PIVAC TARGET COMPARED TO KIWI LEGEND
DAZZLING full-back Henry Arundell is being compared to New Zealand legend Christian Cullen, headlines that appear more likely to take him out of Wales’ clutches.
Wayne Pivac is said to want the hugely talented London Irish youngster, who has Welsh ancestry, to line up in the red of Wales.
Arundell, the outstanding teenager who lit up the recent under-20s Six Nations for England, also qualifies for Scotland.
However, with the Celtic interest hovering, it is thought England boss Eddie Jones is ready to fast-track the teen sensation into his senior Red Rose fold.
That scenario appears even more likely after former England full-back Mike Brown likened 19-year-old Arundell to the great Cullen, one of the finest players in New Zealand rugby history.
Brown delivered his assessment after being bowled over by a wonder solo score by Arundell against Toulon, which is being dubbed try of the season.
He wrote in a column for the Mail: “I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. There’s so much natural ability there.
“What’s so impressive is the way Arundell swerved at top speed, threw in some footwork, dropped his speed to almost a standstill and then went again.
“His deceleration and quick acceleration back to top speed is really impressive.
“You see a lot of unbelievably quick athletes who struggle to beat defenders at top speed. That body movement at pace is what set Cullen apart from the rest.
“There aren’t many players in the world who move like that.
“He’s quick but he’s also strong, 96kg, with big legs.”
Brown (circled, right) added: “You always see one bolter at the World Cup, pushing their way into the starting team and having a real impact.
“People question whether there’s still a place in the international game for running threats. Yes, there’s less time and space in the Test game, but there are still opportunities for moments of magic.
“No-one has really made England’s winger positions their own, so it’s up for grabs for someone like Arundell. If you need a try at the end of the match, when the bodies are tired, he could be lethal. “I could see him starting out as one of Jones’ ‘finishers’, and there’s no reason why he can’t push his way into the starting team over the next 12 months if he takes any opportunities he gets. “He could be England’s most exciting runner since Jason Robinson.” Full-back Arundell made a big impression for England in the junior Six Nations, scoring two tries against Wales and one apiece against the Scots and France, with the touchdown in Edinburgh described as a “moment of sheer magic” as the
youngster ran 80 metres to score.
His possible problem if he throws in his lot with England is that they have another young No. 15 of outstanding potential in 21-year-old Freddie Steward.
Wales have a proven and stellar last line of defence in Liam Williams, but he’s 31 and Leigh Halfpenny is 34 this year.
So young Arundell could actually find greater opportunities to shine at Test level by throwing in his lot with Wales.
But with the kind of headlines Arundell has just received from Brown, it seems Pivac’s prospects of landing the young ace are even slimmer.