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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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AM 40 minutes ago
'Freelancer' Izaia Perese shows the need for true inclusivity in Australian rugby

That's Cron's job though. Australia has had one of the most penalised scrums in international rugby for a long time. Just look at the scrum win loss percentage and scrum penalties. That is your evidence. AA has been the starter during that period. Pretty simple analysis. That Australia has had a poor scrum for a long time is hardly news. If bell and thor are not on the field they are woeful. So you are just plain wrong. They have very little time for the lions so doing the same old things that dont work is not going to get them there.


Ainsley is better than our next best tighthead options and has been playing well at scrum time for Lyon in the most competitive comp in the world. Superstar player? No. But better than the next best options. So that is a good enough guide. The scrummaging in the Prem is pretty good too so there is Sio's proof. Same analysis for him. Certainly better in both cases than Super, where the brumbies had the worst win loss and scrum pen in Super. Who plays there? Ohh yes... And the level of scrummaging in Super is well below the URC, prem and France with the SA teams out.


Nongorr is truly woeful. He's 130kg and gets shoved about. That just should not be happening at that weight for a specialist prop who has always played rugby cf pone with leauge. He has had enough time to develop at 23. You'd be better off with Pone who is at least good around the field for the moment and sending Nongorr on exchange to France or England to see if they can improve him with better coaching as happened with Skelton and Meafou. He isn't going to develop in time in super if he has it at all.


Latu is a better scrummaging hooker than BPA and Nasser. and he's the best aussie player over the ball at ruck time. McReight's super jackling percentage hasnt converted to international level but latu consistently does it at heniken level, which is similar to test level in the big games. With good coaching at La Rochelle he's much improved though still has the odd shocker. He should start the November games.

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