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April 14, 2009
New South Wales Waratahs coach Chris Hickey won't make the same mistake twice by rushing Australia tighthead Al Baxter back for Saturday's derby against Western Force.
Baxter initially injured his calf muscle against Queensland Reds six weeks ago and, after sitting out the clash the following weekend against the Brumbies, was deployed against the Crusaders on March 21.
But barely 32 minutes into that match Australia's most capped Test prop was again forced to the sideline.
Although there are encouraging signs Baxter might be ready to return against the Western Force, after running freely on the weekend, Hickey is not inclined to take risks with him in the round before the Waratahs have their long-awaited bye.
By holding him over, the Waratahs coach would give Baxter a further two weeks to fully recover from his injury before NSW open their three-match tour of South Africa against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on May 1.
"We're more concerned Al is right for the South African tour," Hickey said. "If there are any doubts at all about his fitness this week, we'll err on the side of caution."
It is not as if the Waratahs have been hanging by their fingernails waiting for Baxter to recover. In his absence rookie prop Dan Palmer has held up the right-hand side of the NSW scrum in impressive fashion.
"For a 20-year-old playing at tighthead, he has done a fantastic job," Hickey said.
The Waratahs have played nine rounds in succession and, with the Sharks, will be the last to be given the bye.
"There is a cumulative fatigue that develops," Hickey said. "We've had tough, close games over the past five or six rounds, so we've had to keep our strongest XV on the park for most of the match. We haven't had the luxury of being able to rest our top players. That's not an excuse but it is a factor."
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,...002381,00.html
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