If you're looking for an early left-field Wallabies World Cup selection, jot down Brumbies lock Rory Arnold. This newcomer has been noted by Wallabies team management as 'one to seriously watch in coming weeks.' No one needs reminding that Australia's second-row stocks have for some time been underwhelming, and if this is not rectified by World Cup time the Wallabies, who are in a tough pool, are facing an enormous battle just to be competitive up front. Australian Rugby has for decades thrived on a factory line of tall, capable second rowers, but in recent times this has dried up. After a month of Super Rugby, few Australian provincial locks have stood up, prompting interest in the 208cm tall Arnold, who is in his first season with the Brumbies.

Being able to claim you're the tallest player in the Australian Super Rugby ranks is enough to prompt the fascination of Test selectors, but Arnold, who hails from Wagga Wagga, has backed that up with several creditable performances with the Brumbies, boasting a high work rate and good set piece skills. The 24-year-old Arnold's claims are also boosted by uncertainty over how long Wallabies second-rower Rob Simmons will be unavailable due to his shoulder nerve problems. Arnold only took up rugby four years ago.

Reds rumblings continue for under-fire Graham

A concerned Queensland Rugby Union continue to try to prop up Richard Graham, but opposition within the ranks towards their struggling head coach remains intense. Brian Smith's name has again emerged as a possible replacement for Graham, while there has even been a push by some influential Brisbane rugby identities for Ewen McKenzie to return to the Reds. Smith has also been listed among candidates for the 2016 Waratahs coaching spot. While McKenzie's time with the Wallabies was messy, many in Queensland haven't forgotten he is the only coach to win them a Super Rugby title, and so he still has some support in Brisbane. McKenzie's time with the Reds led to capacity crowds at Suncorp Stadium while the team during his reign were the great entertainers of the Australian provinces. That is no longer the case at Reds HQ. The standards have slipped alarmingly.

Still the mere suggestion that McKenzie could again be Reds coach will undoubtedly prompt fainting fits in the corridors of the Australian Rugby Union and even at the QRU, especially with the ARU legal case involving Di Patston looming. Nonetheless, there is a precedent as Eddie Jones, after being replaced as Wallabies coach, took charge of the Reds in 2007. At least the QRU have at last officially revealed there is a problem within the Reds outfit by opting for an overhaul of the province's high performance department. Also our item last week about one NSW powerbroker being especially eager to sound out Pat Howard, former Wallaby and Australian Cricket high performance chief, for the Waratahs head coach position prompted an ARU decision maker to furiously exclaim: "Why weren't we informed about this?" Nothing-new there.

Officials squabble over Australian rugby's future

One ambitious Sydney-based official has been caught out after his blueprint for Australian Rugby was leaked. Clearly this official doesn't support the ARU's chief executive Bill Pulver continuing beyond this year, while the plan also includes a new Australian coach being in place by 2017. Pulver and Michael Cheika would be absolutely delighted by this blueprint from a person whom many believe clearly has his eyes on Pulver's position. This will fester. We've also been told of a serious rift between two former big-name teammates, because one is blaming the other for leaking his ambitions to be an Australian Rugby figurehead. The rugby world can be so catty.

Rare five-pointer hits Alexander's hip pocket

Brumbies prop Ben Alexander is not renowned as a try-scorer. And even when he scored one for the first time in nearly four years against the Western Force last round it hit him hard. According to the Canberra Times, that try cost him around $1200. This is due to Alexander being a part owner of a Canberra bar, The Dock, which has a deal that when either he or his business partner Scott Fardy score a try, free drinks are on offer. As there were more than 200 people at the bar reveling in Alexander's try flopover, there would have undoubtedly been a stampede for free drinks.

Ben Alexander is counting the cost of a recent five-pointer © Getty Images

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Kirwan's defiance evokes Monty Python memories

Great quotes from frustrated coaches continue. After last week an emotional French coach Philippe Saint-Andre unloaded on his team after their loss to Wales, calling them the 'Father Christmases' of international rugby, Sir John Kirwan was on fire this week when defending himself against widespread criticism over his performance as Blues coach. After getting belted by the Lions, Kirwan said: "I like moments like this. Men need to stand up, so bring it on." Asked if he would see out the rest of his contract until the end of the year, Kirwan replied: 'I'm going to be here for a long time. I'm really confident I'm the right man for the job. I believe in what I'm doing, I believe in the squad and the structures we're putting together. We're in a slump at the moment but we'll turn it around." These words of defiance reminded us of the Black Knight scene from Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

Whispers of the week:

- Former National Australia Bank chief executive Cameron Clyne is firming as the man to take over from Michael Hawker as the next Australian Rugby Union chairman. Clyne, a former Victorian rugby representative, joined the ARU Board in 2013. England's Bill Beaumont is also rated the most likely to take over from Bernard Lapassat as World Rugby head.

- At the Melbourne Rebels, assistant coach Todd Louden has been impressing many, with some saying that a step-up to a head position somewhere 'could be coming.'

- Threats of legal action from a recently stood down team official, who is not impressed with how he has been let go.

- A one-time potential buyer of the Waratahs has re-entered the fray, pushing the claims of the son of a well-known coach in a bid to become an influential figure in NSW Rugby.