‘This is up there with a World Cup Final… against the almighty Lions’

Wallabies veteran James Slipper has played at the very highest level in professional rugby. After taking on the British & Irish Lions for the first time in the 2013 series, ‘Slips’ came off the bench for the Wallabies two years later in the Rugby World Cup Final at Twickenham.

Slipper is now the most capped Wallaby in history, and joins George Smith in an exclusive club of only two Australians who have featured in two Test series against the Lions. James O’Connor will join that group if the playmaker features against the Lions in Melbourne or Sydney.

Ahead of the second Lions Test this weekend at the world-famous MCG, Slipper likened playing in the prestigious series to a Rugby World Cup Final. There is no one playing at the highest level in Australian rugby today more qualified to share that view.

Kevin Foote on Rassie’s input

Kevin Foote on Rassie’s input

The Wallabies were beaten by “the almighty Lions team” 19-27 at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium last Saturday, with the visitors taking control early on and never looking back. Australia are now preparing for a must-win Test in Melbourne where they’ll fight to keep the series alive.

“This is up there with a World Cup Final for us as players,” Slipper told reporters.

“For a lot of players, it’s once-in-a-career opportunity so it’s right up there, every 12 years. Takes a long time for those 12 years to go around again.

“For us, we’re up against the almighty Lions team.

“We haven’t that many series in the history, the long history. For us it’s definitely at the foremost of our careers.”

With it all to play for in this rare series, there’s a fair bit of pressure on the Wallabies ahead of the second of three Tests. Henry Pollock mentioned before the series that a three-nil series sweep “is definitely on the table” for the Lions, and they took a step towards that in Brisbane.

Finn Russell knocked over a penalty goal in the first minute before Sione Tuipulotu crossed for the first try of the match soon after. Tom Curry and Dan Sheehan also scored a five-pointer each as the Lions raced out to a 24-5 lead early in the second term.

The Wallabies gave it everything, with Carlo Tizzano and Tate McDermott scoring tries, but time wasn’t on their side. McDermott’s effort helped make it an eight-point game with less than two minutes to play, and even then the Aussies were parked well inside their own half.

With the Lions hanging on, the tourists only need to win one of the next two Tests to secure a series victory Down Under. There are no more second chances for the Wallabies, it’s do-or-die, and they’re focused on doing whatever they can to force a decider.

“Well there’s not much more pressure you can have with the Lions Series, in general,” Slipper said.

“It’s the game that we’re going to have to win.

“As I said, it comes down to the preparation, making sure that we play our best game.”