BBC Sport Rugby Union: Geoff Parling Seeks to Apply Lessons from British and Irish Lions in Wallabies Role
Geoff Parling, the former England lock, is now the lineout coach for the Australian Wallabies, a team he will aim to help defeat the British and Irish Lions next summer. In a unique scenario, Parling is set to become the first person to both play for and coach against the famous touring side.
Parling, who featured for the Lions in their 2013 tour, believes modern rugby could benefit from rediscovering the “camaraderie and feel of the game” he experienced during that Lions experience. “Playing midweek games against blokes you’ll probably never play against again. Swapping shirts at the end, having a beer in the changing room, a bit of craic. Then turning up the next day for training and going again,” he reflected.
The 40-year-old coach, now an Australian citizen, is fully committed to the Wallabies’ cause as they aim to mount a challenge to the Lions next year, as well as the 2027 Rugby World Cup on home soil. “My job is to help build a squad and performance that can win that Test series,” says Parling, who has overseen three Wallabies victories since rejoining the national setup.
Wallabies’ Golden Opportunity
While Parling acknowledges the Wallabies have work to do to be truly competitive, he sees the next 12 months as a “golden opportunity” for Australian rugby, with the Lions tour and 2027 World Cup on the horizon. “Obviously the opportunity needs to be taken, money needs to be spent in the right way. The public wants winners because there are so many sports on offer,” he said.
With Suncorp Stadium sold out for this weekend’s Rugby Championship opener against South Africa, there is a sense of cautious optimism surrounding the Wallabies. Parling and his coaching staff will be eager to harness the lessons learned from the British and Irish Lions to help propel the team to new heights.
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