The China Mail - Slipper to become most-capped Wallaby in All Blacks clash

USD -
AED 3.672504
AFN 65.000368
ALL 81.431326
AMD 361.239406
ANG 1.789785
AOA 918.000367
ARS 1544.046724
AUD 1.452222
AWG 1.8
AZN 1.70397
BAM 1.754002
BBD 2.018116
BDT 124.801578
BGN 1.747831
BHD 0.378548
BIF 2997.982153
BMD 1
BND 1.283978
BOB 12.019192
BRL 5.504904
BSD 1.002018
BTN 94.051388
BWP 13.802968
BYN 3.000673
BYR 19600
BZD 2.015246
CAD 1.41125
CDF 2320.000362
CHF 0.819824
CLF 0.024951
CLP 981.982871
CNY 6.676504
CNH 6.670804
COP 3236.357114
CRC 454.419084
CUC 1
CUP 24.048249
CVE 98.887942
CZK 21.83445
DJF 178.43146
DKK 6.708504
DOP 60.885162
DZD 136.261154
EGP 53.769786
ERN 15
ETB 164.454778
EUR 0.896804
FJD 2.265604
FKP 0.7479
GBP 0.748083
GEL 2.59504
GGP 0.7479
GHS 11.707995
GIP 0.7479
GMD 74.503851
GNF 8874.938344
GTQ 7.657056
GYD 210.062329
HKD 7.84204
HNL 26.930631
HRK 6.76901
HTG 131.321465
HUF 326.000354
IDR 18108.5
ILS 3.18593
IMP 0.7479
INR 93.910504
IQD 1519.035021
IRR 1891353.000352
ISK 122.790386
JEP 0.7479
JMD 159.024259
JOD 0.70904
JPY 158.47504
KES 130.209408
KGS 87.447804
KHR 4082.328147
KMF 442.00035
KPW 899.999961
KRW 1363.803789
KWD 0.31098
KYD 0.83512
KZT 449.127842
LAK 22542.486884
LBP 89728.711717
LKR 333.213757
LRD 170.342137
LSL 16.570826
LTL 2.95274
LVL 0.60489
LYD 6.412269
MAD 9.794718
MDL 17.910408
MGA 4553.159051
MKD 55.203803
MMK 2099.697346
MNT 3600.739032
MOP 8.088606
MRU 40.453791
MUR 47.030378
MVR 15.403739
MWK 1737.500561
MXN 18.62354
MYR 4.061504
MZN 63.903729
NAD 16.570826
NGN 1347.210377
NIO 36.87727
NOK 9.459904
NPR 150.482041
NZD 1.807175
OMR 0.384144
PAB 1.002108
PEN 3.451773
PGK 4.566611
PHP 63.108038
PKR 277.126855
PLN 3.94555
PYG 6263.39626
QAR 3.662795
RON 4.792204
RSD 105.484059
RUB 81.925564
RWF 1478.947132
SAR 3.756342
SBD 8.048583
SCR 13.773553
SDG 601.503676
SEK 9.894504
SGD 1.282704
SHP 0.748923
SLE 22.950371
SLL 20969.504398
SOS 572.620062
SRD 37.583504
STD 20697.981008
STN 21.972109
SVC 8.76732
SYP 13001.999685
SZL 16.565176
THB 33.550369
TJS 9.243442
TMT 3.5
TND 2.998341
TOP 2.40776
TRY 50.141304
TTD 6.795211
TWD 32.775304
TZS 2647.773642
UAH 45.39348
UGX 4098.470921
UYU 40.312094
UZS 11956.414511
VES 896.316404
VND 25582.5
VUV 119.504303
WST 2.787821
XAF 588.264929
XAG 0.019249
XAU 0.00024594347
XCD 2.70255
XCG 1.805838
XDR 0.707052
XOF 588.264929
XPF 106.954845
YER 236.625037
ZAR 16.51943
ZMK 9001.203584
ZMW 20.360522
ZWL 321.999592
SSP 5745.505339
MXV 2.095222
  • RYCEF

    0.4000

    19.71

    +2.03%

  • CMSC

    0.0000

    20.4

    0%

  • BTI

    0.4200

    56.05

    +0.75%

  • BP

    0.2800

    44.43

    +0.63%

  • RBGPF

    1.6000

    67

    +2.39%

  • RIO

    -0.1500

    94.41

    -0.16%

  • AZN

    -0.4300

    166.15

    -0.26%

  • GSK

    0.4600

    49.7

    +0.93%

  • BCE

    -0.4100

    20.56

    -1.99%

  • NGG

    -0.2500

    75.24

    -0.33%

  • VOD

    -0.0400

    16.58

    -0.24%

  • RELX

    -0.4500

    33.07

    -1.36%

  • BCC

    -0.5500

    76.59

    -0.72%

  • CMSD

    -0.0300

    20.27

    -0.15%

  • JRI

    -0.2500

    10.77

    -2.32%

Slipper to become most-capped Wallaby in All Blacks clash
Slipper to become most-capped Wallaby in All Blacks clash / Photo: © afp/AFP

Slipper to become most-capped Wallaby in All Blacks clash

James Slipper is poised to become the most capped Wallaby ever after being named on the bench Thursday for Australia's crunch Bledisloe Cup clash against the All Blacks.

Text size:

The 35-year-old prop, who made his debut 14 years ago, will surpass scrum-half George Gregan with his 140th cap should he take to the field, as expected, in Sydney on Saturday.

Slipper will move to outright sixth on the all-time global list behind Wales's Alun Wyn Jones (171), with Irish great Brian O'Driscoll (141) next in his sights.

Australia are desperate for a win after a stunning Rugby Championship capitulation in Argentina a fortnight ago, where they led 20-3 before collapsing to a demoralising 67-27 defeat.

"The players have reconnected well this week for our last game on home soil this year," coach Joe Schmidt said in announcing five changes to the starting side.

"We've acknowledged the poor finish to our time in Argentina and we're keen to turn that around on what will be a particularly special day for James and his family."

Among the changes, misfiring halves pair Jake Gordon and Ben Donaldson have been dropped and replaced by veteran Nic White and Noah Lolesio.

Centre Hunter Paisami and fullback Tom Wright return from injury, while flanker Fraser McReight is back after recovering from a broken finger.

McReight is the only change to the run-on forward pack with Angus Bell, Matt Faessler and Taniela Tupou in the front row and Nick Frost and Jeremy Williams continuing their partnership as locks.

Blindside flanker Rob Valetini and skipper Harry Wilson join McReight as the loose forward trio.

On the bench, Brandon Paenga-Amosa will pull on the gold jersey for the first time since 2021 after returning from a stint in France, joining Slipper and Allan Alaalatoa in an experienced replacement front row.

New Zealand have owned the Bledisloe Cup since 2003 and have lost just one of their last 12 Tests against Australia, but head into the match on the back of consecutive defeats to South Africa.

Australia (15-1):

Tom Wright; Andrew Kellaway, Len Ikitau, Hunter Paisami, Marika Koroibete; Noah Lolesio, Nic White; Harry Wilson (capt), Fraser McReight, Rob Valetini; Jeremy Williams, Nick Frost; Taniela Tupou, Matt Faessler, Angus Bell

Replacements: Brandon Paenga-Amosa, James Slipper, Allan Alaalatoa, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Langi Gleeson, Tate McDermott, Tom Lynagh, Dylan Pietsch

R.Lin--ThChM