Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has praised veteran prop James Slipper for “still trying to get better” in a decorated career that will hit a new milestone in the Bledisloe Cup battle against New Zealand on Saturday when he becomes the first Australian to make 150 Test appearances.

Slipper, the 36-year-old front-rower who debuted for the Wallabies in 2010 against England, will join Welshman Alun Wyn Jones and New Zealand’s Sam Whitelock as the only players to have appeared in 150 or more Tests.

“We’ve got a lot of confidence in our guys, and one especially is James Slipper, who’s hitting a milestone that is phenomenal in terms of Test match footy – 150 Tests is incredible,” Schmidt said ahead of Eden Park clash.

“The thing I love about ‘Slips’ is he’s still trying to get better. He’s still

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