Rookie replaces Baxter in rejigged Tahs team
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Rookie replaces Baxter
in rejigged Tahs team
BY PETER FITZGERALD
RUGBY UNION
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news...px?storypage=0
13/03/2009 1:00:00 AM
The 99-cap curse has struck the NSW Waratahs again with prop Al Baxter ruled out of tonight's Super 14 clash with the ACT Brumbies.
Baxter, who is one game shy of his 100th Super rugby appearance, failed a fitness test in Canberra late yesterday.
Regular NSW starting prop Matt Dunning, who also has 99 Super rugby caps, was ruled out for the majority of the season after suffering an Achilles injury playing for the Wallabies last year.
Waratahs coach Chris Hickey had no choice but to rule Baxter out of tonight's annual grudge match.
Baxter will be replaced in the starting XV by 20-year-old rookie Dan Palmer, who has just two Super14 caps to his name, both off the bench.
Baxter's withdrawal has led to further changes in the Waratahs starting forward pack.
Canberra-raised lock Chris Thomson will start his first Super 14 match, with Dean Mumm moving to blindside flanker.
Ben Mowen has been demoted to the bench while Luke Doherty has been called into the squad to make his Waratahs debut. Tatafu Polota-Nau and Wycliff Palu have been cleared to play.
In the back line Timana Tahu will start at inside centre, switching with Tom Carter.
Hickey admitted the late reshuffles were far from ideal but wouldn't be used as an excuse should his team lose to the Brumbies tonight.
''Injury forced our hand on a number of selections but there were some others which we thought would give us some more options this week,'' Hickey said.
''I guess the side has a bit of a different look in some aspects to the teams we've fielded over the opening month of the competition but we're confident with the side we've gone with.''
Brumbies coach Andy Friend admitted he knew little about Baxter's replacement but had no doubt Palmer would hold his own come scrummaging time.
Just who Palmer and fellow prop Benn Robinson will scrum against remains unclear after Brumbies prop Guy Shepherdson failed to train yesterday.
Shepherdson woke up ill, prompting Brumbies medical staff to keep him away from the team's captain's run.
Friend remained confident the 18-time Wallaby would be fine to play.
''He was crook [yesterday] morning, he was vomiting a bit, but he was much better in the afternoon so hopefully he should be fine,'' the coach said.
''Salesi [Ma'afu] is on standby but I doubt we'll need to go there.''
Friend declared he would not alter the Brumbies game plan, despite Baxter not playing, but admitted his team would be better off for not having to face the 116kg prop.
''Al's a 99-cap player, he's got that sort of experience you don't want to lose but at the same time, the Waratahs are a good breeding ground for rugby players so I'm assuming young Dan Palmer is a quality player,'' Friend said.
''We won't change a thing. Our focus is on us and what we've got to do, no matter who is out there against us.''
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