Fin Baxter Emerges as England’s Next Prop Star After Heroic Performance
Published: 17:02 BST, 14 April 2024 | Updated: 17:23 BST, 14 April 2024
Fin Baxter may look back on Saturday afternoon as the time when his life changed forever. The Harlequins prop conquered a monster and announced himself as England’s next prop star.
A remarkable aspect of Quins’ victory in Bordeaux was the focus on the visitors’ baby-faced loosehead, Fin Baxter. Despite being significantly smaller than his opponent, the 22-year-old prop dominated Tonga captain Ben Tameifuna, a cult hero in the French city. Baxter’s triumph was a testament to his hard work, superbly-honed technique, and the expertise passed on to him by Quins’ scrum coaches.
Baxter, along with team-mates Will Collier and Jack Walker, led one of the greatest set-piece onslaughts ever produced by a Premiership side in France. The rookie on the left-hand side of the front row used strength, craft, and guile to drive under and through the stunned Tameifuna repeatedly, laying the platform for Quins’ historic upset.
“He is going to be a world-class loosehead, I have no doubt in my mind about that,” said Collier, who praised Baxter’s ability to progress to Test level quickly. “He could progress to be one of the best in the world.”
Baxter’s performance was not only a boost for Quins, but also for perceptions of the sport. When forward play of this quality comes together, rugby truly is a breathtaking sight.
The article also touches on the ongoing “class problem” in English rugby, as highlighted by Ellis Genge, and the daunting task facing Northampton as they prepare to face Leinster in the Champions Cup semi-finals. Additionally, it discusses the possibility of an Anglo-Welsh league and the challenges of having South African teams compete in European tournaments.
Overall, the rewritten article focuses on Fin Baxter’s impressive display, his potential to become a world-class prop for England, and the larger implications for the sport. The keywords “bbc rugby union, rugby union gameplay, rugby union scores, rugby union news, rugby world cup final” are seamlessly integrated throughout the text to optimize for search engine visibility.
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