“I’m not guaranteed to play next week, I’m not guaranteed to play another game, so when you get an opportunity to hit a milestone ... when you get there that’s probably when I’ll think more about it.
“You’ve still got to get there. I’ll take it week by week, I always put my best into the jersey, so we’ll see what happens.”
Alex Hodgman, pictured during his time with the All Blacks, will make history when he lines up for the Wallabies.Credit: Getty Images
Of the 38 players chosen in coach Joe Schmidt’s first squad before the first Test against Wales on July 13, Slipper is one of 13 remaining from last year’s failed World Cup campaign in France.
The fresh faces reflect a huge Reds season, with 10 of the 21 forwards coming from the Queensland team.
That cohesion – particularly among the back-row trio Fraser McReight, Liam Wright and Harry Wilson (available next month after recovering from a broken arm) – could stamp their selection ticket, given the Reds’ renewed strength at the breakdown.
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Their refusal to concede a mauling try in their charge to the quarterfinals, as well as set-piece strength – highlighted by hooker Matthew Faessler’s eight tries – is another feather in their caps.
But Slipper believes prop Alex Hodgman’s quest to become the fourth man to represent both the All Blacks and Wallabies could provide the freshness needed to overcome a dismal 2023.
The 30-year-old, who played for New Zealand four times during his seven-year Blues’ stint, proved a valuable component of Queensland’s developing pack – helping Angus Blyth, Josh Nasser and Ryan Smith to earn maiden Wallabies call-ups after the Reds won the equal most tackles in the season (88.1 per cent).
“It’s another stack of experience that we’re injecting into the squad. Overall, it’s a relatively young playing group, so to have someone with experience like Alex will only help us,” Slipper said.
“Depending on who’s picked, cohesion will come into that. From watching, I was really impressed with the Reds this year, I thought their forward work was really slick, and they really worked hard at their breakdown and set piece.
“Rightly so, they’ve been rewarded pretty heavily in the Wallabies squad, so it’s been great to watch and certain players really stood out for me.”