Former British and Irish Lions lock Geoff Parling will be the Wallabies’ forwards coach in 2020.
Brumbies boss Dan McKellar had been favoured to take the role but decided instead to focus on the Canberra-based side for the remainder of the year to manage the departure of assistant Peter Hewat.
With McKellar unavailable, head coach Dave Rennie told News Corp that Parling was “the obvious choice”.
The 36-year-old has been part of Dave Wessels’ coaching team at the Rebels for three years now, with his work around the lineout particularly impressive – the Melbourne side had the best lineout accuracy in all of Super Rugby AU this year.
“We’re very lucky to get the services of someone of Geoff’s ability at such short notice, especially considering he already has an intimate knowledge of the players,” Rennie said.
“He is a good man. He’s technically very strong around lineout and maul and he has impressed me with his work ethic to get up to speed over the last two weeks.
“There have been a lot of challenges so far in 2020 and we’ve had to be agile and adaptable, none more so than Geoff who has already made so many sacrifices while being on the road with Rebels this season but he still jumped at the opportunity to join our team.”
The appointment is just for the 2020 season, leaving an opportunity for McKellar to take the reins as forwards coach next year.
Parling was nonetheless excited to be joining up with the national side.
“I’ve really enjoyed helping develop the players we’ve had in Melbourne, so to now get the opportunity to join Dave’s coaching team for this Test season is a real honour,” he said.
“There is some great talent here, but we won’t get anywhere without hard work. I have high expectations of the group and am looking forward to seeing them rip in.”
Parling earnt 29 Test caps for England in a playing career which also saw him picked for the Lions on their successful 2013 tour of Australia. He joins Scott Wisemantel (attack), Matt Taylor (defence) and Petrus Du Plessis (scrum) on Rennie’s team of assistants.
Chrome
Guest
So apparently Rennie's thinking was that Dan has potential to coach Oz beyond 2023, yet he picks Parling to replace him. You'd think the first reaction would've been to get Brad Thorne, the epitome of forwards, to coach the forwards. Surely he's also destined for further honours.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Rhys: Don't think Rennie will do that as that would remove the reason to have Hooper in the team. It is his tackling in the centres particularly and his linking play that are his main weapons. If he goes in another direction I think Hooper will be off to Europe/Japan.
Rhys
Roar Rookie
I hope Rennie gets hooper to play tighter as well. You can add Samu as he's decent over the ball as a serious option. He'll need to balance the back row well. I could see a hooper, Wilson, samu providing versatility here personally, though then that takes away from the lineout. I'm intrigued to see where he goes with it because we have plenty of talent here, it just needs to be settled in the right order.
Rhys
Roar Rookie
And i think with Rennie placing such importance on both those things then that bodes well for the future. Re the breakdown He wouldn't have chosen parling without good reason but I just don't know enough about his work with the Rebs breakdown to judge him yet
Mitcho
Guest
NickB says Parling is a line out guru. That’s a pretty credible opinion. Dunno how good a coach he is but technical and tactical knowledge are the place to start.
Tooly
Roar Rookie
The Rebs have become a suppository ( Thanks Tony for the anal analogy) for coaches . Very appropriate. Mick Byrne, Shaun Berne and now Parling. Like Glasgow it’s not the first place you would look for international coaches. But it is RA , they are a very different ! Fiji has assembled a better coaching group under Vern Cotter. Didn’t he coach Scotland ?
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Jez: found another site and it seems he's played 4 games but no details apart from that.
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Second wave is crashing across France at present. Worse than the first. I would not be surprised if the season is cancelled.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
BS: I think his window is closing. He should have put his hand up.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
ozinsa: #me2
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Poco: maybe teach them how to throw an American football, assuming their hands are big enough for the larger ball. I remember in my playing days there was a back who could hit anyone up to 25m away throwing that way.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Jez did a bit of googling and he has only played one game and 37 mins of it at that. Stade Francais has been in trouble with covid affecting 25 players and they cancelled a friendly due to not having front rowers. Maybe Latu has the covid? They did not mention any names of course.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
BF: I am hopeful it will be 2 locks. Philip is OK but Arnold and Coleman would be my picks. Latu is a good hooker but I thought we were ok for hookers. Latu also brings BD smarts and performance but would still prefer 2 locks.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Jez: I have a feeling based on nothing that Naisarani will be there come match day, certainly against the Boks.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
BF: Just about anyone would be challenged by PSDT. I suspect, currently the best player in the world.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Jez: I think that McKellar has been a bit too cute. Maybe he is holding out for the HC job which, if Rennie gets the Wallabies winning, will most probably never be offered to him as there will be several better qualified coaches looking at the job. Also, there seems to me to have been a drop in standards at the Brumbies this year. In the past, they would have eaten the Reds rush defence. Now they seem a little uncertain. Maybe they will regain that edge tonight?
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Pete: Sounds like the perfect guy to run the forwards. Rubbing officials up the wrong way is a badge of honour in my book.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Rhys: The only team that has shown itself to be up to standard at the breakdown has been the reds. The breakdown will depend on who Rennie picks ie Wright, McCreight, Daganau (any of them would be lucky to get a start) are all good exponents but I am struggling to think of any other player who is at that level. We have been weak there for a long time, even before Cheika, who did nothing to improve things.
mused6
Roar Rookie
I think Parling is a good addition. Just recently retired from playing. Alot of experience in multiple systems, and his line out expertise is well regarded. When the rebels beat the highlanders in Dunedin earlier this year- they had the opposition line out down to 70% completion. This is the team that finished with the best line out in SR Aotearoa. They also scored two tries off their own line out in that match. Now I know that is one game, but it’s an interesting example of Parlings influence. The rebels have been consistent at set piece during the modified comp this year.
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Not a bad choice but Dan Mc is interesting. I'm sure he would have aspirations of HC for Australia. It SEEMS rare here for an Assistant to be promoted to the top job from within. The Assistant is tied to the HC's success. Rennie may only have the job until next WC. Maybe, Dan's happy, keeping his powder dry ? It would be interesting to know the real story ?