News

Baxter wants consistency

November 28 2008

Al Baxter can recall occasions when Australia's physiotherapist doubled up as the Wallabies' scrummaging coach in his spare time.

Cameron Lillicrap, in fairness, made seven Test-match appearances as a loosehead prop, so had an idea what he was talking about.

But it all seems light years away from the concerted, organised approach Australia now adopt to arguably rugby union's most basic rudiment.

And if the Wallabies complete a first unbeaten European tour since 1996 by defeating Wales in Cardiff on Saturday, then Baxter and his front-row colleagues can deservedly take a bow.

While the Australian scrum remains a work in progress under the impressively-analytical eye of ex-Bath boss and former Wallabies hooker Michael Foley, credibility has been established.

England made such a mess of Australia's scrum at Twickenham in 2005 and during last year's World Cup quarter-final in Marseille, that Baxter and company could easily have required an appointment with the physiotherapist.

Retribution though, was carried out on a wilting red rose pack two weeks ago, as Australia dominated the scrums to underpin their biggest Twickenham victory since 1984.

The concession of a penalty try to France last Saturday, though - Australia still won 18-13 - produced a timely reminder about only being as good as your last game.

And it is that key commodity called consistency that 63 times-capped tighthead Baxter accepts is now the next target.

"There was a lack of concentration by us against France," he said.

"The thing we are really trying to work on is consistency, and we didn't have that last weekend.

"We have got to make sure we get back to where we were a couple of weeks beforehand.

"We feel we have been much improved this year - we just need that consistency."

No-one is suggesting that Australia have suddenly become Test rugby's greatest scrummagers, yet the attention to detail is a Foley trademark easily picked out through the mist and rain that shrouded an intense Wallabies work-out earlier this week.

"Michael Foley came in and really started from scratch," added Baxter.

"He took everything away that we had been doing, and started from where he thought we should be.

"Queensland, when they were a very successful side in the 1980s, were a set-piece side who played a lot of 10-man rugby.

"Michael would have learnt from that as a Queensland player, and then obviously going to Bath and coaching a very good set-piece side as well.

"It has been about technique and philosophy for me. If you can't use your strength in the right directions, then it's useless.

"There is now a large emphasis on scrummaging from the team. It's seen as a proper contest, and somewhere where you can gain or lose ascendancy.

"The other thing is man-hours. We spend countless more hours now doing scrummaging sessions.

"The physiotherapist used to sort out the scrums - he was an ex-Wallaby prop, to be fair - but when you are busy doing all your medical work, and then on the side trying to do a bit of scrummaging, you just don't have the time.

"He did as much as he could, but it wasn't his primary job, so it was quite difficult for him.

"It's nice as a front-rower to come to Europe and speak about scrums. It's the focus of discussion, and that's really refreshing.

"Obviously, you don't want the negative stuff, but if it is out there and talked about, that's good."

Having toppled Italy, England and France during the past three weeks, Wales now present the final challenge - and Baxter pulls no punches.

"It is going to be a tough one, probably the toughest on tour," he said.

"The Wales guys are obviously disappointed from not getting a win against South Africa or New Zealand, and being Six Nations champions they've got some talent behind them.

"At stages in both those games, they were very unlucky. It was touch and go pretty much all the way through.

"Gethin Jenkins (Baxter's opposite number tomorrow) is much like the South African looseheads - big and strong, and good around the park.

"He knows his stuff, so it is a going to be a tough day at the office."