boss Santiago Phelan has dropped Nicolas Vergallo and Martin Rodriguez; Martin Landajo comes in at scrumhalf and Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino starts at fullback.
Australia:B Barnes; D Shipperley, A Ashley-Cooper, P McCabe, D Ioane: Q Cooper, N Phipps; B Robinson, T Polata Nau, B Alexander; K Douglas, N Sharpe (capt); D Dennis, M Hooper, R Samo. Replacements: S Moore/S Fainga’a, J Slipper, S Higginbotham, L Gill, B Sheehan, A Fainga’a, K Beale.
Argentina:L Gonzalez Amorosino; G Camacho, M Bosch, S Fernandez, H Agulla; JM Hernandez, Martin Landajo; R Roncero, E Guinazu, J Figallo; M Carizza, P Albacete; J Faras Cabello, JM Leguizamon, JM Fernandez Lobbe (capt). Replacements: A Creevy, JP Orlandi, L Senatore, T Leonardi, N Vergallo, M Rodriguez, J Imhoff
