Waratahs pack won't step back: Baxter
Waratahs pack won't step back: Baxter
Rupert Guinness | January 31, 2009
http://www.rugbyheaven.com.au/news/n...818725020.html
AL BAXTER realises that with the Super 14 season nearing, complacency could undo all the work he and his fellow forwards have done to become a force as a pack.
The NSW scrum might not be feared - ditto that of the Wallabies - but it has nonetheless earned respect, as much for its vast improvement as for the impact it now has on their rivals.
However Baxter, the most capped Wallabies prop, is savvy enough to know how fleeting form can be.
As the Super 14 season approaches, with the Waratahs having one more trial match before facing the Hurricanes in Wellington on February 14, Baxter realises the NSW pack can ill-afford to be complacent.
Asked before he captained the Waratahs against the Fiji Warriors at EnergyAustralia Stadium in a trial match last night what he is looking for this season, Baxter said: "I guess … just to have a season [where the NSW pack will] not step backwards … to keep moving on. [That's] me as well as the whole forward pack.
"The Waratahs pack took a step up [last year] and we hope to continue by not stepping back and losing any of those gains we made. It is about trying to build on those and continue to improve."
It sounds a modest wish, but Baxter is a modest guy. He is also aware that the Waratahs pack that made such an improvement last year is now without three key ingredients - Dan Vickerman, David Lyons and Rocky Elsom.
All three forwards are playing in Great Britain and have left a massive void in strength and experience.
Baxter has complete faith in the younger players to fill their places in the second row and back row, but he concedes there is one major asset that will be missing as the Waratahs embark on their next campaign.
"[It is] their presence," he said. "Those three guys had a massive presence at provincial and international level. They are a big loss, but we have had a lot of young guys step up, and not so young guys step up filling the spot."
Baxter, always looking for positives, cites the development of Dean Mumm. Only two years ago, Mumm was regarded as being out of his depth when called up to fill in for injured Waratahs. He is now one of the best-performing and most athletic Wallabies, relishing playing under the new experimental law variations [ELVs].
" 'Mummy' has come into the lineout leadership role, calling the lineouts and helping with the instruction at training," Baxter said. "He has been relishing in that. He has blossomed.
"He brings his own style of game to the Waratahs and Wallabies with his huge amount of athleticism. 'Vicks' is perhaps more an old school second-rower who had a superb tight game, but each player has their strengths. "[Mumm is] fit and fast and that's perfect for the ELVs, where there is a whole lot of running and speed."
Baxter was doubly excited that his first game after the off-season last night was against an international side. Although, against an enthusiastic and powerful such as the Fiji Warriors, he was expecting a brutal welcome back to play.
"You definitely lose match fitness [in the off season], but on the flip side, I have been able to sort out a few niggles which you get in a long season," he said. "But you do feel a lot fresher from having a decent period off.
"Trials games are there to try and get your match fitness back before the Super 14. You understand it is going to be tough but you get on with it."
Which he plans to do on Thursday night when the Waratahs play their final trial against the Brumbies at the Sydney Football Stadium.
