Fin Baxter: The baby-faced assassin who has his sights set on England

By Paul Rees

Fin Baxter went under the radar last season as he rose quickly up the front row ladder and he has learned how to deal with the extra attention he now demands.

Baxter only turned 23 a couple of months ago, but the loose-head prop has become a cornerstone of Harlequins’ front row since Joe Marler retired and he appeared in every match of England’s Six Nations campaign this year.

“I was new to the scene last year and people did not know too much about me,” said Baxter, who made his England debut against New Zealand last summer on the back of some big performances for Quins, not least Bordeaux-Begles away in the Champions Cup.

“From the start of this season, I had to bring my A game and could not go under the radar.

Rising star: Harlequins prop Fin Baxter

Incredible

“It has made me better and my scrummaging has improved.

“I really enjoyed my time in the England camp and spent a lot of time focusing on different areas other boys and coaches picked me up on.

“I am happy with how things have gone.”

Baxter scored his first try for England after coming off the bench against France at Twickenham, a victory against the odds that ignited their campaign after an opening day defeat to Ireland.

“The noise was incredible after I scored,” said Baxter.

“The stadium that day was the loudest I had heard.

“I do not score many tries and we needed one then.

“I was really proud of what I achieved in the Six Nations and was happy to appear in all five matches.

“When I came back to Harlequins, it gave me a sense that I could share more and give more to others rather than holding things back, which I might have done before.

“It is a weird mishmash: I am young but I am in my fifth season here and I am an international.

“You are expected to step up and it is something I am more than happy to do.”

Eye-opening

England’s final match in the Six Nations was against Wales in Cardiff where they recorded a record victory.

It was a day when Baxter found himself on opposing sides with his scrum coach at Quins and mentor, Adam Jones, who was on secondment to Wales.

“After the game I went to see him in their changing room and we had a nice chat,” said Baxter.

“He said how weird it was previewing me and talking about me to their boys.

“It has been good working with Tom Harrison (England’s scrum coach) and getting a different perspective.

“Being with some of the best props around has been eye-opening and it has been a nice progression.”

Danny Wilson, the Quins head coach, rested his England contingent on the weekend after the end of the Six Nations, even though the opponents were Saracens at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

He was widely criticised but was vindicated by victory.

Backlash

“The backlash he got was unfair and I respect him for the decision he made,” said Baxter.

“Every team with a player who had played in all five matches had to rest for a week at some point and it was blown out of all proportion.

“I certainly found the time off a benefit.

“I had a nice time walking in the Lake District and came back to the club refreshed.”

Baxter has been described as someone who is soft off the pitch but hard on it having been dubbed the baby-faced assassin last season following his performance in Bordeaux when he subdued two experienced tight-heads who weighed considerably more than him.

“I am not too sure how to strike the nice and hard balance,” he said.

Transition

“I am working on the emotional side of my game and bringing it out.

“It is progressing and I am making nice steps with it.

“I innately enjoy the physical side of the game, but I could not tell you where that comes from.

“Joe (Marler) has been a big help to me.

“Every scrum session, he would pick up on little things, nothing revolutionary, but that small detail is valuable because it is not obvious.

“He made the transition easier for me when I first joined with England.

“He did not score a try in his whole career and I have not mentioned my one for England to him, although I am sure I will at some stage.”

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