James Slipper
James Slipper will become the 83rd player to captain the Wallabies in a Test match.
He will lead Australia in Saturday’s historic clash with the United States Eagles at Soldier Field, Chicago.
Debuting for the Wallabies in 2010, Slipper will lead his country in his 68th Test, making the 26-year-old the 1st prop to captain the Wallabies since part-time front row forward John Thornett did so during the 1966 – 1967 Tour of Britain, Ireland and France.
Slipper will take over the reins from Stephen Moore, who has been rested alongside several Wallabies players – including vice-captains Michael Hooper and Adam Ashley-Cooper.
“I am extremely humbled to be given this opportunity to captain the team on Saturday,” Slipper said.
“There is no greater honour for a player than to lead his country and I am excited to be able to do it with this incredible group of players.
“Stephen has done a fantastic job in bringing this group together, and I will do my best to honour him and my country when we take on the Eagles, who were very impressive against Harlequins last weekend.
“We’ve always looked at things this season as a collective, with players being able to step up at different stages.
“That also applies to leadership, and we have a lot of solid leaders in the squad, which is essential in a year like this one.
“This Saturday is a really important match for us as a group, especially with a couple of boys making their debuts.
“We want to put in a performance that shows how hard we’ve been working over the past few months before we head over to the United Kingdom.”
Ben McCalman will step into a leadership role with the Wallabies for the 1st time, named vice-captain in the No 6 jersey – along with 95-Test veteran Matt Giteau who will start at inside centre.
Both players are returning to the starting line-up against USA alongside Joe Tomane, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Kurtley Beale, Kane Douglas and Sean McMahon who are each starting their 1st Test match of the 2015 international season.
“James led well at Queensland this season, and is an important leader in our squad,” Wallaby coach Michael Cheika said.
“This Test match against the USA will give him the honour of captaining his country and the opportunity to lead from the front.
“We are working hard to develop our leaders and James along with Matt Giteau and Ben McCalman, who lead by example both on and off the field, will make up a strong leadership team.”
Not only will the USA Eagles fixture be the 1st between both nations on USA soil in almost 40 years, it will also potentially be the 1st Test match for Melbourne Rebels prop Toby Smith and Waratahs wing Taqele Naiyaravoro, after both were named on the reserves bench.
“Toby is an extremely humble guy, and a very popular member of the group,” said Cheika.
“He’s been training exceptionally well throughout our 2015 international campaign, and that along with his form during Super Rugby has earned him the right to become a Wallaby.
“Taqele is another player who has shown some good form in Super Rugby this season and has great potential. We’ve been watching with great interest during his World XV and Barbarians matches.
“Both players are desperate to represent Australia and we are looking forward to seeing them take their opportunity in Chicago.”
The Wallabies will return to camp in South Bend at the University of Notre Dame following the Chicago Test, before departing for their 3rd and final camp in Bath in England before beginning their quest to become World Cup champions for a 3rd time.
Wallabies: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Joe Tomane, 13 Henry Speight, 12 Matt Giteau, 11 Rob Horne, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Sean McMahon, 6 Ben McCalman, 5 Rob Simmons, 4 Kane Douglas, 3 Greg Holmes, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 James Slipper (Captain)
Replacements: 16 James Hanson, 17 Scott Sio, 18 Toby Smith, 19 Dean Mumm, 20 Sam Carter, 21 Quade Cooper, 22 Will Genia, 23 Taqele Naiyaravoro.
Date: Saturday 5 September
Venue: Soldier Field, Chicago
Kick-Off: Sunday 01:30 SA Time (18:30 Chicago Time, 23:30 GMT, Sunday 09:40 AEST)
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant Referees: Joaquín Montes (Argentina), Dave Smortchevsky (Canada)
TMO: Andrew McMaster (Canada)
rugby365
Geez way to pull a fast one on Naiyarovo. Though admitedly, it takes two to tango.
