Slipper’s incredible bulk
JAMES Slipper was sick of being a lightweight Wallaby and has packed on 10kg of grunt to put himself back on the radar for a forceful comeback.
The top prop is six months into his diligent rehabilitation from a torn achilles and has circled October 14 for his return with Queensland Country in the National Rugby Championship.
A trouble-free first step is all the Reds captain is thinking about but the timing may yet put him in surprise contention for the Wallabies’ November tour of Japan and Europe.
Experienced 86-Test props are a prized item in Australia and even more so when the Wallabies scrum can be as inconsistent as it was against the Springboks last Saturday night in Perth.
Slipper, 28, is just excited that he’s been able to use this frustrating break to his benefit to build size and power.
“It’s taken an injury to have my first proper pre-season since 2009 and my strength just feels through the roof,” Slipper said at Ballymore yesterday.
“I haven’t been 120kg for five years, I’m eating everything under the sun and there’s no shoulder thing any more to prevent me getting into the gym all the time.”
Slipper wants to hold a playing weight of 118kg when he returns which is way up on the 110kg he packed into Test scrums in recent years.
“Being light over the past three years has not hindered me in Super Rugby but I have to be honest and say it hurt me a little at Test level having to work that much harder at every scrum,” he said. “I don’t want to just get through scrums but influence them and be more physical in contact.”
Slipper made his Test debut in 2010 after just a handful of Super Rugby games so he is perfectly positioned to judge cub hooker Jordan Uelese after his similar rise.
“I saw a lot of promise in Jordan against the Boks ... he’s got all the physical attributes and the best way to learn is to just get thrown in there and grab the chance,” Slipper said.
“My first little goal is 20 minutes for Country next month so Wallabies stuff is way at the back of my mind right now. I’m pretty realistic that the tour is close but you’d never say no if the Wallabies did phone.”
■ LOCK Lukhan Tui is back in the Wallabies squad for Saturday’s Test against Argentina in Canberra which frees Kane Douglas to play for Brisbane City at St Lucia on Sunday.