Size matters... but Sam can punch his weight for England
NO SOOnER had Sam Simmonds made a compelling point on the pitch, following his omission from the England squad, than Rob Baxter made another one on his behalf.
Exeter’s head coach is evidently frustrated by his prolific no 8’s struggle to transfer his club game to the national team, which led him to question what he sees as a sizeist selection policy. The coach’s comments to BT Sport after the Chiefs’ victory at newcastle were frank and struck a chord with many watching.
Asked what he felt Simmonds was lacking in the eyes of Eddie Jones, Baxter said: ‘About 30 kilos, I think. We use him as a ball-carrying no 8 and England’s ball-carrying no 8 is Billy Vunipola. Unless there’s a bit of flexibility on where they see Sam and flexibility in how they see that backrow unit coming together, it’s going to be difficult for Sam.
‘We see him as a fantastic player and we have a structure which gets him on the ball, to use all his very positive attributes. England could do the same, but that is for the England system and the England coach to decide. I think he’s big enough and easily capable of playing international rugby. We see plenty of guys his size getting hundreds of caps for Southern Hemisphere sides.’
Lots of fair comment in there. Simmonds is a phenomenon for Exeter. He has scored 20 tries in 27 Premiership games, the best strikerate by any player in any position, ever. He is fast and nimble, dynamic and skilful. He is an X-factor player, but Jones has reservations about a player who weighs around 16 stone.
Baxter’s claim about the different attitude in the Southern Hemisphere — certainly in Australia and new Zealand — is a reasonable one and was backed up by Wasps’ new All Black fly-half, Lima Sopoaga.
Asked about his first impressions of playing here, he told the BBC: ‘The boys are pretty big here. They like their gym. I’m 90kg at the minute. Wouldn’t be surprised if I get a bit heavier with how big the boys are here and how much tin they like to push.’
It would be a real shame for the sport as a spectacle if lighter players are unable to maximise their potential due to an increasing fixation with size and bulk. Maybe rugby should adopt a boxing-style weigh-in system, with a maximum limit set for teams and match- day squads. Anything that puts more emphasis on skill and athleticism over sheer size and force must be worth considering.
In the aftermath of Leicester lock Will Spencer’s sending-off and ban for a high tackle which divided opinion, World Rugby have urged referees to show greater consistency in the use of red cards. ‘We’re trying to change player behaviour and cards are the best way to do that,’ said Brett Gosper, the governing body’s chief executive. There is no choice other than to persist with this crackdown on contact with the head. The game is brutal and the impacts have to be managed somehow, to protect the well-being of those involved. Rugby is not going soft. But if this global crusade is to work, there must be consistency from the judiciary as well as referees. Spencer was banned for four weeks, for an offence which was devoid of any malice. In France last week, Mathieu Bastareaud received a five-week suspension for a wild, swinging-arm assault on a grounded opponent. His sanction was no deterrent; it was a joke and an utter disgrace.