Former Wallabies coaches Eddie Jones and John Connolly agree ACT Brumbies giant Rory Arnold can be a World Cup bolter, backing the rookie to hold his own in a battle of Super Rugby monsters on Sunday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Arnold, the tallest player in Australian rugby at 208cm, will take on NSW Waratahs forward Will Skelton, 203cm and 140kg, in a battle of the giants in Sydney on Sunday.
Super Rugby rookie Arnold has been a revelation in five games for the Brumbies this season, less than three years after taking up the sport.
But Jones and Connolly believe Arnold has the qualities to be an international player, admitting they would choose him ahead of Skelton for the Australian Wallabies.
"Skelton probably has a bit of the second-year blues, teams are double tackling him all the time and he's having to cope with starting in a game rather than the luxury of coming on late," Jones said.
"I think Skelton has come back to the field. Arnold, at this stage of the season, would be close to the best rookie going around. He's big, strong and aggressive."
Connolly added: "I think Arnold has been one of the finds of the year. I think he's fitting into a Brumbies pattern very well, he's come along in leaps and bounds and he's a real presence.
"I've been very impressed with him, he's got a big future."
The Brumbies plucked Arnold from obscurity in the off-season, but he is on the verge of signing a new deal with the Brumbies which will keep him in Canberra for at least the next two years.
He dropped 15 kilograms in pre-season training and says he's ready to test himself against Skelton.
"I'm not as big as he is. We're different in our own ways," Arnold said. "Maybe I should have kept the weight on, I might need it when I run into him.
"It will be good to put myself up against one of the Wallabies locks. He's a big boy, carries strong and I'm looking forward to it.
"We know the Waratahs are going to be physical at home, we've got to match it. It's going to be the most physical game we've played.
"It doesn't put any added pressure on me, I'll just go out there and worry about my own game."
SUPER RUGBY ROUND SIX
Sunday: NSW Waratahs v ACT Brumbies at Allianz Stadium, 4.05pm. TV time: Live on Fox Sports 2.
Brumbies team: 15. Robbie Coleman, 14. Henry Speight, 13. Tevita Kuridrani, 12. Christian Lealiifano, 11. Joseph Tomane, 10. Matt Toomua, 9. Nic White, 8. Ita Vaea, 7. Jarrad Butler, 6. Scott Fardy, 5. Sam Carter, 4. Rory Arnold, 3. Ben Alexander, 2. Stephen Moore, 1. Scott Sio. Reserves: 16. Josh Mann-Rea, 17. Ruan Smith, 18. Jean-Pierre Smith, 19. David Pocock, 20. Jordan Smiler, 21. Michael Dowsett, 22. James Dargaville, 23. Lausii Taliauli.
Waratahs team: 15. Israel Folau, 14. Taqele Naiyaravoro 13. Matt Carraro, 12. Kurtley Beale, 11. Rob Horne, 10. Bernard Foley, 9. Nick Phipps, 8. Wycliff Palu, 7. Michael Hooper, 6. Jacques Potgieter, 5. Dave Dennis, 4. Will Skelton, 3. Sekope Kepu, 2. Tolu Latu, 1. Benn Robinson. Reserves: 16. Hugh Roach, 17. Jeremy Tilse, 18. Paddy Ryan, 19. Sam Lousi, 20. Mitchell Chapman, 21. Stephen Hoiles, 22. Brendan McKibbin, 23. Jono Lance, 24. Peter Betham.
