By Adrian Warren
November 20th 2009 @ 1:27am
Related coverage
Baxter toasts Wallabies scrum display
Australia’s most capped rugby prop Al Baxter has praised the Wallabies‘ scrummaging performance on their spring tour but revealed he still has a huge desire to regain a Test spot.
The veteran NSW Waratahs front-rower was one of the notable omissions from the 35-man squad for the tour of Japan and the United Kingdom.
Baxter, who has won 69 caps, was overlooked in favour of NSW colleagues Benn Robinson, Matt Dunning and Sekope Kepu, along with Brumbies duo Ben Alexander and Salesi Ma’afu and Western Force prop Pek Cowan.
The much-maligned Wallabies scrum has been one of the bright spots of a chequered Wallabies tour-to-date, with the Australian eight excelling in last weekend’s 20-20 draw against Ireland in Dublin.
“The scrum has been excellent, they’ve done really well,” Baxter told AAP.
“There’s obviously areas they can improve, but that happens in every game, whether you win or lose. The forwards are doing really well.”
Obviously disappointed at missing out on the tour, the 32-year-old is determined to resume a Test career that started six years ago.
“I have a huge desire to play international rugby, it’s what you play rugby for,” Baxter said.
“I definitively want to be back in there, you always want to play Test rugby and to do a spring Tour is one of those brilliant things, and unfortunately I haven’t been able to do it this year.
“But you’ve got to concentrate on what’s ahead of you and that is the Super 14.
“Super 14 is a big focus at the moment, but at the end of year, I’d like to be back in the Wallabies side.”
Baxter is taking part in his first pre-Christmas, pre-season with NSW since 2002 and feels the presence of older players like captain Phil Waugh and himself had its advantages.
“It’s good we’ve got a few of the older blokes back, because it usually doesn’t happen that much (before Christmas), so it means we can start building up some of the strategic and technical sides as well as doing fitness and weights.”
Super 14 Tipping now live on The Roar. Join now.
Like this content? Buzz it up!
Free Email updates:
Our daily emails are only sent if there is content for the sport or that author. You can subscribe to multiple daily emails; or get the daily Roar email with all our content in it. We value privacy. More...
(2)
Parisien said | November 20th 2009 @ 6:55am | Report comment
Go for it Al, it will be one of the greatest comeback stories ever in Australian rugby.
Chris said | November 20th 2009 @ 12:47pm | Report comment
Tell him he’s dreaming! Don’t you think there’s a teeny weeny link between Al not being on the tour, and the recent improvement in the Wallabies front row?