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Sam Simmonds has been backed to thrive in a British and Irish Lions environment if he is selected for this summer’s South Africa series.
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Exeter number eight Simmonds scored his 13th Gallagher Premiership try of the season as the Chiefs beat Bath 38-16.
And Lions head coach Warren Gatland was present at the Recreation Ground, where he witnessed another eye-catching display by Simmonds, who continues to be overlooked by England boss Eddie Jones.
It is three years this month since Simmonds won the last of his seven England caps.
But his continued imperious form is underlined by the fact that he now needs just four more touchdowns with almost half the regular Premiership season left to equal the league try record for one campaign that is jointly held by Christian Wade and Dominic Chapman.
Asked about Simmonds’ possible Lions credentials, Exeter head coach Ali Hepher said: “That’s what Lions tours are about – that quality of player playing with quality players.
“He’s got that ability, with his pace, to be a game-changer in any game. He is of international standard and should be playing (at that standard).
Seen enough. I think Sam Simmonds would be dynamite in a Lions shirt. ?
— Owain Jones (@OwainJTJones) March 6, 2021
“But it is what it is, and he has just got to keep on working week in, week out here. You never know where he might get to if he keeps performing well for us.
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“He is three years on (from his last England appearance), and he has developed the defensive side of his game – it’s way, way better.
“He still has that explosiveness and he is stronger, naturally, as a player. That development that three years gives you is invaluable.
“He demands a lot of himself and demands a lot of the team. He is wanting to put his best foot forward and will continue to get better because that is the way we work.”
Sam Simmonds will not be denied, that's 13 tries for the season now ?
Clearly @ExeterChiefs put fuel in their try machine this morning…#GallagherPrem pic.twitter.com/gn0xCOPSx1
— Rugby on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) March 6, 2021
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Exeter trailed by 13 points midway through the second quarter after wing Ruaridh McConnochie scored a try for Bath, which Rhys Priestland converted, and he also kicked two penalties.
But the Chiefs, striving to avoid a third successive Premiership defeat, responded brilliantly, with lock Sam Skinner and wing Tom O’Flaherty each claiming two touchdowns, while Simmonds and Scotland second-row forward Jonny Gray also scored tries.
Joe Simmonds kicked four conversions, with Priestland kicking another penalty for Bath, who were ultimately overpowered despite England flanker Sam Underhill making a strong first appearance since January after recovering from a hip injury.
"A No8 with pace off the base of the scrum, getting over the gain line…"
– Ex-England skipper Lawrence Dallaglio wants Test rugby fans to be able to savour the talent Sam Simmonds has #SixNations #PremRugby #BATvEXEhttps://t.co/maiYuM71kI
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 6, 2021
And it would be no surprise if Underhill now earns an England squad recall ahead of next weekend’s Guinness Six Nations clash against France at Twickenham.
While Exeter climbed back into second place in the table behind Bristol, Bath’s impressive recent run of results came to an end.
Successive victories over Sale Sharks, Gloucester and Northampton left them in good shape to face the reigning league champions, but things unravelled after a bright start as Exeter scored 26 second-half points.
“It was a good start, but against a team like this (Exeter), all the little things add up,” Bath rugby director Stuart Hooper told BT Sport.
“And we didn’t get enough of them right. The top four (in the Premiership) is still achievable, and we reboot and go again against Newcastle next weekend.”
Comments on RugbyPass
“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
3 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
2 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
3 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
3 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
3 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
4 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
3 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
3 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to comments