Rugby: Sharpe omission highlights strength - Whitelock

Nathan Sharpe. Photo / Getty Images

All Blacks lock Sam Whitelock says the Wallabies' dropping of the experienced Nathan Sharpe for their rugby Tri-Nations clash on Saturday shows there is plenty of depth to their team.

Sharpe, who has been capped 95 times for the Wallabies, was cut from the 24-man squad which will head to Auckland for the Eden Park clash on Saturday night.

Sharpe, 33, was overlooked in favour of the experienced Dan Vickerman and Waratahs rookie Sitaleki Timani, who join the Queensland Reds duo of James Horwill and Rob Simmons.

Whitelock, who impressed alongside Ali Williams in last Saturday's victory over the Springboks, said the All Blacks could not underestimate the Wallabies second rowers.

"They've got great locks. It was shown throughout the Super campaign that their locks right across the board are big, strong and great ball-winners at lineout time," he said today.

"I don't think that (Sharpe's omission) changes anything for us, we've just got to be prepared for what they might bring."

The Wallabies' backline, which includes Quade Cooper, Will Genia and Kurtley Beale, is seen by many as their greatest strength but Whitelock said they were strong all round.

"Australia have got some great forwards and some outstanding backs, as we all know,'' he said.

"With any side you can't focus on one area. If you do, then another area normally comes up and can bite you. We've just got to play well, all of us."

Whitelock said those All Blacks in the Crusaders team which lost the Super rugby final to the Reds would be seeking some payback but that they could not focus on that.

"We would have loved to have gone all the way and we didn't. You've got to learn from that but you can't hold grudges because that could really hurt you in the end as well."

The All Blacks team is due to be announced on Thursday.

- NZPA