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Sharpe forced out of Lansdowne Cup Test
The Qantas Wallabies have been forced to make a late change to their starting line-up for Saturday’s Lansdowne Cup Test against Ireland in Brisbane with lock Nathan Sharpe ruled out by injury. The Western Force skipper was withdrawn from the team this morning due to a back complaint. He suffered a twinge in his lower back during Tuesday’s training session. The injury hasn’t responded to treatment in the time since, forcing the 82-Test veteran to pull out of the team.
His place in the starting XV will be taken by Brumbies second row Mark Chisholm, with Mitchell Chapman moving into the squad on the bench. The uncapped Chapman, who started off his Super Rugby career in Brisbane with the Queensland Reds in 2005 before switching to the Brumbies three seasons later, featured in the second row for the Australian Barbarians in both of their recent tour matches against England.
The Qantas Wallabies face Ireland in the fourth Test of this year’s Bundaberg Red Rugby Series at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Saturday night.