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'It wouldn't surprise me one bit if Gats picks him ahead of Billy for the Lions'

By Ian Cameron
(Photo by Dan Mullan/The RFU Collection via Getty Images )

Former British and Irish Lions centre Jamie Roberts has backed Exeter Chiefs No.8 Sam Simmonds to be a shock call-up for the tour of South Africa.

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This week it was confirmed that the Lions are aiming to tour SA as originally intended, and Roberts believes that Simmonds could pip Billy Vunipola for the tour, despite not be involved with Eddie Jones’ England set-up.

England incumbent Vunipola struggled to find his best form in the Guinness Six Nations, while Simmonds has continued to play out of his skin for the Exeter Chiefs in the Gallagher Premiership.

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Jamie, Simon and Jack talks Sam Simmonds, England, Lions, Wales vs France and much more…

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Jamie, Simon and Jack talks Sam Simmonds, England, Lions, Wales vs France and much more…

Roberts told The Offload Podcast, while speaking with Exeter and England star Jack Nowell and Racing 92 fullback Simon Zebo, that “It wouldn’t surprise me one bit if Gats picks him ahead of Billy for the Lions”.

Fellow former Lions player Simon Zebo went one further, saying: “I’d have him starting. Like straight into the starting XV. His form for the last year and a half has been outrageous.”

Nowell, who is currently sidelined with injury said of his teammate: “He does stuff, even in training, that no back row should be able to do. The feet he’s got, his hands are very good, he’s strong. He’s not the biggest of players, and he’d say that himself, but he’s definitely one of the quickest in our team.

“He’s not very gym strong but in terms of what he does on the pitch, he’s ridiculous,” revealed Nowell.

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“I know he’s definitely knocking on the [England] door and  close to being there. Eddie is pretty straight forward what he [Simmonds] needs to do.

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Sam Simmonds /PA

“Everyone watching knows that what he’s doing is class. Our coaches know it. He’s winning by himself for us at times… He’s very close. He needs to not drop off and keep going.”

Presenter Christina Mahon pointed out that it could leave egg on the face of head coach Eddie Jones, if Simmonds does jump over England into the Lions squad this summer.

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“The game is about opinion,” said Roberts. “Opinions of us as players, opinions of coaches, which probably matter more, because of whether they pick you or not; the opinions of the press. And the opinions of fans. It [the game] revolves around opinion.

“There are so many great players out there who have never played Test rugby because a coach never rated them. And then there were players who went on to really good Test careers who weren’t that good, like myself,” joked the 94-cap Wales international. “It’s all on opinion, you might be in favour, you might be out of favour.”

“It might baffle a lot of people, but it’s why Eddie Jones is in his job and why he gets paid so much.”

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Bull Shark 52 minutes ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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