Wallabies to unleash Brumbies rolling maul expertise against South Africa

The Wallabies are set to call on a core of in-form Brumbies players in an attempt to resurrect one of Super Rugby’s most dangerous weapons.

Rory Arnold (centre) of the Wallabies in action during the Rugby Championship match between Australia and Argentina at Cbus Super Stadium on the Gold Coast, Saturday, September 15, 2018. (AAP Image/Darren England) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

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Michael Cheika’s Wallabies are trying to transplant the Brumbies’ mauling expertise off lineouts to fortify the pack to break a 56-year drought at Johannesburg’s Ellis Park.

Brumbies lock Rory Arnold revealed that the consistent success of the Brumbies’ rolling mauls from lineouts would not simply be parked as a Super Rugby weapon.

“I won’t give away a whole lot but we’re doing a bit of work around the maul and the lineout. I think we’ll have a solid platform to play off this year,” Arnold said.

Regular lineout trip-ups were a frustrating handbrake during last year’s nine Test losses so the growing experience of young hooker-throwers Folau Faingaa and Jordan Uelese will hopefully be a positive for stability.

Rory Arnold was the leading ‘fist' of the Brumbies effective lineout weapon. Picture: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

The Brumbies generated a remarkable 19 tries with rolling mauls during Super Rugby with Arnold as a key catching target in the lineout and organiser of the advancing fist of forwards.

The Brumbies missed two training camp weeks in Australia before the tour when playing their semi-final in Buenos Aires and taking a week’s leave to recharge.

That is an intriguing twist to selection for the Test against South Africa at Ellis Park early on Sunday morning (AEST) because of the strong case to pick in-form Brumbies building blocks for the pack.

Brumbies (L — R) Christian Lealiifano and Allan Alaalatoa could be reunited in Wallaby gold. Picture: AAP Image/Rohan Thomson

No Wallabies side has beaten the Boks at the high-altitude stronghold since 1963.

Picking the Brumbies’ front-row en masse would salute the form combination of Scott Sio, Allan Alaalatoa and Faingaa and Arnold was the form Australian lock to close Super Rugby.

However, while Brumbies fly half Christian Lealiifano is also in the mix for a Test recall in the 23-man match day squad, it will not be a Brumbies-orientated Wallabies team.

Arnold sees the case for keeping in-form elements of the Brumbies’ tight five together but is also realistic.

Rory Arnold (centre) is playing his last year with the Wallabies. Picture: AAP Image/Darren England

“It’d be nice to keep that together but you’re not going to just play those group of players because they play Super Rugby together,” Arnold said.

“You’ve got to be playing your best footy and that warrants selection and I think that will show this weekend with the squad (Cheika) picks.”

Arnold, 29, is making a huge push for a rousing end to his Wallabies career over the next four months before he links with twin Richie at French club Toulouse.

“Obviously it is disappointing missing out on selections over the last few years but you’ve got to put your head down and work hard and that just makes you a better player,” Arnold said of his in-and-out 19-Test career.

“It’s a big year coming up with a lot of depth in the lock department and if we’re all playing our best footy that can only be a good thing for Cheika and the Wallabies.

“It would be nice to finish on a high and play some really good footy at Test level because obviously moving on at the end of the year the curtain will shut down on my Test career.”

Lealiifano said there would be Brumbies’ players rewarded with Test selection for outstanding seasons but the starting side would gather the assets of the four Australian Super Rugby sides.

“I think they (Wallabies’ coaches) have definitely acknowledged how well we’ve gone this year as a Brumbies team,” Lealiifano said.

“They’re trying to use the strengths of (the Brumbies) and then add in their own twists and flavour on it as well.

“I think the boys have done some mauling stuff and some scrum stuff and they’re really adopting that to be on the same page to be able to use those strengths.

“I wouldn’t say you put a bulk of Brumbies players in to go with that momentum. It’s trying to see what works well for the Wallabies squad and not just mirroring another program.”