For a proud northern Englishman whose rugby peak was to tame the Wallabies on their own turf in Lions’ red, Geoff Parling has felt right at home “back in the motherland”, revisiting old friends and family in London.
But if there’s no time for too much fond reminiscing, that’s because there’s a streak of Aussie gold running through Parling now.
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Melbourne is his beloved home, mates tease him about the faintest Aussie twang to his accent, and his job as a coach helping to restore the Wallabies to former glories “feels like the biggest thing in the world” to him.
Where destroying the Aussies in the line-out in English white at Twickenham was once his mission in life – one he failed to accomplish in two matches there against the Wallabies, including the 2015 World Cup hiding – now he’s returning to HQ for the first time in two years, assisting coach Joe Schmidt to dynamite his old team.
“When we left for Australia for six months, six-and-a-half years ago, at that time I certainly didn’t think I’d have kids that speak with a proper Australian twang now – but that’s where we are,” says the genial 41-year-old, who was appointed line-out coach in May for a second spell with the national team.
“It’s great being back, great seeing people, friends, family – but I’m here to actually do a job. I’m here to help a team perform for the next four games, starting on Saturday.
“I can be fine now and say it’s great to catch up, great to see all the places again … but if we don’t perform at the weekend, I certainly won’t feel like that.”
The 29-times capped lock, whose playing highlight was the three Tests for the British & Irish Lions in their celebrated 2013 triumph in Australia, reckons it is an all-consuming task, helping build a Wallabies side which can down the men in red in next year’s huge tour.
“I’m under no illusions, a home World Cup, next year’s Lions tour, these are big projects for a country. So we’ve got to do our best to make sure we put our best foot forward and we’re competitive, we can win some games there.
“Does that make it feel bigger than another job, say in England or somewhere else? I’m not sure, because I think when you’re invested in something, it feels like the biggest thing in the world, doesn’t it?”
He senses a goodwill from rugby folk wherever the team goes, that they want to see a rejuvenated and firing Wallabies team after all the recent indignities of the World Cup shocker and the Argentina humiliation.
It all starts on this British Isles ‘grand slam’ tour where Parling reckons, Australia will discover if the players coming through really are made of the right stuff.
“It’s important – let’s be honest. We’ve given 16 debutants a chance before this game, and it’s important to still find about these guys who are just starting to get exposed to their Test careers,” says Parling.
“It’s important we put everything together, throw everything at it, and probably find out a bit more about which players are prepared and ready to really stand up under some pressure situations.
“It’s important for these guys to experience the atmosphere at Twickenham, Cardiff, these big stadiums. If they do well and perform well, it’s only going to be good for us next July and August.”
Everything about his life in Australia has informed him why Schmidt has some “bloody good players” at his disposal.
“There are some great athletes and great players in Australia. I feel like the population there in general move slightly better than the population here in England,” Parling muses.
“I don’t know whether it’s there being brought up on an outdoor lifestyle, but in terms of being athletic and moving, we’ve got some great athletes.
“Can we put them all together? Now that’s our challenge as coaches. It’s exciting, a great challenge.”
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