Wallabies prop James Slipper scores a try in his 200th Super Rugby match

“We're super-stoked to be able to do it for big Jimmy (Slipper) on his 200th and he got a try to show for it as well,” Brumbies captain Ryan Lonergan said.

Only former All Blacks prop Wyatt Crockett, who played 202 matches for the Crusaders, has played more than Slipper, who remains surprisingly fit at 36. Slipper will break that record — if he plays every match — when the Brumbies play the Fijian Drua on March 14.

Slipper made his Super Rugby debut for the Queensland Reds against the New South Wales Waratahs on Feb. 13, 2010. Rhys van Nek who propped the Brumbies' scrum with Slipper on Sunday was only 10 when the veteran made his debut.

Slipper went on to play 104 times for the Reds before joining the Brumbies in 2019, playing his 96th match Sunday for the Canberra-based team. He made his test debut against England in 2010 and went on to play 151 test matches, placing him third on the all-time list behind Alun Wyn-Jones of Wales and Sam Whitelock of New Zealand, both also retired.

Slipper scored his first test try in his 94th test and in 2024 surpassed George Gregan's record of 139 tests for Australia.

“He is one of the most respected players in Australian rugby and reaching 200 Super Rugby games is a huge achievement,” Brumbies head coach Stephen Larkham said. “He continues to set the standard with how he prepares, how he trains and how he competes.”

A milestone-game try

Slipper showed skill and vision in scoring his first half try Sunday. He first provided a good ball to fullback Andy Muirhead who breached the Crusaders' defense, then ran off the shoulder of lock Cadeyrn Neville to score in the left corner.

The Brumbies scored eight tries to four. The last time they beat the Crusaders in Christchurch current head coach Stephen Larkham was at flyhalf. Only three of the Brumbies' starters were born when that win was achieved.

The Brumbies are now 2-0 for the season ahead of a home match next week against the Auckland-based Blues. The Crusaders are 0-2 after a first-up loss to the Dunedin-based Highlanders.

Their loss Sunday — the second heaviest at home — resulted from a lack of discipline and threadbare backline defense.

The Brumbies forwards struggled at times against the Crusaders, especially in lineouts but their backs were devastating in fine conditions on a hard ground. Slipper was prominent around the field.

“Every time (Slipper) speaks, whether it’s in a huddle or in a team meeting space, everyone listens and takes the advice on board and then he backs that up with consistent performance,” Larkham said prior to the match. “He’s still playing as good as he’s ever played in his career and still loving his rugby. It’s a pleasure to coach him and the boys love being around him.”

Sunday's match was one of two trans-Tasman contests in Super Rugby's second round. The Blues beat the Western Force 42-32 in Perth, Australia on Saturday after trailing 17-14 at halftime and the Brumbies squared the ledger on Sunday.

AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby