Injury in Argentina opens door for Wallabies stalwart James Slipper to make history

The Wallabies are buzzing after ending a significant losing streak and there’s another historic milestone set to keep the good vibes rolling.

Veteran Wallabies prop James Slipper is set to equal, then soon break, the all-time Australian record for Tests after Isaac Kailea was sent home from Argentina due to concussion suffered in Sunday’s thrilling win in Buenos Aires.

Kailea succumbed to a head knock after 18 minutes in the 20-19 win and while the loosehead prop is symptom-free, he’ll be stood down for 11 days after failing his HIA.

Queensland Reds prop Zane Nonggorr will join the squad in the coming days, but the loss of Kailea means Slipper, 35, will play in Saturday’s second Test against the Pumas in Santa Fe.

Slipper, who sits on 138 Tests, is set to join Wallabies legend George Gregan on 139, the Australian record, before getting his chance to ascend to the top of the list on his own during the Bledisloe Cup series against the All Blacks that starts on September 21 in Sydney.

Western Force prop Tom Robertson is the other option at loose-head, named in the squad after overcoming an ACL injury.

Update from Argentina.#Wallabiespic.twitter.com/d75xmo2Jay

— Wallabies (@wallabies) September 1, 2024

Slipper missed last week’s win, which ended a run of eight-straight Rugby Championship losses, having arrived in Argentina late after the birth of his second child.

He’s set to return as part of a new-look team, with a record 15 players having registered their Wallabies debuts in the six Tests new coach Joe Schmidt has been in charge for.

One of those is 28-year-old Hamish Stewart, who wore Wallaby gold for the first time in the rain in Argentina, making the most tackles of anyone in the Australian backline in a debut he said he wouldn’t forget, having played 100 Super Rugby games to truly earn his call-up.

“It’s a bit of a surreal moment,” Stewart said after the game.

“Having been around for a while, the nerves come back for your first game for Australia. It took me back to my first Super Rugby camp … I was a like a little schoolkid again.

“Travelling to another country to play international rugby is a different beast. The boys were relieved (to get the win) and straight into the beers. It’s always a good sign when that happens.”

Originally published as Injury in Argentina opens door for Wallabies stalwart James Slipper to make history