Dedicated Roarers may recall a hyperbolic shambles posted in November last year claiming big things beckoned for the Wallabies after their crushing defeat of England. I was excited by the victory.
I was euphoric for the Shawshankian (this will make the Oxford one day) redemption it afforded to Big Al Baxter.
My number three son was born on 28 November, 2008. My wife was surprised when, over breakfast on Monday 16 November, 2008 I remarked, “Y’know, love – maybe we can call junior Alistair”.
She poured buckets of scorn on the idea.
“What about Biblical names only. I don’t know Saint Alistair.”
We settled for Thomas to join Arnold and George (red frog to any Roarer who guesses the famous Australian Rugby ancestors). A man who wore trousers instead of shorts might have insisted on Peter to make a point. Readers of the Bible will know that Saint Peter was the Rock upon which the Holy Roman Catholic Church was built.
And so it will be with Alistair Baxter in 2009 for the Waratahs.
There seems now to be a grudging acceptance that the man has improved, and yet this acceptance remains couched in terms that indicate some sort of reservation about his abilities – as though being able to mix it with the present crop of international front rowers is one thing, but he would not have lasted five minutes ten years ago.
And he is a goose in general play.
Typical of the faint praise were suggestions on these pages after Baxter’s demolition of Andy Sheridan that Sheridan was never good, was overrated, and Baxter did what many have done before.
I do not buy that. Here was something that Big Al had planned and worked towards and executed. I think there are now, to use a Dingoism, “other boxes to tick.”
Baxter is a man of substance. He has had troughs like no other. When he first started in Sydney grade rugby, he had his face smashed apart by a gutless king hit from an opponent in a lineout.
Many might have lost their nerve at that early point. He recovered and returned. His weaknesses at scrum time have been, over the years, ruthlessly exposed.
The nadir at Twickenham in 2005 is painfully etched in the minds of Wallaby supporters. He has since put his head down, worked hard, fought back. He is now in the A team.
Baxter is typical of the character that Australian Rugby produces.
The ELVs assist a player such as Baxter, who has never carried excess weight. He is no explosive ball carrier and effective at best as a defender. But he has very good stamina, his lineout work is excellent, and now his scrummaging is, I daresay, peerless.
He can play an eighty minute game, which is a rarity for Super 14 front rowers. This then affords coach Hickey the albeit risky luxury of not having a specialist prop on his bench. And he has a hunger by which his younger team mates will have been infected.
When the Waratahs go all the way this year, big Al Baxter will be grinning from ear to ear.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
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