Parling confident of growth as Wallabies look to get best out of titan Tupou

Wed, Sep 18, 2024, 4:33 AM
Nathan Williamson
by Nathan Williamson
Coach Joe Schmidt and Captain Harry Wilson speak after the Wallabies defeat to Los Pumas at Stadio Colon in Santa Fe

Wallabies assistant coach Geoff Parling is confident the squad are heading in the right direction as they look to get the best out of their stars ahead of Saturday's Bledisloe Cup in Sydney.

The Wallabies are fresh off a thumping defeat to Argentina in Santa Fe, their largest in history after a strong 20-3 lead in the first quarter.

Tickets to the 2024 Bledisloe Cup Test match are available here.

It left the squad to come under fire from some of Parling's ex-teammates ahead of the Lions tour in 2025, with the former English lock keeping the focus internally.

"I think some people can get extreme off the back of certain results which I understand but I would just move on from that...I know these blokes well, maybe they're trying to get some more listeners," he joked to reporters.

"We're still looking to incrementally improve, figure out what the main things for us to do well and then let's push on and the clubs have a good Super season with our help.

"...When a team first comes together, it's very rare that (it all works instantly) and when it does and they get to the top point, they don't know what to do when it doesn't go well.

"As long as we learn from these experiences, I'm not saying Saturday was a good experience at all, but if we learn, reflect and push on, we then know what the fixes are.

"I think any team that's trying to be good has those up and down moments."

One of the stars Parling and the staff are intent on getting a strong performance out of on Saturday is prop Taniela Tupou.

Tupou has been one of the Wallabies' best since his return following a family bereavement but was subbed off right before halftime in the loss a fortnight ago.

Parling knows Tupou well after coaching him at the Rebels this year and admits it's now time for the powerful prop to deliver on his potential.

"I think Taniela's got huge upside, he's a great kid who's not really a kid anymore, he's a great bloke. Everyone speaks of him as a kid because he acts like that sometimes but he's not, he's a great bloke," Parling remarked.

"Is he near his upside? I think he's got a long way to go and I think he can truly decide how to get there with our help as coaches.

"I think he's working really hard and he's a mix of players, sometimes you've got to push him and others you've got to get your arm around him so I think everyone's still finding that balance.

"I back Taniela to put in a performance for us on Saturday 100%."

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