Wallaby lock Rob Simmons’ unfortunately-timed wrist injury could see some young blood or some old talent in the second row this weekend in the Bledisloe Cup against New Zealand and going into the World Cup in September.
Beyond his presence and size on the field, Simmons is a key component in the Wallabies set piece as the lineout caller.
Professional rugby lineout calls are both numerous and complex, but surely it is prudent to have more than one lock who is completely versed in calling them? Simmons’ value is often spoken with reference to this component of his game. It’s a dangerous secret to leave only to one soldier.
Simmons has caused his fair share of trouble in the Test matches he played last year and through the Super Rugby season.
He is often found niggling off the ball and infringing at times where his team is at its most desperate. He seems prone to engaging in the style provoked by such South African players as Eben Etzebeth. Most players are guilty of it from time to time, but Simmons’ persistent lazy cleanout and breakdown etiquette has seen him penalised in key moments of matches.
Melbourne Rebels player Luke Jones has played three Tests in his short Wallabies career but would be the perfect young inclusion to the squad. He might well be a candidate for some lineout calling lessons from Simmons going forward. However, he may find it hard to get noticed with fellow youngster and Brumbies lock Rory Arnold filling the youth position in the squad.
Waratahs captain Dave Dennis may also have a show. Far from setting the world of fire in his recent club hit outs for Sydney University, his workmanlike attitude and leadership may prove to be valuable to the Wallabies.
He also has the added ability of being able to play lock and back row, as well as providing a jumping component to the lineout. All that said, Dennis will most likely find it difficult to break into the squad, even with these credentials.
Kane Douglas is another obvious selection, however he is not available this week due to injury, even after signing for the Queensland Reds next year.
Douglas will be available for the World Cup and will feature in the squad in some way. The lock stocks are looking good for the Wallabies with the likes of James Horwill, Will Skelton, Rory Arnold, Dean Mumm and Sam Carter eventually coming back from a knee injury all vying for a place on the side.
Simmons might find his spot isn’t so comfortable after his wrist is healed.
The power and experience of Horwill and Mumm with the boost of Skelton for 30 to 40-minute bursts may find Simmons occupying the bench a bit more. He may be running a few lineout calls sessions too, just so that everyone is on the same page…
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Yet his statistics say he has similar involvement to other locks.
Squirrel
Roar Rookie
Yeah you tend not to give penalties away when you do nothing
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
On a per game basis he is lowest.
Harry Jones
Expert
Blessing in disguise. But why is Eben Etzebeth mentioned in this article? Is he really "provoking" Simmons to be a mongrel?
ethan
Guest
I wouldn't be surprised if those players are all there in 2-3 years. Not to mention Smith and Hansen (a Rebel next year). Others with potential are Timani, Naivalu and maybe Placid. Rebels are building nicely for the future.
ethan
Guest
Skelton, Horwill and Mumm will be the three locks. If a smokie comes in, it will be Arnold, as he's the other guy in the squad.
RobC
Roar Guru
Thanks Andrew. Bad news re Simmo. Terrible timing, as AB 2H LO pressure is going to be v bad for WB. But good news we'll have a bench spot! If Mumm as flockanker? Who's the other lock??
Decs
Guest
Those lead boots also allow you to miraculously grow 30cm.
pjm
Roar Rookie
He also only played half the season of Super Rugby.
pjm
Roar Rookie
He also only played half the season of Super Rugby.
Arstod
Guest
Arnold and Coleman are the future - is a pity he won't try one of them out this weekend. It looks like a back five of Horwill, Skelton, Fardy, Pocock and Palu which will put a lot of pressure on our lineout so they will have to be clever there.
Who?
Guest
Fardy can only be the third jumper if Skelton's not in the team... Sure, he's jumped - once - this year in Tests. But I wouldn't call him a jumper. If you think jumping once is enough to qualify him as a jumper, then how does Simmons giving away the fewest penalties of all the locks eligible for the Wallabies to have played Super Rugby this year make him a niggling penalty magnet..? Skelton's given away a lot more unnecessary penalties in Gold this year already! Give credit where it's due...
