Ex-Lion fumes at omission of ‘try machine’ Sam Simmonds
Former British & Irish Lions and Wales No8 Andy Powell has said England head coach Eddie Jones has made a “bad choice” in not selecting Sam Simmonds in his squad to face Tonga this weekend at Twickenham.
Powell has been an advocate for the former European Rugby player of the year for a long time, as have many other people, and it was seen as progress when the Exeter Chiefs No8 was picked for the England squad for the autumn internationals. This was after several years of struggling to break into the squad, despite breaking the Gallagher Premiership try scoring record last season.
Simmonds’ selection for Warren Gatland’s Lions squad this summer to tour South Africa may have been a turning point for Jones, and he selected the Exeter man at the first opportunity he had this season. However, his omission again has been seen as a backwards step, and Powell was not afraid to share his opinion on the matter on Twitter.
He wrote: “Sam Simmonds not playing what a joke, he’s a try machine!! And a try machine wins you games!! A dominant pack which England always have with Simmonds picking from the base causes problems wide!! Bad choice Eddie Jones.”
Sam simmonds not playing what a joke he’s a try machine !! And a try machine wins you games!! A dominant pack which England always have with simmonds picking from the base causes problems wide !! Bad choice Eddie Jones 🙈
— Andy Powell (@andypowell8) November 3, 2021
While this is a setback for Simmonds, there are still Tests against Australia and South Africa to come in which the 26-year-old may still feature.
ENGLAND SQUAD
FORWARDS
Jamie Blamire (Newcastle Falcons, 2 caps)
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 33 caps)
Trevor Davison (Newcastle Falcons, 1 cap)
Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 1 cap)
Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 23 caps)
Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 30 caps)
Jamie George (Saracens, 59 caps)
Jonny Hill (Exeter Chiefs, 9 caps)
Maro Itoje (Saracens, 48 caps)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 87 caps)
Joe Marler (Harlequins, 72 caps)
Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 44 caps)
Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 12 caps)
Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 24 caps)
BACKS
Mark Atkinson (Gloucester Rugby, uncapped)
Owen Farrell (Saracens, 93 caps)
George Furbank (Northampton Saints, 4 caps)
Max Malins (Saracens, 8 caps)
Joe Marchant (Harlequins, 6 caps)
Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 66 caps)
Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, uncapped)
Raffi Quirke (Sale Sharks, uncapped)
Adam Radwan (Newcastle Falcons, 1 cap)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 40 caps)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 2 caps)
Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 2 caps)
Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks, 43 caps)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 109 caps)
