Rob Simmons aiming for Wallabies redemption

He had a good work rate back in the 80s - all those workout videos..

Agree Simmons has a very good set piece and a high work rate, misses few tackles but lacks physicality in ball carrying, tackling and ruck work. He hits rucks but doesn't smash people off them, often he fails to remove small players even. That is my biggest issue. I prefer Coleman and Arnold starting since Coleman has proven he plays hard for 80 mins. Arnold wanes after 50 mins so replace Arnold with Simmons at the 50 min mark.

Carter is way back in my eyes... He carries too high, and too weak. For some reason I can't fathom, no one has told him to correct his running. I noticed it the first time I saw him, and it hasn't gotten any lower.

Neil, Is that you Dean Mumm??

Simmons is probably the second quickest lock, after Coleman. Hence intercept try.

That's the other thing to consider; all this may change come June. If Arnold (or someone else) improves his set piece ability drastically to match Simmons and can last the 80 then he's probably a better alternative. Here's a curly one for you, what if Sam Carter suddenly (maybe with the captaincy on his shoulders) developed a hard running game does he suddenly leap both of them? Not really expecting that last one to pan out, but it's worth a thought.

You've perfectly communicated my thoughts behind Simmons' usefulness far better than I could have done so myself :). I think you could very well be right, too, about it being better to have a Coleman/Simmons starting partnership (assuming no one else puts their hand up in 2017) with Arnold coming on for the last 20.

Very well written Browny - agree copmpletely

Yep. And huge workrate that goes for the full 80. Simmons is basically the anti-Skelton.

First priority is being able to do core duties, particularly the set piece. An area not all of our locks are that capable in. Doesn't matter how tall, athletic, tough or nasty you are if you aren't elite in the air and in the scrum.

I tend to agree with you, Fionn. Maybe if Simmons did a Fardy and shaved his head, grew a beard and constantly had blood on his face he'd get a better reception from the public. I don;t think anyone (who really understands what's going on) questions that Simmons is our best set piece lock and no one seems to have any complaints about his work rate which is tremendous. He's perceived as soft and weak because he doesn't make metres with the bell in hand, which is true, he probably averages a couple of metres per run (if you disregard intercept tries). What he does do, which I think is undervalued, is ensure that when he goes down he gets the ball back in a great position to be recycled. It's the same story with his tackling, he won't crunch someone and force a spill or turnover but he'll make a heap of completed tackles. So no, he's not a barnstorming lock, but what he will give you is ballpark of 10 quick carries where we'll retain the ball, 15-20 completed tackles, he'll hit a heap of rucks and shore up the set piece. I'm actually quite happy having him start at TH lock to shore up the scrum and run the lineout (which also negates the need for Mumm at 6! Bonus!) and do his bit around the ground over 80 while Coleman goes ham for 60 minutes until he's run out of gas and then Arnold comes on for the last 20 odd to try and replicate Coleman's efforts. Considering our some of our set-piece blues of late, it certainly wouldn't hurt in that area. Douglas is probably 4th at the moment and a long way off the leaders with a peloton of young up-and-comers hot on his heels in Tui, Staniforth, Enever, Hanigan, etc. Skelton may enter the race at some point if he's fit enough...

Neil Simmons may not be the best ball carrier - he certainly is not a barn storming runner but he does regularly provide quick clean ball when he takes it into contact. If he is partnered with a big barnstorming ball carrying lock I think we will see the best of our locks and I expect him to be around for some time

Just because you say something it doesn't make it true buddy! Kane Douglas is the worst bally carrying lock in Super Rugby!

Nonsense back to you, Fionn. Simmons is nowhere near in the top six locks in Australia. He is ineffective in defence and would have to be the worst ball-carrying lock in the Super Rugby anywhere. No point in saying he has a work rate when you watch him do a carry and never get more than about a metre. The only reason he has been persevered with for the last couple of seasons is lack of alternatives and, fortunately, now there are good alternatives and a lot more coming through. I personally don’t expect to see him running around the Super Rugby fields by 2019 and certainly shouldn't get another Test gig.

Class second rowers have to be Tall ,Athletic, Tough and a bit nasty. Simmons is just Tall

Surely Douglas, given he has a far lower work rate, inferior set piece game and worse running game than Simmons. For all the complaints about Simmons lack of impact with ball in hand, it's not as if any other Australian lock bar Coleman has shown much better.

I believe Celtic will be way off the mark!!!!!

Nonsense. Rob is probably in the top 3 locks in Australia at present. Coleman is a clear number 1. I personally would prefer Arnold as second lock, but there is a strong case to be made that Simmons, because of his incredible work-rate and fantastic set-piece skills should be our number 2.

Unless Rob develops his game i believe he could be struggling for a spot on the reds by seasons end, let alone the Wallabies. Tui and Rodda are both good prospects, one of them i suspect will be starting for the reds at the end of the season but will it be Simmons or Douglas's spot?