Jump directly to the content
try scraper

England out to tackle Australian giant ‘Three Storey Rory’, the tallest man to have represented his country in First Test

Wallabies are walking tall with 6ft 10in debutant Rory Arnold in tow ahead of Brisbane showdown with Red Rose tourists

ENGLAND have made a plan to ground Australia's 6ft 10 giant Rory Arnold - know as 'Three Storey Rory'.

Lanky Arnold will make his Wallabies debut against the Red Rose tourists in the First Test in Brisbane tomorrow.

 Rory Arnold towers over his ACT Brumbies team-mate Nic White
6
Rory Arnold towers over his ACT Brumbies team-mate Nic WhiteCredit: Instagram @Nic White
 Man mountain Rory Arnold will make his Australian debut tomorrow
6
Man mountain Rory Arnold will make his Australian debut tomorrowCredit: Getty Images AsiaPac

The towering aerial weapon and tallest ever Aussie star will be launched to steal key line-out ball from skipper Dylan Hartley - but not if England's plans for the second row work.

Scrum coach Neal Hatley said: "He poses a definitive threat. We have watched some of his stuff and he will be hard work to work around, but we have put things in place to hopefully sort that out.

"We've worked ridiculously hard, it will be confrontational, we are expecting it to be unbelievably tough and hopefully that will set the platform.

England face tall order to beat Wallabies with 'Three Storey Rory' set to make his Australian debut

Lock Rory Arnold will make history in the First Test

Arnold will overtake Dan Vickerman (6ft 8in) as the tallest player to have represented Australia

Former Scotland lock Richard Metcalfe (7ft ) is the tallest Test rugby player

Arnold, who weighs 19 stone, played rugby league until 16 and started playing union for a pub team five years ago

He played for the Combined New South Wales and Queensland Country side which lost 64-0 against the British & Irish Lions in 2013

 How’s the weather up there? Rory Arnold leaps into action
6
How’s the weather up there? Rory Arnold leaps into actionCredit: Getty Images AsiaPac
 Australian debutant Rory Arnold powers forward for the ACT Brumbies
6
Australian debutant Rory Arnold powers forward for the ACT BrumbiesCredit: Getty Images Europe

"Eddie wants to improve the group, I know having been involved for the last two-and-a-half weeks there has been a real push and this is another step up."

England are also on red alert over the expert poaching Green and Gold back-row of David Pocock, Michael Hooper and Scott Fardy.

Hatley said: "It is a pretty special trio as all three of them offer a jackal threat, but you can't get caught up with them too much.

"We will have a tough and uncompromising approach. Bodyline for us is about changing what we do and presenting a different picture."

And after boss Eddie Jones promised fireworks at the first scrum, Hartley will be in charge of whipping the England pack into action.

 Rory Arnold will become the tallest player to have played for Australia
6
Rory Arnold will become the tallest player to have played for AustraliaCredit: Getty Images AsiaPac
 Australian lock Rory Arnold’ will have his head in the clouds in Brisbane
6
Australian lock Rory Arnold’ will have his head in the clouds in BrisbaneCredit: Getty Images Europe

He added: "I always expect fireworks at scrum time. They have improved massively under Mario Ledesma and the Australian scrum has come on.

"But we have people like Dan Cole who are top quality scrummagers. We will have to scrummage every scrum like it's the most important one of the game.

"There is great anticipation and the lads are pumped. We can't wait to get going and the focus is on what we have to do tomorrow night."

Topics