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James Slipper recognises he has some seriously big boots to fill when he takes over the Wallabies’ captaincy from Michael Hooper, the man he believes ought to pick up the World Player of the Year award.
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Hooper suffered a foot injury in last weekend’s defeat by England, with Wallabies coach Dave Rennie having no hesitation in turning to the veteran prop Slipper to take over for Saturday’s (Sunday morning, AEDT) year-ending Test against Wales in Cardiff.
Slipper reckons the players are “desperate” to finish 2021 on a high after a disappointing tour to Britain and want to win for their inspirational leader.
“I’d be voting for Hoops – easily,” said Slipper in Cardiff on Friday, commenting on the flanker being short-listed for next month’s World Rugby’s player of the year gong alongside Wallaby centre Samu Kerevi, England lock Maro Itoje and French scrum-half Antonie Dupont.
“He’s had an exceptional year. He’s shown it with the numbers he’s producing and I guess he’s had one of his best years of his career.
“He is the captain of our country – the boys love him, we always get behind him and he’s going to be sorely missed this weekend but hopefully we can get the job done for him.”
Hooper has captained Australia 65 times but this will be only the second time Slipper has been handed the job in 113 appearances, six years since he led the Wallabies to a 47-10 win in a much less pressurised affair against the USA in Chicago.
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“I guess there’s a lot of time in between drinks there,” he smiled.
“It’s a sheer joy for myself. I guess playing for Australia is pretty humbling, but to be captain is something very special.”
In those intervening six years, Slipper has had an eventful time, bouncing back impressively after a two-month ban from the game in 2018 for taking cocaine to becoming an increasingly authoritative figure in the squad.
For four-and-a-half months, Lalakai Foketi had been in Dave Rennie's black book. Then, on Monday, he received the news he had been waiting for. #Wallabies #WALvAUS #AutumnNationsSeries https://t.co/ihcTxZwizY
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 19, 2021
“It’s definitely extra special,” he said.
“I’ve been on a journey that’s taken me to different places but I think the special thing is knowing I’m still in the team and contributing, to be honest.
“We’re a pretty tight group, there’s a leadership group that works really well together and just being part of that is special. But being able to lead the boys out on the weekend is something I won’t forget.”
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The prospect of keeping his 100 per cent winning record as captain takes on new significance after the two deflating defeats by Scotland and England mean the Wallabies are staring at the prospect of a winless tour to Europe for the first time in 45 years.
“It’s very important to finish the year on a high,” said Slipper.
“The last two games just haven’t been up to scratch for us as a group.
“I feel like we’ve gone into each of those games very prepared but we just haven’t managed to do it under lights in a pressure moment.
“Definitely, we’ve trained extremely well all week. At no stage does a Wallaby team go out there and not be desperate to win. It goes without saying that when you pull on that jersey, you rip in.
“And there’s no better way to finish a long Covid year with a win in Cardiff. That’s our plan.”
– Ian Chadband
Comments on RugbyPass
“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to comments