Brumbies rally late to honour Slipper's historic 203rd Super Rugby cap
The ACT Brumbies claimed a hard-fought 33-24 victory over the Chiefs at GIO Stadium on Saturday. The win marked a special night for veteran prop James Slipper, who became the most-capped Super Rugby player in history with his 203rd appearance. Both teams honoured the milestone with a guard of honour before kick-off.
Slipper's career spans over a decade, beginning with his Queensland Reds debut in 2010. Before joining the Brumbies in 2019, he played 151 times for the Wallabies and amassed 255 combined games for club and country. His record-breaking night, however, nearly took a backseat as the Chiefs dominated early.
Liam Coombes-Fabling crossed twice, while Damian McKenzie's boot pushed the visitors to a 17-7 halftime lead. With 24 minutes left, the Chiefs stretched their advantage to 17 points, threatening to spoil Slipper's occasion. But the Brumbies struck back fast.
Hudson Creighton had opened the scoring in the fourth minute, but the home side's real surge came late. Three tries in just over 10 minutes turned the tide, capped by Corey Toole's 79th-minute length-of-the-field run. The comeback secured a morale-boosting win, offering a measure of revenge after last year's 37-17 semi-final defeat to the same opponents.
The victory lifts the Brumbies after back-to-back losses to the Chiefs, though they had already surrendered top spot on the Super Rugby Pacific ladder. Slipper's milestone now stands as the highest in Super Rugby history, eclipsing Wyatt Crockett's 202-cap record. For the Chiefs, the loss ends a strong run but keeps them firmly in playoff contention.
