Simmonds still on England radar - Baxter
By Mark Stevens & Mike Smith
23/1/20
Rob Baxter is confident more of his players can come onto the radar of England head coach Eddie Jones, providing they continue to produce the on-field goods for the Exeter Chiefs.
Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ollie Devoto and Harry Williams were this week all named as part of Jones’ squad for the upcoming Six Nations Championship. Jack Nowell and Henry Slade would likely have been involved too, had the pair not picked up injuries that have them currently sidelined.
However, there were some absentees, most notably Sam Simmonds, whose form this season has been instrumental in helping to drive the Devon club to not only the summit of the Gallagher Premiership, but also into a home quarter-final against Northampton Saints in the Heineken Champions Cup.
The 25-year-old has scored eight tries already this season, six of them in Europe, and is clearly back to his best after enduring a miserable time last season after he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament against Worcester Warriors in September 2018.
Forced to play a watching brief for much of the campaign, Simmonds used his time off to not only make himself stronger, but get his body in tip-top shape to ensure he was firing on full cylinders come the start of this current campaign.
Whatever he did during that time, it’s had the desired effect. The all-action forward has been in outstanding form and has been a driving force for the Chiefs as they lead their charge on all fronts.
His surprise omission from the England squad is in fact Exeter’s gain, especially ahead of this Saturday’s home encounter against Sale Sharks (3pm).
Although Baxter would love to see as many of his players possible gracing the Test arena, he will encourage Simmonds – and others within the squad – to continue in much the same vein.
“It’s down to Sam to play very well every week, show real consistency and make the decision for Eddie Jones,” said Baxter. “That’s what you have to do as an international player. If you want to play international rugby you have to go out there and decide that you get picked.”
Simmonds has won seven caps for England since making his debut against Argentina in November 2017 – and he scored two tries against Italy on his debut in the 2018 Six Nations Championship.
His injury last season curtailed his meteoric rise, but the Torquay-born forward admits himself he’s ‘in a good place’ and delighted to be back playing a lead role for the Chiefs.
“I’m feeling good,” said Simmonds following his side’s 33-14 win against La Rochelle in Round Six of the Champions Cup. “It’s also good to see Stu (Townsend) out there as well. He’s done more running out there today than he has in the last nine of ten months, so it’s great to see him back out there.
“For me, personally, I’m glad to be back out there, getting my hands on the ball and scoring tries. It’s what I want to be doing.”
Alongside younger brother Joe, the duo were again instrumental in helping the Chiefs defeat their French rivals last weekend. That victory – coupled with results elsewhere – ensured Baxter’s side finished the pool stages as the second-best ranked team. Not only has that guaranteed home advantage for their last eight meeting against the Saints in April, but should the Chiefs win that fixture, they will also have home country advantage in the last four.
After a tight first half at Sandy Park, where the two sides were deadlocked at 14-14, the Chiefs upped the ante after the break to run out comfortable winners.
“We were a little bit disappointed with the first half and we got a bit of a hosing down at half-time,” explained Simmonds. “You saw the reaction from us in the second half. We didn’t concede and we really put out dominance on them. Everyone played their part, especially the forwards. Luke Cowan-Dickie had a great game!”
A theme running throughout the season, however, is that even when not at full tilt, Exeter's determination to stay in the game and grind down the opposition means that the points continue to be accrued week after week.
"Even when we're not playing well, and we weren't at our best today, to get that bonus-point win shows real character,” continued Simmonds. “We're playing without fear, so anyone that we're coming up against, we're putting them to the sword. It doesn't matter who it is, the job at hand is getting done, which were really proud of."
Indeed, Simmonds’ words ring true with Baxter who believes recognition elsewhere can come, providing his players stick to task in much the same vein as they have done so far this season.
"I would expect that guys like Sam Simmonds and Jonny Hill, Alec Hepburn, Ben Moon, those guys who've been involved previously, I'd love to think that those guys are right up there as well,” said Baxter.
"The season that Dave Ewers is having, you never know where his involvement might be; there are a lot of players playing well and that's the important thing.
"The best way for these lads to put themselves in the shop window is to play at the top of the Premiership and to play well in the Heineken Cup, and if we keep doing that we give ourselves every opportunity to have more international recognition."