Wallabies veteran who made Test debut ‘before Instagram was invented’ not fussed about about significant record
Veteran Wallabies front-row James Slipper.
Although much has been said and written about him in recent days, veteran Wallabies front-row James Slipper is downplaying his achievements over a remarkable 14-year international career.
The 35-year-old has been named on Australia’s replacements bench for their clash with Argentina in Sante Fe on Saturday and if he takes to the field for the 139th time.
That is no mean feat as it will see him equalling George Gregan‘s Wallabies appearance record although Slipper is not comfortable talking about his rugby honours.
“It doesn’t sit natural with me,” Slipper told Rugby Australia’s official website about matching Gregan’s fantastic achievement.
‘They’re the ones that I grew up watching and idolising’
“I grew up watching rugby and watching most of those players play the game and play in the Wallabies jersey, and in particular those early 2000s and 1990s players, they’re the ones that I grew up watching and idolising.”
Although he tried to downplay the significance of tying Gregan for Australia’s individual Test appearance record, Slipper knows that it is a great achievement as he will also sit sixth overall for international Tests played when he inevitability takes to the field in the highly anticipated Rugby Championship clash with Los Pumas.
“It’s a proud moment for me,” he said.
“It’s one of those things you set out in your career and you don’t really expect to get that many games so I’m very lucky. I feel like I’ve had a lot of luck and my timing’s been good and a lot of hard work’s gone into it.”
At the age of 35, Slipper’s endurance as an international front-row is quite remarkable although it has also led to jokes amongst his team-mates.
“I think he debuted for the Wallabies before Instagram was invented,” said Wallabies hooker Matt Faessler.
That is true, in fact, as Slipper made his Test debut against England in June 2010, four months before the social media platform was founded.
‘I’ll never forget that night’
“Subiaco Oval, I’ll never forget that night. I think Johnny Wilkinson was still playing, believe it or not. It was a tough night for me,” Slipper recalled on that fixture.
“I got put on into a five-minute scrum and ended up playing both loosehead and tight and they ended up with a penalty try. It was a tough encounter, especially for me on debut but it still my favourite game, even though I didn’t go that great.”
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