Super Rugby
Sharpe injury boost for Wallabies
ESPNscrum Staff
June 13, 2011
Western Force lock Nathan Sharpe limps out of the action, Western Force v Reds, Super Rugby, NIB Stadium, Perth, Australia, June 11, 2011
Sharpe limped out of the Western Force's narrow defeat to the reds at the weekend © Getty Images
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Nathan Sharpe's World Cup hopes are alive and well after he was cleared of a serious ankle injury - but he will miss the Western Force's final Super Rugby outing of the season.

The Wallabies' lock limped out of the Force's narrow defeat to the Reds on Saturday and it was feared ankle ligament damage would hamper his hopes of adding to his 93 Test caps during this year's Tri-Nations and World Cup.

But the injury is not as severe as first thought and while he will miss the AAMI Park clash with the Rebels on Friday, he is set to be fit for the Wallabies first international outing of the year against Samoa on July 17. "Scans yesterday revealed ligament damage to his right ankle which will require a fortnight on the sidelines," the club said in a statement.

Sharpe, who is coming off a club-record run of 53 straight matches for the Force, is favourite to start in the second-row for the Wallabies alongside Reds' captain James Horwill and will face competition from Rob Simmons and Dean Mumm. Rival Mark Chisholm will miss the World Cup with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

The Force will also be without star Wallaby utility back James O'Connor on Friday after he picked up a one week suspension for a dangerous tackle on Horwill.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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