AUCKLAND:

Record-breaking Australian prop James Slipper said Sunday that this was his final year in the gold Wallabies shirt and hinted that next week's Test against New Zealand could be his last.

Slipper became just the third player to reach the milestone of 150 Test appearances during the 33-24 loss in Auckland on Saturday, joining Alun Wyn Jones of Wales and New Zealand's Sam Whitelock.

The 36-year-old said both Jones and Whitelock had sent him video messages, a gesture he described as "really special".

Australia face New Zealand again in Perth on Saturday in the final round of this season's Rugby Championship, when Slipper said it would "potentially" be his Wallabies swansong.

"This will be the last year I'll be playing, just whether that ends next week or on the spring (northern

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