Forwards Coach Geoff Parling believes Melbourne are playing with a newfound level of confidence after a 19-point win over the Reds.
Sitting with a 4-2 win-loss record, Melbourne will enter Saturday night’s match against the Sunwolves looking to further extend their lead on top of the Australian Conference.
With the side rediscovering their groove against Queensland after two losses in South Africa, Parling says Saturday’s bonus point win showed the Rebels’ newfound mentality to continue scoring even when the result had been put beyond doubt.
“What we saw (during the Reds match) is we didn’t go into our shells,” Parling said.
“Maybe in the past, there’s been some games when there’s a bonus point on offer when we’re protecting the win, whereas (last Saturday) we still wanted to go after it and get that extra point.”
Parling says the side’s attention is firmly fixed on Saturday night’s home clash with the red-hot Sunwolves, who registered a brilliant two-point victory over the Waratahs in Newcastle.
Some of the Sunwolves’ players won’t be unfamiliar to Parling, with the 35-year-old having recently played with them for the Manukata Sanix Blues in Japan’s Top League competition.
One aspect which Parling knows the Sunwolves players will bring to Saturday night’s clash is the ability to produce exciting ball movement, mirroring the fast-paced Top League competition they’ve played in.
“Obviously playing in the Top League, I get to know quite a lot of the guys and I played with a few boys at Sanix as well,” Parling said.
“There’s some very skilful players that want to play with the ball in hand.
“They’ll be full of confidence, they’ve just gone to the ‘Tahs and come away with a good win, so we’ll know that they're raring to go.”
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