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<blockquote data-quote="The TRUTH" data-source="post: 58946"><p><strong>Sharpe collapses after loss</strong> </p><p></p><p>Bret Harris and Dan Koch</p><p>March 13, 2006</p><p></p><p>WESTERN Force captain Nathan Sharpe collapsed in the dressing room after his team's loss to Queensland Reds on Saturday and was rushed to a Brisbane hospital.</p><p></p><p>Sharpe had a virus in the lead-up to the game and was not feeling well during the warm-up at Suncorp Stadium. </p><p></p><p>But Sharpe, who was at the centre of a recruitment war between the two teams last year, pushed aside his malaise to play because of the importance of the game for himself and the Force. </p><p></p><p>The Wallabies vice-captain went down ill several times during the game and eventually came off midway through the second half while the Force was still in the lead. </p><p></p><p>A spokesperson for Sharpe said he did not remember much of the game and was disoriented at times on the field. He remained in hospital over the weekend and is expected to be released today, pending the results of blood tests. </p><p></p><p>Sharpe was one of the Force forwards who successfully "baited" the younger Queensland pack into giving away a series of undisciplined penalties. Queensland skipper John Roe conceded the Reds forwards will face a torrid time on the team's three-week tour of South Africa, if they continue to lose focus. </p><p></p><p>James Horwill, who spent 10 minutes in the sin bin for a high tackle on fullback James Hilgendorf, prop Rodney Blake and hooker Stephen Moore were all drawn in by their opponents' taunts and gamesmanship -- a fact that will not be lost on the powerful pack of the Cheetahs, who host the Reds in Bloemfontein in a fortnight. </p><p></p><p>"We were getting flustered with some of the ****le that was happening, especially at scrum time and it threw us off our game early on," Roe said. "There was plenty of passion between the sides, lots of guys questioning each other and there was a lot of old bull-young bull sort of stuff in terms of setting the scrums and coming down late or setting in different positions so we would have to reset. We probably got thrown by that early." </p><p></p><p>After addressing the problem at half-time, Queensland's forwards turned in an improved effort in the second 40 minutes, as coach Jeff Miller's side overran the Force 29-18, to record its first win of this year's series. </p><p></p><p>Both Roe, who was one of his side's best in his return from a knee injury, and Miller said the win was "essential" heading into the bye round next week, before the testing tour of South Africa, where the Reds will play the Cheetahs, Sharks and Cats. After losses in the opening three rounds, Queensland played poorly against the Chiefs last week and on Saturday night looked clumsy and disorganised for much of the opening hour. </p><p>A try to Roe just before the break kept Queensland in the game, before the Reds' superior depth and improved in general play from Julian Huxley and Chris Latham, saw the home side finish over the top of the Force, with Moore and Greg Holmes scoring tries in the final six minutes to seal the win. </p><p></p><p>Force coach John Mitchell said the opening half of football was his side's best of the series. </p><p></p><p>The former All Blacks coach was also encouraged by the efforts of new prop Tai McIsaac and powerful winger turned inside centre Scott Staniforth. </p><p></p><p>"We were right in the contest for 75 minutes, the game was there for the taking," Mitchell said. "We aren't far away from getting the mix of our team right." </p><p></p><p>One problem facing Miller is the form of veteran five-eighth Elton Flatley, who was replaced midway through the second half with a shoulder injury. </p><p></p><p>The former Wallaby has struggled in general play this season and with Ben Tune demanding a spot in the starting side, Huxley impressing with the boot and young gun Berrick Barnes ready to return from a rib injury, Flatley's spot in the starting side is looking shaky. Miller said he expected Barnes, Nic Berry, Tim Atkinson and Hugh McMeniman to make the trip to South Africa.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="The TRUTH, post: 58946"] [b]Sharpe collapses after loss[/b] Bret Harris and Dan Koch March 13, 2006 WESTERN Force captain Nathan Sharpe collapsed in the dressing room after his team's loss to Queensland Reds on Saturday and was rushed to a Brisbane hospital. Sharpe had a virus in the lead-up to the game and was not feeling well during the warm-up at Suncorp Stadium. But Sharpe, who was at the centre of a recruitment war between the two teams last year, pushed aside his malaise to play because of the importance of the game for himself and the Force. The Wallabies vice-captain went down ill several times during the game and eventually came off midway through the second half while the Force was still in the lead. A spokesperson for Sharpe said he did not remember much of the game and was disoriented at times on the field. He remained in hospital over the weekend and is expected to be released today, pending the results of blood tests. Sharpe was one of the Force forwards who successfully "baited" the younger Queensland pack into giving away a series of undisciplined penalties. Queensland skipper John Roe conceded the Reds forwards will face a torrid time on the team's three-week tour of South Africa, if they continue to lose focus. James Horwill, who spent 10 minutes in the sin bin for a high tackle on fullback James Hilgendorf, prop Rodney Blake and hooker Stephen Moore were all drawn in by their opponents' taunts and gamesmanship -- a fact that will not be lost on the powerful pack of the Cheetahs, who host the Reds in Bloemfontein in a fortnight. "We were getting flustered with some of the ****le that was happening, especially at scrum time and it threw us off our game early on," Roe said. "There was plenty of passion between the sides, lots of guys questioning each other and there was a lot of old bull-young bull sort of stuff in terms of setting the scrums and coming down late or setting in different positions so we would have to reset. We probably got thrown by that early." After addressing the problem at half-time, Queensland's forwards turned in an improved effort in the second 40 minutes, as coach Jeff Miller's side overran the Force 29-18, to record its first win of this year's series. Both Roe, who was one of his side's best in his return from a knee injury, and Miller said the win was "essential" heading into the bye round next week, before the testing tour of South Africa, where the Reds will play the Cheetahs, Sharks and Cats. After losses in the opening three rounds, Queensland played poorly against the Chiefs last week and on Saturday night looked clumsy and disorganised for much of the opening hour. A try to Roe just before the break kept Queensland in the game, before the Reds' superior depth and improved in general play from Julian Huxley and Chris Latham, saw the home side finish over the top of the Force, with Moore and Greg Holmes scoring tries in the final six minutes to seal the win. Force coach John Mitchell said the opening half of football was his side's best of the series. The former All Blacks coach was also encouraged by the efforts of new prop Tai McIsaac and powerful winger turned inside centre Scott Staniforth. "We were right in the contest for 75 minutes, the game was there for the taking," Mitchell said. "We aren't far away from getting the mix of our team right." One problem facing Miller is the form of veteran five-eighth Elton Flatley, who was replaced midway through the second half with a shoulder injury. The former Wallaby has struggled in general play this season and with Ben Tune demanding a spot in the starting side, Huxley impressing with the boot and young gun Berrick Barnes ready to return from a rib injury, Flatley's spot in the starting side is looking shaky. Miller said he expected Barnes, Nic Berry, Tim Atkinson and Hugh McMeniman to make the trip to South Africa. [/QUOTE]
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