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Rugby Union - by Craig Hill

The Winner of The John Eales Medal Award 2007 is....

July 23rd 2007 12:35
...drum roll please...


Nathan Sharpe

Wallabies Lock (#4)

Wallabies lock Nathan Sharpe: The John Eales Medal Award recipient 2007 (image courtesy of ARU)
Wallabies lock Nathan Sharpe: The John Eales Medal Award recipient 2007 (image courtesy of ARU)


Good choice. And it is right that a Forward wins this award.

Not only is it named after one of the most Perfect Forward's to have ever existed in the history of Rugby (...no not me nor DDH...), but also because Forwards are the ones who do most of the hard work and hardly ever get recognition...positive recognition.

When the scrums are down, our Forwards get rucked harder. By the public.


from Fox Sports

Sharpe wins top Wallabies award
By Jim Morton
July 23, 2007

SHAVEN-headed lock Nathan Sharpe's all-round game and consistency has seen him scoop Australia's best-player award, which is named after his childhood hero.

Sharpe finished as runner-up to full back Chris Latham in 2006, but went one better this year to take out his first John Eales medal.

The 29-year-old Western Force skipper was a comfortable victor, polling 170 votes to win from No.8 Wycliff Palu (134) and prop Guy Shepherdson (131).

Sharpe started in all but one of the 11 Tests played over the voting period, missing only the June 9 Test against Fiji in Perth when he was rested.

The 3-2-1 votes that determine the John Eales medallist were taken from every member of the Wallabies' match 22 after every Test dating back to last year's Spring Tour.

Sharpe is the fifth forward to win Australian rugby's top honour and joins Latham, Jeremy Paul, David Lyons, Phil Waugh and George Smith as John Eales medallists.


Stirling Mortlock won Try of the Year for his linebreak and run that led to the match winning try (landed by Scott Staniforth) v the All Blacks in the first Bledisloe Match in Melbourne.

...please note...Mortlock was able to do this due to an incredible cut-out pass by the one, the only Stephen Larkham....and so what if Mortlock did have a brilliant run, cutting through Blacks defenders like a knife through hot butter. (huh?)...and escaping tackles, blah, blah boring...

...but what I will never understand is how Julian Huxley....as useful on a Rugby field as an fridge in a volcano...won the Rookie of the Year Award.

Huxley's only redeeming (player) quality is that he got/gets to stand near Larkham in the Brumbies and the Wallabies. And that's it.




excerpts courtesy of Fox Sports
image courtesy of ARU


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Comments
5 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by JoshZ

July 24th 2007 01:04
Hey Dusk,

Do I sense any feelings of jealousy over Huxley's proximity (maybe that should be Huxlimity, to encompass not only that he is Huxley, but also proximity and hopefully some humility) to that particular Larkham?

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.

JZ

Comment by Andrea

July 24th 2007 02:23
as useful on a Rugby field as an fridge in a volcano
giggle

I'm so pleased to hear that you agree with the choice of winner. Obviously the Lark had an unfair advantage and was just too good to be included.

Big hugs...
Cara xxxx

Comment by Andrea

July 24th 2007 02:25
whoops forgot to tell it to notify me of replies

Comment by DuskDevi

July 24th 2007 07:28
Hiya JZ!....it's always good to see you and no, I assure you...no jealousy....because that would imply I want to be Huxley....

....shudder...

There is a very good reason why I am not a Julian Huxley fan but I choose not to bring it up in a public forum.

I just don't like the genes he wears...

Will be visiting you soon my friend.

Dusk

Comment by DuskDevi

July 24th 2007 07:35
Hiya my Cara...

Yes I do agree (because naturally, all these things ned my seal of approval...), Sharpe is unsung hero in the public ye sense...he just keeps plugging away and making holes...

This award is judged by their peers and although that lovely Man was right up there (in points and ranking)...I didn't expect him to win because usually the players like to 'reward' their Forwards for all the incrdibly hard work they do.

Besides it's enough that Stephen Larkham is who he is...

So yes, he has an "unfair advantage"...

Big hugs my Cara...

Dusk

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