Slipper – the great Wallabies survivor – lines up shot at triple redemption
Fiji coach Mick Byrne was quick to point out on Friday almost two years have passed since that game and both teams have evolved, but the Fijians have 12 survivors in their 23-man squad from that win, including all but one of their starting forward pack.
The Fijians will have quiet confidence about pulling off another famous victory – their first in Australia since 1954 – so Slipper's experience will be vital for the Wallabies.
Schmidt said the veteran's composure is a valuable influence on the whole Wallabies squad.
'His experience, and just his calmness,' Schmidt said on Friday. 'Slips is very much about getting his role right and that's the best way to serve the team.
'So servicing the team through his scrum efforts and his set-piece efforts at lineout, the timing, the movement, the lift. Those things, I think he just demonstrates that if you can get your role right, it ripples through the team, and other guys get brought into the game.'
Byrne – the former All Blacks and Wallabies skills coach – said the 2023 win was not hugely relevant to the clash on Sunday, given changes in the Australia environment since, and in his own team.
'The last start was two years ago; it's different coaching regime, different players on the field,' Byrne said.
'And, you know, I like the way Joe's got the Wallabies playing, and now they're playing great footy. They're a completely different proposition to previous. We've got to be ready for that. They've got threats across the field.'
After Byrne replaced Simon Raiwalui as coach last year, Fiji posted wins over Georgia, Tonga, Samoa, Japan, USA, Spain and Wales. But they also suffered heavy defeats to the All Blacks, Scotland and Ireland.
With Australia's attention focused on the upcoming Lions tour, Byrne was asked if he sensed a chance to 'spoil the party'.
He said the world No.9 team was more focused on creating some history and winning on Australian soil for the first time since 1954.
'As far as your first point goes of spoiling the party, I think it would be great to beat Australia in Australia,' Byrne said.
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'You know, forget about whatever else is coming after Fiji. It would just be great for us to get a victory on Australian soil.'
Byrne said Fiji would be wary of the threat of Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, who will start at No.13. Byrne was part of the Wallabies when a young Suaalii attended training one day as a schoolboy, and said the athletic centre reminds him of Israel Folau.
'We knew then that he was a tremendous athlete,' Byrne said. 'He offers a dimension to the game that not many athletes can.
'It's a bit like Izzy [Folau] in his day as well. That aerial skill set as well as being really well balanced across the ground. So like a lot of international players we come up against, we've got to keep our eye on him.'
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