“Hey Taqele, you are not good enough to make the world cup squad, but here, play this game to tie yourself to the Wallabies forever, am maybe never play Test rugby again, not even for Fiji”
Here is hoping there is a live game thread 😆
Looks like the game will be broadcast on SuperSport 1… but it is after midnight, so I’ll have to see how much interest there is from you lot and from myself… hehehe
1 @ MacroPolo:
Hi Macro interesting to read that you picked up on this aspect. There has been LOADS of discussion among Glasgow Warriors fans about the Taqele Naiyavarovo situation. He had signed a 3 year contract for Glasgow Warriors but then stories came out that his agent suggested he would come over and fulfil 1 year of that, article from Oz today suggests maybe a return to there 2017 so who knows what will happen in the end will he/wont’ he come to Glasgow and if he does indeed arrive when will it be. If he is on ‘standby’ for RWC for Oz does that mean they can prevent him from coming over during RWC to play for Glasgow? They do run the risk of him being injured but I would have thought it would be better for Oz if he did come over and get regular game time in the PRO12 and also be physically closer in case of emergency, but then there is the added very confusing situation regarding his citizenship etc.
From the very little I have seen of him he looks a very good powerful player who could cause havoc in the PRO12, you must have seen a lot more of him playing – how highly do you rate him?
3 @ grootblousmile:
haha no one will be interested
@ Bullscot:
He is pretty much big and powerful, obviously not first choice. He did not really stand out that much for me. He looks slow, though it might be because of his mass.
Australia has started picking overseas players (all be it with a lot of pointless window dressing), so he will remain an option if available especially during international window.
In the end he might share no affection for the Fijian national team, and does not really care for playing with them.
I would think the World Rugby cant allow to let international teams have enhanced squads, while the players should be fulfilling their employment contracts… but you never know, the international window seems like a grey area.
@ MacroPolo:
Thanks for your thoughts, sounds like you think he is more on the ponderous rather than electrifying side pace wise.
Is there not a minimum amount of tests (something like at least 30 rings a bell) players will have to have played to be allowed to play for Aus while they are playing for clubs outside of Australia.
@ Bullscot:
I think the original rule was something like 60+ caps
Then they called up Kane Douglas who only has 14 caps…
7 @ Bullscot:
I think Taqele Naiyaravoro is an excellent player.
Big, fast, robust, good hands, strong, powerful… has all the attributes, and did bloody well in Super Rugby this season.
I watched him with keen interest this year for the Waratahs.
Hate it when players cause this type of uncertaincy though, as to where exactly they will be playing and for how long… almost as if they cannot decide what to do and stick by it.
8 @ MacroPolo:
Kane Douglas is on his way back to play in Aussie though, is’nt he?
Where did I read that?
Must go have a look!
@ Bullscot:
meanwhile Douglas then signed for the Reds though.
Yeah, Kane Douglas has signed for the Reds!!
http://www.rugby-talk.com/2015/08/super-rugby-reds-sign-kane-douglas/
@ grootblousmile:
yep, backed out of the Leinster deal…
I guess to ultimately answer Bullscot, same could happen with Taqele.
@ MacroPolo:
@ grootblousmile:
You guys seem to differ with opinion on his ability, guess we will just have to wait and see at Glasgow how good he is if he turns up.
5 @ MacroPolo:
14 @ Bullscot:
Yeah, make up your own mind about the bloke!
Here’s a couple of Youtube Clips, see if you are any the wiser after these 2…
Very strong in the hips and good sense of balance.
Would be interesting to see which referee has amassed the most air miles this year, I reckon Jaco Peyper must be streets ahead of the rest.
17 @ BrumbiesBoy:
Yeah, he got a lot of gigs this year…
Why, I do not know!
Oh dear, look what I found…
I can just imagine the comments that are headed this way…
@ BrumbiesBoy:
Oops!
Let’s try again.
http://www.iol.co.za/news/back-page/overgrown-sheep-breaks-world-record-1.1910265#.VelswyWqqko
@ BrumbiesBoy:
How can the Wallabies pick a cappie who continually slip(per)’s his bind?
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