 | WALES v AUSTRALIA |
Wales tight-head prop Chris Horsman says that his sin-binning against South Africa means he is desperate to prove himself against Australia on Saturday. "It feels like I'm starting again with everything to prove, so the yellow card has actually been an extra motivation," the 27-year-old told BBC Sport Wales.
"It means a lot to me to get another start, especially after last weekend.
"I let myself and the squad down and I'm still very disappointed about it, but I have to turn it into a positive."
Wales coach Mike Ruddock publicly rebuked the Worcester prop for his blatant punch at a key point in the Springbok Test.
|  I like to compete on the edge and get in people's faces |
"Mike has talked to me about my discipline and I'm under no illusions about what I can and can't do," said Horsman, who is set to win his fourth consecutive cap after qualifying for Wales by residency this autumn.
"Discipline is such an important part of the game, especially in my position where it's physical and you are up against it.
"The players could see I was devastated and haven't made a great deal of it, I haven't tried to defend myself or make excuses.
"I'm not a dirty player, but I like to compete on the edge and get in people's faces."
| We feel we can attack Australia in the scrum, but that's one of several areas we'll be looking to attack at |
Although Ruddock claims he considered dropping Horsman, it seems that he has already become a cornerstone of the Wales pack.
The ill-discipline aside, Wales' scrum was impressive against the feared Boks, with Horsman's pressure leading opposing loose-head Lawrence Sephaka to be ignominiously substituted after 35 minutes.
There was even the remarkable site of a Welsh scrum on its own five-metre line pushing the Boks back off their attacking ball and winning possession against the head.
"It was a bonus that the scrum went well, but that's something that's been building with Wales for a couple of years and I'm just one part of it," said Horsman, whose articulate answers must threaten his membership of the front-row union.
Wales have been advised - by Springbok coach Jake White, amongst others - to target the Australian scrum that suffered such a mauling against England at Twickenham, but Horsman would not be drawn on perceived weaknesses.
"The Australia scrum is going to be difficult like any international scrum, we're under no illusions about that," said Horsman.
"They drew the line after their trouble against England and did a lot better against Ireland, now they're going to be coming for us.
"But we're happy with that, we want people to be taking us on up front, that's the only way to improve ourselves as a pack.
"We feel we can attack them in the scrum, but that's one of several areas we'll be looking to attack at. "You don't waste energy by doing it at every scrum, but you exert pressure at crucial times - like when we took the tight-head against South Africa.
"All of Australia's defeats this year were pretty close.
"They're not a bad side, they're one of the best in the world - as they've proved over a number of years.
"It's a huge game, our performances have been building steadily and we hope it will all come together so we can get the result.
"We've built a very competitive squad and that bodes well for the Six Nations."
MMIX
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
