Rory Arnold 'up there alongside Retallick'
Towering Wallabies lock Rory Arnold has downplayed suggestions he’s at the same status as injured All Blacks star Brodie Retallick, widely regarded as the world’s best.
The Brumbies’ big man was almost flawless in the Wallabies’ 47-26 shock win over the All Blacks in their Bledisloe Cup clash in Perth.
As well as anchoring the lineout, Arnold had a try-assist and a couple of tackle busts as the Wallabies’ tight-five excelled.
Former Wallabies skipper turned television commentator Phil Kearns said Arnold was “up there alongside Retallick”, who is known for his pace and try-scoring efforts as well as his set-piece work.
Before the return clash in Auckland on Saturday which will decide the Bledisloe Cup, 29-year-old Arnold wasn’t so sure.
“Maybe Phil’s hamming up that with those comments,” he said on Monday.
“I don’t think I’m doing a hell of a lot different to the last few years; I’m just enjoying my footy.”
Signed to join his brother Richie at French club Toulouse after the World Cup, Arnold said he was determined to make his last hurrah in a gold jersey count.
“Maybe it’s the fact that I’m heading overseas and this is my last season in (the) Wallabies, I’m not sure,” he said.
“I just want to keep building and keep moving forward.”
Retallick is currently sidelined after dislocating his shoulder last month against South Africa, with the injury threatening his World Cup campaign.
The All Blacks also face a nervous wait on the outcome of a SANZAAR judiciary hearing after lock Scott Barrett was sent off in Perth.
Barrett could face up to six weeks out for a no-arm tackle that collected the head of Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper.
Barrett had replaced Retallick, with the All Blacks depth falling away with Patrick Tuipulotu or Jackson Hemopo possibilities to come in and partner Sam Whitelock.
Arnold believed they would still be a force and said the Wallabies wouldn’t be targeting the All Blacks lineout as a weakness.
“They’ve got a lot of good depth there in New Zealand,” he said.
“I’m sure the next bloke that comes in for those fellas will be just as good as what they are.
“I think it’s going to be a very close contest.”
The Wallabies have started a low-key Bledisloe build-up in Melbourne rather than flying to Auckland.
They are trying to break through for their first win at Eden Park since 1986 which would secure the trans-Tasman trophy which has been in Kiwi hands since 2003.
Arnold said the Wallabies would need to lift, just as the All Blacks always did at their spiritual home.
“Historically it’s obviously a hard place for the Wallabies to win and I can’t remember the last time,” he said.
“I’ve only played there once. It was pretty intense. The crowd’s pretty hostile.
“They just seem to lift whenever they play (there) and that’s the challenge that awaits us this weekend.”
– AAP
Comments on RugbyPass
Like tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
14 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
13 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
4 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
4 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
14 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
14 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
4 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
14 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
13 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
14 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
14 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
14 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to comments