Waratahs coach Chris Hickey believes missing the Wallabies’ 2009 spring tour has done wonders for prop Al Baxter’s game.

Baxter first made his Super debut for New South Wales in 2000 against the Bulls, and has also notched up 69 Test caps since then.

The prop has not been seen in the green and gold for awhile however, with Baxter left out of the Wallabies’ Spring tour last year.

Hickey said Baxter’s absence from national duties allowed him to use the preseason to condition himself into career-best form.

“I think it is the best football I think I’ve see Al play,” he said.

“In terms of scrummaging, he has scrummaged against some of the best props in the southern hemisphere. I think he is always coming out on top in those contests.

“Against the Sharks, he scrummaged against two Springbok props and was still the dominant tighthead at the end of the day.

“His work around the park, which sometimes missed, is really good this year. He is regularly getting up 10 tackles in a game for no misses, 100 per cent in that regard.

“He is also getting three or four good ball carries for us. I think he is in the best form that I have seen him as far as Super 14 is concerned.”

For now Baxter is putting personal milestones aside as the team prepares for this week’s encounter against the Cheetahs.

The South African side may be sitting close to the wrong end of the Super 14 ladder but have managed to create shock wins against both the Sharks and the Hurricanes.

“Obviously they have quite a good pack and they are big blokes,” Baxter said.

“If you let them play their way then they are a really hard pack to play against.

“This week it is a lot about discipline, to make sure we play the way that we want to play, and don’t get caught in that South African wrestle where it gets high but it is basically trying to use up all your strength because they will get you every time because they are such big guys.”

And while they are not normally associated with the finer things in life, a good prop can be likened to a good bottle of red – they get better with age.

The 33-year-old fully agrees with the notion as he looks towards his 100th Super rugby cap.

“I think the front row is where experience plays a large part and obviously the more games you play the more experience you get,” he said.

“As long as you don’t lose the other areas of your fitness and strength and stuff like that then it is all pretty good.”

Injury concerns

It is still unclear whether the Waratahs will head into the game without Phil Waugh and Wycliff Palu.

The New South Wales skipper, number eight and Berrick Barnes were all injured during last week’s 39-32 win over the Blues.

Hickey says while at this stage Barnes is set to play against the Cheetahs, the verdict is still out on Waugh and Palu.

“They are sort of 50-50 at this stage of the game and we will be able to make a call on that probably on Wednesday of this week,” he said.

“Phil’s injury wasn’t as bad as we first thought and Cliffy had some feeling in his hamstring just before halftime [against the Blues], that is why he came off.

“They are two we will assess over the next 48 hours.”