Rugby Confidential: Dan McKellar knocks back Wallabies as Geoff Parling gets forwards nod

With the Bledisloe Cup less than one month away, Wallabies coach Dave Rennie has found a new leader of the pack. And some sensational Super Rugby signing news can be revealed. It’s a bumper RUGBY CONFIDENTIAL.

Geoff Parling of the Rebels during the Round 6 Super Rugby match between the Melbourne Rebels and the Sharks at AAMI Park in Melbourne, Friday, March 23, 2018. (AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Geoff Parling is set to become the Wallabies forwards coach for the rest of the year, after Brumbies coach Dan McKellar knocked back the job.

Parling, the former British & Irish Lions and England lock, played for the Melbourne Rebels in 2018 and has since become their forwards coach.

While Wallabies coach Dave Rennie had been interested in bringing McKellar into the fold – the Brumbies boss has already been touted as Rennie’s successor at the Wallabies – it’s understood commitments to the Canberra club have made it impossible for him to join the Australian set-up in 2020.

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Geoff Parling will bring his expertise to the Wallabies set-up.

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Brumbies assistant coach Peter Hewat is set to leave after Saturday’s grand final to take a gig in Japan, adding pressure to McKellar’s role in Canberra.

Parling, 36, will join new Wallabies scrum coach Petrus du Plessis, attack coach Scott Wisemantel and defence coach Matt Taylor.

They’ll begin work in the Hunter Valley next week when the Wallabies squad assembles for the first time under Rennie.

In preparation for the two Bledisloe Cup matches in New Zealand, Rennie’s squad will gather on Monday at the familiar Crowne Plaza resort, used many times over the years by the team, and will undergo regular COVID-19 testing.

They’ll then fly to New Zealand the following week, setting up in Christchurch, where the Kiwi government has assigned them hotel quarantine and training hubs for 14 days.

The team will look to then set up a base in Queenstown before they fly in and out of Wellington and Auckland for the games on October 11 and 18 respectively.

Rory Arnold looks set to be one of the two players picked foutside of the Giteau Law.

HUNKY RORY

Rory Arnold will be one of the two players picked from overseas outside the Giteau Law requirements for The Rugby Championship.

The 30-year-old, with 22 Tests under his belt, is playing for French club Toulouse but will be brought back to Australia for the four-nation series.

Will Skelton has been touted the another lock to bring back, given the Wallabies’ shortage of quality tall men, but he may have a fitness issue.

With concerns over the hooker stocks, Tolu Latu is definitely in the frame as the second pick.

RA has changed their policy for this year only, to allow Rennie to pick two overseas-based players who have not reached the 60-Test, seven years of Australian service benchmark.

There was great shock that Melbourne backrower Isi Naisarani was left out of the Bledisloe Cup squad.

We hear there is an issue with Naisarani’s weight, and that he may yet be part of the Hunter camp, though won’t be flying to New Zealand. If he can get his weight down in two weeks, he’ll be strongly considered for TRC starting November 7.

It’s understood that first weekend of TRC will be held as a double-header at Suncorp Stadium, with world champions South Africa playing Argentina, before the Wallabies play the All Blacks in the third Bledisloe Cup clash immediately afterwards.

It’s likely the tournament will be shortened to five weeks – that will include midweek games – to allow players from the other three countries to be out of mandatory lockdown back home by Christmas Day. 

Tevita Kuridrani is heading out west for the next stage of his career.

TRAIN TO PERTH

Tevita Kuridrani is set to sign with the Western Force for the 2021 season.

It means that Saturday’s grand final will be his final game for the Brumbies.

The former Wallabies centre was not picked in coach Dave Rennie’s 44-man squad for the October Bledisloe Cup Tests, however the “K-train” remains a dangerous midfielder and will form a powerfield centre combination with Kyle Godwin, who has rebuffed NSW Waratahs to remain in Perth.

Kuridrani is believed to be on $600,000 with Rugby Australia and the Brumbies, but will accept less than that to join the Perth franchise that is building a strong roster for next season.

Former Queensland Reds playmaker Jake McIntyre, now playing for French club Clermont, is another to sign with the Force next season, as is Aussie Sevens flyer Tim Anstee.

They’re also set to sign a number of Argentinian stars including halfback Tomas Cubelli.

FAMILIAR FACE

The Waratahs are set to bring veteran lock Sam Wykes into their squad next year as a replacement for Rob Simmons.

Wykes, who has played for Western Force and the Sunwolves in Super Rugby, as well as Japanese club team Coca-Cola Red Sparks, will add experience to the lineout and scrum.

The 32-year-old is originally from Sydney.

Simmons will head to England club London Irish after his Wallabies duties finish this year. 

The Wallabies players could have full pay restored.

PAY TALKS

Wallabies players could have their full pay reinstated within weeks if talks between RA and the Rugby Union Players’ Association reach a resolution.

We hear that a leading proposal is for the Wallabies squad members to return to 100 per cent of their wage, while Super Rugby players would remain at 70 per cent of their full contracts to manage the financial losses stemming from COVID-19.

The argument is that Wallabies players are still working, while Super Rugby players will have finished up by Saturday’s grand final.

Who will win the inaugural Super Rugby AU decider?

Saturday’s Super Rugby AU grand final between the Brumbies and the Reds has all the makings of a classic.

