Wallabies v Springboks: Calls grow for Brumbies star Rory Arnold to beef up hosts in Brisbane

BRUMBIES coach Dan McKellar insists the Wallabies need to add 120kg of nastiness to their pack to take on the Springboks with a call-up for towering lock Rory Arnold on Saturday night.

Rory Arnold is a must to face South Africa, according to the Brumbies coach.

THE struggling Wallabies need to add 120kg of nastiness to their pack to take on the Springboks with a call-up for Brumbies lock Rory Arnold on Saturday night.

That’s the view of Brumbies coach Dan McKellar, who is insistent that the forward voted the club’s player of the year should have a key role at Suncorp Stadium.

“He’s a bit nasty, with the edge he plays with, and he’s definitely in my top two locks in the country,” McKellar said.

Rory Arnold is a must to face South Africa, according to the Brumbies coach.

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How coach Michael Cheika responds to the two ordinary second half fadeouts against the All Blacks last month when he announces his Test selections on Thursday will be fascinating.

The explosive impact of prop Taniela Tupou must be in the 23-man squad somewhere if his hamstring has fully mended as expected.

Tupou’s impressive work at tighthead when the Queensland Reds dominated the Lions scrum of outstanding Springboks hooker Malcolm Marx in April was the best possible audition.

Equally, the abrasive Arnold, 28, has built a case to play his 16th Test and first of the year with his lust for big ball carries and lineout efficiency at 2.09m.

It may be off the bench or even as a new partner for Adam Coleman because Izack Rodda and veteran Rob Simmons, as a replacement, were unconvincing against the Kiwis.

It is a key battleground in this Test with Eben Etzebeth, Franco Mostert and strong-charging Pieter-Steph du Toit as the Boks’ outstanding locks for starting and bench work.

David Pocock is under a fitness cloud with a neck issue. Picture: AAP.

Only the extraordinary resilience of Wallaby ace David Pocock will get him to this kick-off.

On Tuesday, he was still turning his body from the torso up to talk to people at his side so stiff was his sore neck.

You’d draw a line through another player’s name but McKellar has seen first hand how deep the 71-Test backrower can dig to play.

“Poey’s ability to play with pain is as good as I’ve seen,” McKellar said.

“In 2016, he could barely catch a ball at Thursday training with a broken hand yet found a way to play and be Brumbies man-of-the-match against the Cheetahs by Saturday.”

McKellar reiterated that there was no room in the game for the neck rolls and twists on Pocock and other top backrowers around the world when in the firing line at breakdowns.

The Wallabies will be hoping Taniela Tupou will be fit to play. Picture: Getty.

“The neck roll has to be stamped out of the game,” McKellar said.

“I’m not saying they are deliberate in a game where shifting bodies happens so fast.

“But, when guys are suspended for a bump in the air or sinbinned for a deliberately knock down of a pass, the game has to stop something dangerous.

“It’s no different to the chicken wing or crusher tackles that were banned in rugby league.”

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus is under the same pressure as Cheika to produce a victory after a tame 32-19 loss to Argentina in Mendoza last month.

Reports in South Africa suggest Erasmus may juggle some players.

Leaving out Tendai “Beast” Mtawarira would be reward for Steven Kitshoff’s recent strong work at prop while Handre Pollard or Elton Jantjes at flyhalf is another key call.

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