Wallabies resist Baxter, Dunning SOS

Once again the door has snapped shut on Australia's most-capped prop, Al Baxter,
with Wallabies selectors opting to throw a greenhorn front-row into the deep end
against England's menacing pack on Saturday night.
With the Wallabies facing their worst front-row injury crisis in recent history,
forwards coach and selector Jim Williams said it was worth considering sending an
SOS for Baxter or fellow veteran Matt Dunning to make an international return at
Subiaco Oval.
But by the end of Wednesday, coach Robbie Deans decided not to call in any
replacements to take on the powerful English which will target Australia's rusty
front-row rookies.
It was all too apparent in the Australian Barbarians' 28-28 draw with England's
second-stringers on Tuesday night it's going to be a searching test for the young
Wallabies scrum.
Pekahou Cowan, in line to start at loose-head on Saturday night, had a tough time of
it while Laurie Weeks was sin-binned late when moved across the scrum from
tight-head.
Whatever the combination the selectors finally agree upon, the most caps Australia's
front-row will sport will be six.
Rising Queensland rake Saia Faingaa will make his run-on debut with hookers Stephen
Moore and Tatafu Polota-Nau sidelined.
Cowan and Salesi Ma'afu are likely to prop up the scrum, but Deans could punt on an
all-Reds front row with Weeks and Ben Daley - who are both coming back from injury.
Whatever way, overlooked Waratah Baxter and Perth-based Dunning have been left high
and dry again with the selectors not keen to perform an about-face following serious
injuries to Ben Alexander and Benn Robinson.
"That's a matter for the selectors and they will do what they think is best but I
can only hope for a phone call," the 69-Test capped Baxter told AAP.
"Hopefully those blokes will be back on the park sooner rather than later but I
can't really comment more than that."
Williams admitted England's big, grizzled front-row would ruthlessly target his
youngsters, and felt it worth considering more seasoned props.
"The World Cup is always in the back of your mind but there is a Test match this
weekend and we have to make first and foremost it's taken care of and we cover all
bases," he said Wednesday morning."
"I hope (England's physicality) is evident to the (Test) boys - it's not something
you can just walk into."
While Deans and Williams have their headaches up front, they also have a dilemma at
the back - but a far healthier one following James O'Connor's hat-trick for the
Barbarians.
Deans said O'Connor couldn't do any more in his 25-point, 48-minute display to
unseat Kurtley Beale from the No.15 jersey after he scored two tries of his own in
the 49-3 win over Fiji.
The 19-year-old utility back says he's still happy to be picked anywhere but is
enjoying the extra space at fullback more after learning from his mistakes in the
position in losses to the All Blacks in Wellington and Tokyo.
"The tests last year were a big learning curve for me," he said.
"I think I've nutted out the fullback position now after being found out a few times
last year."