The Brumbies have the edge with experience and the home ground advantage but the Reds are a team on the way up and struck form at the perfect time.

FORMGUIDE

The Brumbies secured the right to host the grand final because they finished the regular season in top place, despite losing their final match, 26-7 away to the Reds, when there was nothing on the line.

Queensland finished second on the ladder and beat the Rebels 25-13 last weekend to advance to the decider. The Reds are currently on a four match winning streak but haven’t won a game outside of Queensland since April 2019. The last time the Reds won in Canberra was back in 2014 although their two matches in the nation’s capital this season have both been decided by three or less points.

Noah Lolesio will make a welcome return to the Brumbies line-up.

TEAM CHANGES

The Brumbies have made four changes to the side that lost in Brisbane two weeks ago.

The big news is that up and coming playmaker Noah Lolesio returns from a hamstring injury, replacing Bayley Kuenzle at five-eighth.

Joe Powell will wear the No. 9 jersey ahead of World Cup halfback Nic White while Lachie McCaffrey replaces Rob Valentini at blindside flanker and Murray Douglas starts at lock instead of Darcy Swain.

The Reds have added two new faces to the side that beat the Rebels last weekend.

Hunter Paisami replaces injured winger Chris Feauai-Sautia but will start at outside centre, with Jordan Petaia moving to the wing.

In the forward pack, JP Smith starts at loosehead prop instead of Harry Hoopert.

KEY MATCH UPS

Scott Sio v Taniela Tupou

Teammates at the Wallabies, the two props will pack down against each other with Sio at tighthead and Tupou at tightlead. Both masters of the dark arts of scrummaging, their battle will go a long way to decide which side has dominance in the set pieces.

Pete Samu v Harry Wilson

Selected as the only two specialist No. 8s in the Wallabies squad, their match up could decide who starts in the Bledisloe Cup next month. Eight years older, Samu has the edge in experience while Wilson is one of the game’s most promising young backrowers.

James O’Connor v Noah Lolesio

Another classic generational showdown. A former whiz-kid himself, O’Connor is the favourite to start for the Wallabies at five-eighth after another strong season while Lolesio is out to prove that he’s ready for the next stage after being picked in Dave Rennie’s Australian squad.

Tom Wright v Jordan Petaia

A former NRL playmaker with the Sea Eagles, Wright has been one of the breakout stars this season, earning himself a contract extension and a place in the Wallabies squad. Petatia, back from injury, has once again shown why he is the hottest young player in the code.

Dan McKellar has done a wonderful job with the Brumbies this year.

WHY THE BRUMBIES WILL WIN

The Brumbies have been the benchmark in Australian rugby for years and this season has been no different. Dan McKellar has got the deepest and best balanced squad in the competition, with proven Wallabies sitting on the bench.

The Brumbies’ rolling maul is the most effective weapon in the tournament and with an all-Test front row, they have the muscle to win the crucial forward battle.

The Brumbies also boast the best defence of any team this season while their record playing at home is impeccable so the odds are stacked heavily in their favour.

WHY THE REDS WILL WIN

The Reds have all the momentum and have been getting better each week. They have scored more points and more tries than any other team in the competition and with Jordan Petaia and Filipo Daugunu on the wings, they have the x-players that can make a difference.

Tate McDermott has been the form halfback of the competition and his sniping runs will be a major threat to the Brumbies defence in the second half.

Taniela Tupou has been a one-man wrecking ball this season while the combination of Harry Wilson, Fraser McReight and Liam Wright is the hardest working backrow unit in the game.

Tate McDermott has been the form halfback in Australia this year.

RECORD IN GRAND FINALS

Brumbies

1997 – Lost to Blues

2000 – Lost to Crusaders

2001 – Beat Sharks

2002 – Lost to Crusaders

2004 – Beat Crusaders

2013 – Lost to Chiefs

Reds

2011 – Beat Crusaders

LINEUPS

ACT Brumbies

15. Tom Banks

14. Andy Muirhead

13. Tevita Kuridrani

12. Irae Simone

11. Tom Wright

10. Noah Lolesio

9. Joe Powell

8. Pete Samu

7. Will Miller

6. Lachlan McCaffrey

5. Cadeyrn Neville

4. Murray Douglas

3. Allan Alaalatoa (captain)

2. Folau Fainga‘a

1. Scott Sio

Replacements

16. Connal McInerney

17. James Slipper

18. Tom Ross

19. Nick Frost

20. Rob Valetini

21. Nic White

22. Bayley Kuenzle

23. Solomone Kata

Queensland Reds

15. Jock Campbell

14. Jordan Petaia

13. Hunter Paisami

12. Hamish Stewart

11. Filipo Daugunu

10. James O’Connor

9. Tate McDermott

8. Harry Wilson

7. Fraser McReight

6. Liam Wright (captain)

5. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto

4. Angus Blyth

3. Taniela Tupou

2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa

1. JP Smith

Replacements:

16. Josh Nasser

17. Harry Hoopert

18. Ruan Smith

19. Tuaina Taii Tualima

20. Angus Scott-Young

21. Moses Sorovi

22. Bryce Hegarty

23. Jack Hardy

Super Rugby AU Grand Final at GIO Stadium in Canberra on September 19 at 7:20pm. LIVE and EXCLUSIVE on FOX SPORTS and KAYO.