Super Rugby Pacific: Western Force and Wallabies great Nathan Sharpe praises Jeremy Williams and Darcy Swain
Force captain Williams and Swain have been Super Rugby Pacific's best second row duo this season, have led their side to the league's best line-out percentage.
Despite the Force's season petering out, two-time John Eales Medalist and inaugural Force captain Sharpe told The West Australian he expected Williams to be in Schmidt's plans for the looming British and Irish Lions series.
And Sharpe also said Swain, who has not played for the Wallabies since 2022 but leads the league for line-outs won, also deserved a recall.
'(Jeremy) has been terrific, and the way that he's led the team has been outstanding. He's a guy that's gone from strength to strength, played a lot of tests for the Wallabies last year, and I'm sure he will again this year, he's been sensational,' Sharpe said.
'Darcy Swain has been a great addition as well, the line-outs function well on most occasions, and those two have created a good pairing, that's for sure.
'They've been outstanding this year, and I'm looking forward to both of them having opportunities with the Wallabies this year.'
Despite last Saturday's loss against the Brumbies, who entered the game as the best line-out team in the league, the Force won 11-13 of their own throws compared to 13-18 for the visitors.
More importantly, the Force also stole three line-outs, while the Brumbies were unable to pilfer any off Force throws.
Per Opta Stats, the Force have won a league-high 88.7 per cent of line-outs, with ex-Brumby Swain having won 72 line-outs — seven more than the next closest player, Wallabies lock Nick Frost.
Williams and Swain have also combined for 15 line-out steals and sit equal-first and third in the league individually, while teammate Will Harris is also in the top 10 with four.
The Force skipper also recorded an eye-raising 31 tackles without a miss in the Brumbies loss, and Sharpe said his engine and ability to play as a back-rower were key to the 24-year-old taking the next step and becoming a very good international player.
'His mobility is sensational, isn't it? He's got all the qualities of a back rower: he can carry, link, attack the ball at the breakdown, his work rate is phenomenal,' he said.
'It's one of those positions where he's going to have to continue to squeeze all that juice in all those things that he's got strengths in and translate that into international rugby, where he probably gives away a few kilos to some of the international locks.
'In those games that are a little bit tighter, he's got to find a way to make those strengths stand out for his team, and contribute in that regard, rather than some of the more traditional ways.'
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