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'I'll do my very best': Wallabies reliant on out-of-position star against England

(Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images)

He’s come back from countless injuries and even bounced back from a drugs ban but after 112 tests, James Slipper still seems indestructible – and Australian rugby can never have been more thankful.

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Amid a chaotic test week before their marquee tour match against England which has seen the Wallabies’ front-row stocks desperately depleted, it’s been up to one of world rugby’s great survivors to prove his worth yet again.

Asked to switch from his usual loosehead prop position to the other side of the scrum to face the might of the English pack again, you get no complaints from 32-year-old Slipper.

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Instead, he just dusts down a battered body and promises with a smile: “I am a loosehead, but I feel I can back myself at tighthead – and one thing I know is that I’ll do my very best for the country.”

Australia expects nothing less. Last Sunday, the loss to Scotland was a painful reminder of his tighthead past when the loss of Allan Alaalatoa and Taniela Tupou to head knocks forced him to show the sort of propping versatility mid-game that he’s so often shown for the Brumbies.

And with both specialists out of the running for the England match, coach Dave Rennie had no hesitation in turning to ‘Slips’.

“The lower back gets pretty tender,” conceded Slipper, reflecting on a bad day at the office on Sunday.

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“It’s funny because at loosehead, you get a bit more pressure through the neck whereas at tighthead, it’s more through the back.

“So I definitely pulled up pretty sore afterwards.

“I can’t say I’m feeling that great – but I will be come game time, mate.”

Nobody knows that coalface recovery process better apart from perhaps the only five props who’ve earned more test caps than Slipper – Gethin Jenkins (Wales and the British & Irish Lions, 134), Martin Castrogiovanni (Italy, 119), Jason Leonard (England & Lions, 119), Tony Woodcock (New Zealand, 118) and Tendai Mtawarira (South Africa, 117).

At the other end of the experience scale, London Irish prop Ollie Hoskins, the former Western Force forward who’s not played in Australia for five years, has been chucked in the deep end for a prospective debut off the bench.

“It’s pretty wild, hard to put into words how I feel,” Hoskins told the BBC. “I’m going to lap up the experience.”

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Thinking back to when he first joined the English Premiership club, Hoskins recalled: “I was in a difficult place in my career when I joined. I’d been playing for my childhood, hometown club and they’d let me go and told me I wasn’t good enough.

“Irish gave me a chance and I’ve revamped my life over here. I’ve settled roots, met my wife over here, most of my extended family live here now, so it’s given me a second opportunity.”

Slipper has been quietly impressed. “Ollie’s had a couple of days to train and upskill with all the moves and how we want to play the game. He’s fitted in really well, so we’re excited to give him an opportunity.”

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JW 43 minutes ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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