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THE NSW Waratahs are poised to sign Wallabies wing-fullback Drew Mitchell, but are in danger of losing Test tighthead prop Al Baxter to an overseas club.
The Waratahs have re-emerged as the favourites to secure Mitchell after discussions with Queensland Reds and the Brumbies stalled.
It is now a two-horse race between the Waratahs and Western Force, with NSW having its nose in front.
A brilliant ball-runner, Mitchell would certainly help to improve the Waratahs' attack.
Mitchell is expected to make a decision early next week, after the Waratahs play the Force in Sydney tomorrow night. Injured Waratahs outside centre Rob Horne is also close to re-committing to NSW.
While the Waratahs are confident of luring Mitchell to Sydney, Baxter is exploring overseas options, after reaching a stalemate in his re-negotiations with the ARU.
Baxter is Australia's most capped prop and the Waratahs can ill-afford to lose him, especially as his NSW frontrow partner Matt Dunning is also looking to play overseas.
"I was negotiating with the ARU, but that has come to a point, which is under my expectations," Baxter said. "At the moment, I'm just having a bit of a look overseas. Ideally, I want to stay here at the Waratahs and the Wallabies, but things have come to a bit of an impasse.
"A fair few guys from overseas have been asking me what I'm doing and I've been holding them off for a while, but now with this impasse with the ARU ... NSW have been great ... I'm investigating my options."
The Waratahs have missed Baxter's scrummaging and constructive play around the rucks and mauls while he has been sidelined with a calf injury. A frustrated Baxter felt good enough to play against the Force, but the Waratahs did not want to risk rushing him back as they did once before this season, which resulted in him aggravating the injury. Baxter will make his comeback on the Waratahs' three-game tour of South Africa at the end of the regular season.
"I feel really good at the moment," Baxter said. "I wanted to play this weekend, but the medical staff said no, they wanted me to have another week off to make sure it's right for Africa, because it's going to be a long, hard haul and hopefully the finals series after that."
Whether the fourth-placed Waratahs make the play-offs may depend on the result of the game against the Force.
The Waratahs still have a bye to come before their South African tour, which makes a win against the Force imperative.
Waratahs coach Chris Hickey has shown his hand by starting the highly physical Brett Sheehan at halfback ahead of Luke Burgess in a game NSW will look to dominate up front to deny Matt Giteau and co possession.
Sheehan admitted he was surprised at his promotion to the starting line-up, but is keen to make the most of his opportunity, particularly with the Wallabies squad to be named in six weeks.
He will oppose another Wallabies contender, Josh Valentine, and their clash at the scrumbase will be intense.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...015651,00.html
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Originally Posted by normie
MAYBE they just don't want the force to have Drew coz they know he is such a good player.
Courtesy of quality South African commentry