Boomeranga
Guest
I have less than absolutely no idea of our best lock combination. I would appreciate someone solving the problem though.
Ralph
Roar Guru
They rumour is the Lead Boots have somewhat lessened his sprint times..
Paul
Guest
Reliably informed? He's wearing lead boots is he? Last year he was 104kg and had been for years with that listed as his playing weight. This year he's listed as 115kg, and now he's 120kg! You're telling me he's 10cm shorter than Palu and weighs the same? That he's basically the same height as Slipper and Sio, yet has kg's on both of them? Sorry I don't buy it for a second.
Misterbateman
Roar Rookie
I like McMahon. He has a few issues to sort out before he becomes entrenched as a trusted Wallaby though. He is still too upright when carrying, and got found out numerous times in the spring tour where European teams exploited and kept to ball up to when the scrum. He did not fully address this during the Super Rugby season. Also in defence while he doesn't miss a lot of tackles, he has a habit of being out of position or shooting out of the line which good 10s have exploited by shovelling on quickly take take advantage of a newly created overlap thanks to McMahon. He is all ticker though and these issues are easily fixed through coaching and experience. He should definitely travel as a squad member and perhaps get game time against Fiji, Uruguay and I would be more than confident in him filling in on the bench in case of injury. Another point worth making is that I would not be the least bit surprised if the current Rebels core players - McMahon, Jones, Stirzaker, Deberzceni, etc feature heavily as the next generation of Wallabies. Fantastic young players who all seem to have the right skill set along with attitude.
PiratesRugby
Guest
It is funny how all of the criticism against Simmons in the Argentina match is clearly disproved by the statistics and you know, actually watching the match. On the other hand, insert the name Skelton for Simmons and all the criticism fits neatly.
Browny
Roar Rookie
He play's a looser role at the Rebels as there is normally one or two (dedicated) openside flankers on the park with him (Fainga'a, Fuglistaller, and/or Reid). I've got 6 'turnovers won' on the Vodacom app which is a long way off the pace of Gill and Pocock on 29 each. For what it's worth, Hooper has 9 and is possibly a better player to compare him to than Gill or Poey. Points worth looking at are tackle completion of 92% compared to Hoops' 84%, 37 passes to 64, 5 offloads to 9, 34 defenders beaten for 373m run to 37 defenders beaten for 545m with 12 handling errors to 15 (exclusively knock ons for both of them). 8 clean breaks in 122 carries vs 14 in 138. Hoops does more but McMahon has pretty good efficiency/completion from what he does although Hoops run metres are significantly higher. Where mcMahon has the wood well and truly over Hooper is that he has 28 lineouts won (own throw) plus 2 steals compared to Hoopers 8 wins and 0 steals. That's 2 more steals and 9 more own wins than skelton. Just some food for thought.
Andrew Smyth-Kirk
Roar Guru
McMahon is a great player. What a great situation it is to have so many backrower's there to pick from. Im not sure on McMahon's pilfering stats during Super Rugby, but he would be hard done by to not get a call up to tour for the World Cup.
Browny
Roar Rookie
I'd take Higgers any (and every) day of the week over Dennis. But none of that matters right now because both of them are out of the squad. I think Higgers still sits ahead of Dennis in the pecking order, he made way for Palu to come in while Dennis was shelved a while back. Dennis' versatility becomes a bit of a moot point at test level because he's 193cm tall, not particularly tall for a blindside these days let alone a test lock. Horwill and Skelton to start with Mumm on the bench covering lock and blindside seems the obvious selection. Fardy also gives you some backup as a second reserve lock if you're really stuck. I'm still waiting to see if McMahon (2015 Rebels "players player") makes an appearance. Cheika obviously really rates the kid as he's still in the squad even though he's the third string 'compact' loose forward after Pocock and Hooper (what order they are in Cheika's mind is still anyone's guess at this stage).