Nathan Sharpe warns the Lions that the Western Force will want 'to take a nibble' out of them Sharpe, 35, who played for the Force for six years, is lending his expertise to the present Wallaby regime as a lineout consultant and will be in camp with them over the next fortnight leading up to the first test. There was yet another attempt at the turn of the year to coax him out of retirement. He has been Australia's pre-eminent forward of the last decade, a regular contender for a world XV, the only tight Wallaby forward who would come close to that exalted status. He knew he had made the right decision when he attended a Force training session on Monday. "I caught a ball and then saw five forwards bearing down on me so I just chucked it and ran for cover," said Sharpe. You either finish six months too early or six months too late. I had seen mates of mine have careers ended through non-selection or injury. I wanted that control to end it when the moment was right for me. Sharpe has a Welsh grandparent and was approached by the then Wales-coach, Graham Henry, to consider playing for Wales. If he had, he might well have lined up for the Lions in 2001. "There was a conversation with Graham in a coffee shop in Brisbane," said the distinctively-bald Sharpe. It was so long ago I had a full head of hair. I considered it at the time. I had the usual disillusioned attitude of a young bloke not getting recognised in his own country and not getting to where he wanted to in a hurry. I weighed it up for a week or so until my old man gave me a slap and told me to bring my head in. Sharpe admits that he was "mesmerised" by the impact the Lions had on the country in 2001, in particular the first test at the Gabba which the Lions despite the Wallabies having been crowned world champions two years earlier. "We were all blown away by it, the intensity and ferocity, the sea of red at the Gabba, it was mesmerising and took us by surprise," said Sharpe. We will know what to expect this time. The midweek games build that interest in the community and are sensational. I know the Force have not chosen all their players but it's not a perfect world. There will be times when the franchises have their own agenda. NSW and Queensland will be fielding full-strength sides but without their Wallabies. That's fair enough as these guys have been busting it out for 15 weeks straight and it would be ridiculous to have them playing still a couple of weeks before the Lions series. There is always the possibility of more injury. The odds would be long on provincial sides winning at this stage. The Lions are pumped-up and they don't have any injuries but as the tour progresses each provincial side is going to try and put a dent in them. Follow the Lions' Legendary Journey with HSBC's interactive experience at youtube.com/LionsHSBC