This was published 8 years ago
Brumbies and Vikings lock Rory Arnold says NRC has caught up with Currie Cup
By David Polkinghorne
The National Rugby Championship is only in its second season, but ACT Brumbies lock Rory Arnold says it's already on a par with South Africa's century-old Currie Cup.
Arnold is finishing off a breakout 2015 playing for the Canberra Vikings in the NRC, having already made his Super Rugby debut, and been involved with Michael Cheika's Wallabies squad earlier this year.
Canberra Vikings lock Rory Arnold says the NRC is on a par with South Africa's Currie Cup.Credit: Graham Tidy
He was troubled by a niggling back injury early in the NRC campaign, but said he was fully fit going into the Vikings' top-of-the-table clash against Brisbane City at Vikings Park on Saturday.
Former Brumbies coach Jake White spotted the 25-year-old playing for the Griquas in the Currie Cup, which is South Africa's equivalent of the NRC.
Arnold said each third-tier competition had its own merits, but he felt both were of an equal standard.
Brisbane and the Vikings are littered with Super Rugby talent and Arnold said it would be a good opportunity for Brumbies and Queensland Reds to stake a claim for 2016.
"I'd say the NRC is probably a bit quicker. The Currie Cup, they're bigger units over there ... I blew my shoulder out playing over there," Arnold said.
"I think it's a bit more physical, but in saying that I'm not taking anything away from the NRC. It's still a good comp, still good footy and I don't think there's much of a gap there."
The Vikings will be without fullback Aidan Toua (soreness), but regain inside centre Rodney Iona (shoulder).
Mitch Third comes into the side for winger Jerome Niumata, while Brisbane will be without Wallaby Scott Higginbotham (groin), but welcome back Liam Gill.
Third hails from Brisbane, where he played club rugby for Sunnybank with Junior Laloifi, five-eighth Jake McIntyre, centre Henry Tafu and Gill.
Laloifi was the leading try scorer in the NRC with 10 – scoring four tries for City last week in their 58-0 thumping of the Sydney Stars.
Third said the only way to shut down the super-quick winger was to minimise his space.
He was expecting Vikings coach Brad Harris would pick his brain about any weaknesses of his former teammates at Thursday night's training.
"Not yet, we've got training tonight so I'm sure he will. I'm sure we'll have a good sit down and ask me a lot of things about them," Third said.
"[Laloifi] is pretty quick so you've got to take his time and space away from him, really get that line speed up and keep the connection because they really love their offloads."
NRC Round 8
Saturday: Canberra Vikings v Brisbane City at Viking Park, 2pm.
Vikings squad: 1. Allan Alaalatoa, 2. Robbie Abel, 3. Ben Alexander, 4. Rory Arnold, 5. Blake Enever, 6. Jordan Smiler, 7. Jarrad Butler (c), 8. Ita Vaea, 9. Joe Powell, 10. Christian Lealiifano, 11. Lausii Taliauli, 12. Rodney Iona, 13. Nigel Ah Wong, 14. James Dargaville, 15. Isaac Thompson. Reserves: 16. Albert Anae, 17. Sione Taula, 18. Leslie Leulua'iali'i-Makin, 19. Dean Oakman-Hunt, 20. Rowan Perry, 21 Brent Hamlin, 22. Mitch Third, 23. Frankie Fainifo.
Brisbane squad: 1. Pettowa Paraka, 2. Andrew Ready, 3. Sam Talakai, 4. Corey Thomas, 5. Cadeyrn Neville, 6. Waita Setu, 7. Liam Gill (c), 8. Adam Korczyk, 9. Nick Frisby, 10. Jake McIntyre, 11. Junior Laloifi, 12. Henry Taefu, 13. Samu Kerevi, 14. Chris Kuridrani, 15. Karmichael Hunt. Reserves: 16. Matt Mafi, 17. Markus Vanzati, 18. Feao Fotuaika, 19. Ben Hyne, 20. Luke Beauchamp, 21. Moses Sorovi, 22. Alex Gibbon, 23. Andy Muirhead.