Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has challenged giant lock Rory Arnold to emerge from club exile in Japan and put his hand up for Rugby World Cup selection.
Arnold – a 208cm and 120kg behemoth – is Australia’s highest paid player on a reported $1.5 million per season contract with Tokyo’s Hino Red Dolphins.
The 32-year-old has played 32 Tests for the Wallabies but was conspicuous in his absence from a list of seven overseas-based stars that Jones hoped would join April’s training camp via Zoom.
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The others are Rory’s twin brother Richie Arnold, Tom Banks, Quade Cooper, Bernard Foley, Marika Koroibete, Samu Kerevi and Will Skelton.
Rory Arnold’s club future is in limbo after the Red Dolphins pulled out of the Japan League One season following a wild night out in Oita.
There is no suggestion that Arnold was guilty of any wrongdoing and he has decided to stay in Tokyo and collect his club pay cheque, rather than sign with another team.
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“I think he’s working on the factory line at Hino isn’t he?” Jones quipped when asked about the Arnold absence on Sunday.
“I think he’s making those trucks, because he’s not playing rugby at the moment. To get selected you have to play rugby, you have to play rugby, we don’t pick blokes who make Hino trucks.”
The Wallabies don’t have to kick a ball in anger until July 9 (AEST) in Pretoria and a committed Arnold would undoubtedly be an asset to Jones.
It would seem Jones is using the stick method, rather than the carrot, to try and coax him out of the wilderness and stake a claim for World Cup selection.
In the meantime, Jones pumped up the tyres of Arnold’s equally large twin Richie, who is yet to pull on a gold jumper.
“He’s a massively tough player,” Jones said.
“Toulouse build their pack around Richie Arnold. I went and met the coach of Toulouse (Ugo Mola) and we had a chat about him and what he brings to their team and his development as a player.
“He’s a very young player by playing experience and training experience.
“So I feel like again, he’s one of those players who’s got a lot of development and a lot of growth in him.”
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