James Slipper is happy to go back to his quiet role of turning the Wallabies around as he reflects on breaking the all-time Australian cap record.
Slipper ran out for his 140th Test on Saturday, leading the Wallabies out as the like of George Gregan and John Eales celebrated his incredible milestone.
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The prop, sporting a unique gold cap for his achievement, has been celebrated over the past two weeks for tying and then breaking the mark set by Gregan.
This included every player donning a shirt in his honour during the build-up whilst Gregan gifted Slipper a 2010 bottle of vintage wine, the year he debuted.
Slipper is the ultimate team man, so his answer was clear when asked how he felt about the celebrations ending.
“I’m looking forward to it, to be honest,” Slipper said to reporters. “I always get asked about 'how you feeling about overtaking ‘Greegs’, and it’s always been a bit weird for me.
“I don’t like being the centre of attention, and the boys make it about me, so I’m looking forward to moving on now and ideally get a result next week.
"...I’ve spent a lot of the week reflecting on (the record), I grew up watching those blokes, playing in the jersey, they’re the main reason why I’m playing Rugby. To be running out in front of them, and to be even in the conversation with those names, it’s a proud moment for me, not just for me, but for my family as well.
"Who would have thought eh?”
The Wallabies nearly produced a special finish for Slipper, coming from 31-14 down to set up a grandstand finish.
Ultimately, they ran out of time as the All Blacks held on for a three-point win, with Slipper motivated to turn around the result in Wellington after almost 70,000 fans packed into Accor Stadium.
“We’re so invested, we really want to do it for the fans," he said.
"We understand as a playing group where the Wallabies have been positioned really with our results and our performances over the last decade and we understand that.
“We were working so hard as a group to get more positivity in our results for the fans...they packed out a big stadium today. They’ve been awesome every home game this year.
"We really do count on them.”
