Sharpe shooting from the lip as Australia halt verbal sparring

Doug Booth

In the absence of Wallabies skipper George Gregan, who was at a family funeral, Sharpe put his ambassadorial hat on to promote tonight’s game at Telstra Stadium between Australia and South Africa for the Mandela Cup.

Criticism of the way Wallaby prop forward Bill Young scrummages and Australia’s half-backs was forgotten as Sharpe heaped glowing praise on South Africa’s powerhouse lock forward Victor Matfield as well as talking up the Test, the first of four between the two southern hemisphere giants this winter.