Force prop Tom Robertson is also dealing with a calf issue that saw him miss the last three rounds of Super Rugby. Waratahs prop Tom Lambert is also in line for a call-up but a knee injury saw him miss the last month of Super Rugby, meaning he won’t have played for two months by July, and Queensland’s Aidan Ross – who won three caps for the Wallabies last year – also missed a month of rugby with a toe injury before returning for the
Reds’ last two games. Isaac Kailea, who played eight Tests in 2024, is another option but he struggled for game time after falling out of favour at the Tahs. Schmidt has turned to Slipper as a trusted Test prop with experience. Whether Slipper will continue to play on after the July series remains to be seen. Informed sources said the initial plan for Slipper – if he extended into 2027 and was willing to pull on the gold jersey again – was to likely delay
his return until later in the year or even next year, and instead use this season to plug more experience into the other front-row options.
Wallabies, Slipper, Joe Schmidt, Tom Robertson, calf injury, Tom Lambert, knee injury, Aidan Ross, toe injury, front-row crisis, Super Rugby, Isaac Kailea, July series
So they’re just bringing Slipper back because of injuries? Seems kinda convenient.
I don’t get why they can’t just rotate the props like normal. Calf knee toe… sounds like they all need new shoes. Also “gold jersey”?? like literally how long is he supposed to stay.
Wait Slipper is the plan until 2027 or something? I thought July series already means he’s done, but then it says delay return later or next year? This is like when my boss says “maybe” and then it’s always “no.”
Front-row crisis sounds like they picked the wrong guys early. Like if Robertson missed three rounds, Lambert out a month, and Ross with a toe issue… that’s not “bad luck,” that’s weak depth. And Kailea fell out of favor so of course they don’t trust him. Joe Schmidt probably just wants his favorite prop back.