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'Bit annoyed': Exeter on how Simmonds has taken England rejection
Exeter boss Rob Baxter has shed light on why Sam Simmonds was cut loose from the England squad for this weekend’s Autumn Nations Series opener versus Tonga at Twickenham. There was great optimism that the soon-to-be 27-year-old No8 was on the cusp of ending his near four-year spell without being capped for his country. Having toured with the Lions in the summer and played against the Springboks in the Test series decider on August 7, Simmonds was since welcomed back into the England fold by Eddie Jones.
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However, his ambition to play for an England team for the first time since he won his seventh cap in March 2018 will have to wait another week at least. Thirty-five players were called to England training at the start of this week but this number was reduced to 28 on Tuesday evening, leaving Simmonds with the prospect of playing for Exeter in the Premiership against Newcastle this weekend rather than running out at Twickenham with England and putting an end to his long wait for an eighth Test cap under Jones.
Club coach Baxter held his weekly media briefing on Wednesday morning and he spoke about how Simmonds has reacted to his latest rejection by Jones and he touched on some of the suggested reasons why his player won’t be involved against the Tongans. “I have only just seen him this morning [Wednesday], he only got released last night,” said Baxter. “To me, he seems like probably a bit frustrated and a bit annoyed, which he should be.
“He wants to play so I expect those emotions but at the same time, he also looks like he completely understands what he wants to do this weekend and what he needs to do to give himself the best opportunity to be involved next week (against Australia).
“He will go back into camp on Sunday and he has got every opportunity to play next week. You have got to keep looking forward as an athlete and as a player. There is no point reflecting too long on this week, he has got to move forward to next week as quick as he can.
TEAM NEWS: Sam Simmonds' wait for a first England cap since 2018 continues as he is one of 7️⃣ players cut from the squad#AutumnNationsSeries #England #ENGvTON
https://t.co/sGDDxMlzmV— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 2, 2021
“Sam has had his review and I get the impression that Eddie Jones is actually pretty happy with him. From what Sam said he has trained well, it’s just he has missed out this time around but has every opportunity to play in the next couple of games (versus Australia and South Africa). I don’t think there is any major fault, it’s just time in the squad and some little improvements and work-ons within how England play. Sam has discussed it with me and has discussed it with Eddie and I don’t think there is any more than that.
“I can’t tell you how Eddie Jones is looking at this series, I can’t tell you whether he has got any pre-planning based around how he is looking at combinations of players and I can’t tell you what he is seeing when he is watching the players train. Yes, I was expecting Sam to be involved but I can’t say any more than that really.
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“As head coaches and directors of rugby and selectors, we all look at different things and see different things and have different plans… For me, it is just one of those things. He is back, he has told me he is ready to play, ready to be involved this weekend, so we will probably look to involve him in some capacity.
“Hopefully he understands that by performing well (for Exeter) he might have a better opportunity to get into the (Test) starting line-up than someone who is sitting on the bench for England this week. That is the reality, that is how it can work and that is very much how he has got to take it.”
The seasoned Saracens hooker was excluded from the England squads announced on September 21 and October 18 but he is now back in favour #AutumnNationsSeries #England #ENGvTONhttps://t.co/2YmZCVxqzZ
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 3, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
This team does not beat the ABs sadly
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
3 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
54 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
54 Go to comments