SA Rugbymag

South African rugby news, fixtures, results, video, interviews, and more. Covering the Springboks, Bulls, Stormers/Western Province, Sharks, Cheetahs, Kings and Lions, as well as schools and club rugby.

Primary Menu Search
  • Home
  • Match Centre
  • British & Irish Lions
  • Videos
  • Supabets
  • Cars
    • Motoring News
    • Used Cars For Sale
    • New Cars For Sale
    • Demo Cars For Sale
  • Daddy’s Deals

You are here: Home ∼ Simmonds out to prove his worth against Sharks

Simmonds out to prove his worth against Sharks

Sam Simmonds Sam Simmonds in action for the British & Irish Lions / Getty Images
Published on July 6, 2021

Sam Simmonds believes his selection in the British & Irish Lions starting XV against the Sharks is the perfect opportunity to repay coach Warren Gatland’s faith in him.

Simmonds was one of the shock inclusions in Gatland’s Lions squad, especially so since he had been frozen out by England coach Eddie Jones and had last played Test rugby back in March 2018, despite being named European Player of the Year last season and winning the Premiership award this season after scoring a record 21 tries.

But Gatland called him up to the Lions squad and the 26-year-old made his debut for the composite team when he came off the bench in their 54-14 win over the Sigma Lions this past Saturday.

On Monday, he was named in the Lions run-on XV for their second match of the tour against the Sharks at Ellis Park on Wednesday. Simmonds is adamant to prove that Gatland had been right to bring him along to South Africa despite Jones’ obvious reluctance to include him in his England plans.

“When you start out you really get the opportunity to show off what you can do and hopefully put what I’ve been doing over the past year in a Lions jersey,” he said.

“As soon as I was selected for the Lions team my only goal was to push everyone here, to try to get as many games as possible and as a team the ultimate goal is to win the Test series in South Africa.

“Since you were selected this is what you have been waiting for, to be able to put on the jersey and represent the Lions and just be among them with all the history and the players that have been before you.”

Simmonds says Gatland’s continued support gives him confidence, which he hopes shines through in his performance against the Sharks.

“Gats pretty much said, ‘Get out there and just do what you did’,” Simmonds added.

“It’s not quite a free license, but he told me to free myself and go and prove why they picked me and why I’m on the team.

“They are the ones who gave me this opportunity. It is then up to me to put my game on the opposition. The training was like that. It was short and to the point. This allows you to enter the game directly.”

Simmonds admits he is bracing himself for a physical onslaught from every local team the Lions play against, but says he has received some vital intel on that score from a couple England-based South Africans.

“I don’t think I’ve met a South African who isn’t physical. Playing with Jacques Vermeulen and Jannes Kirsten, it is around this that their game is built – physicality.

“They gave me some tips for coming here to their country. It was a physical match on Saturday. Their forwards got up and we managed to score a lot of points on the side.

“There are a lot of things to work on, which is always good after a first game. But, yeah, I’m looking forward to Wednesday’s challenge.”

Photo: Getty Images

Posted in British & Irish Lions, Lions Tour, News, Sharks, Top headlines Tagged 2021 Lions Tour, British and Irish Lions, Lions tour, NEWS, sam simmonds, The Sharks, Warren Gatland

Post by SA Rugby magazine

SA Rugby magazine

MPU #1 - (DESKTOP SIZE 300x250 / MOBILE SIZE 320x50, 300x250, 320x100)
← Previous Next →

Ratings: Du Toit one of the few standouts for Boks

The Boks faded in the second half to slump to a 22-17...

Five key areas the Boks need to dominate for first victory

SA Rugby magazine highlights five crucial areas the Boks will need to...

Duhan should be celebrated for his Lions success

Duhan van der Merwe’s achievements should be truly appreciated by South Africans,...

JdV: Boks-Lions have everything to play for

Performing in empty stadiums will be a key factor in the series...

Dynamic Dayimani: Forward to back

While he has been signed as an ‘edge’ forward, Hacjivah Dayimani could...

Boks have muscle memory to rely on

Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber are experts at finding solutions to tricky...

Top six: Best and worst foreign imports

SARugbymag.co.za identifies six of the best and worst foreign players to play...

Column: When context is needed

As highlighted by the Argentina controversy, ‘cancel culture’ needs a spoonful of...

Dark cloud hangs over WP Rugby

The problems at Western Province Rugby are layered, and everyone involved needs...

From the mag: Foreign Favourites

As Vodacom Super Rugby turned 25 this year, JON CARDINELLI picks an...

Bulls rookies to watch

After a massive exodus of players the Vodacom Bulls will be eager...

Analysis: The new suffocate-and-strangle game

For the Boks to emerge as World Cup winners, they need to...

VIEW MORE
  • Team graphics: Springboks vs B&I Lions
  • Boks vs Lions (1st Test): Predict and WIN!
  • Lions team announcement: Duhan to front Boks
  • Teams: SA A vs Bulls
Boks

Why the Boks should be bullish

There is good reason for the Springboks to enter the British & Irish Lions series with confidence, writes MARK KEOHANE in the latest SA Rugby magazine.

  • Watch: Did Gatland’s words influence Jonker?


COVID-19 Corona Virus
South African Resource Portal

ABOUT

  • Contact us
  • Competitions
  • Videos
  • Player Features
  • Subscribe
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy Policy

TOURNAMENTS

    • Rugby Championship
    • Super Rugby
    • Currie Cup
    • Varsity Cup
    • Gold Cup
    • Schools
    • Six Nations
    • Champions Cup
    • World Cup

OPINION

  • Mallett on SuperSport
  • Cardinelli column
  • Lewis column
  • Xabanisa column
  • Borchardt column
  • Superbru

Primary Menu

  • Home
  • Match Centre
  • British & Irish Lions
  • Videos
  • Supabets
  • Cars
    • Motoring News
    • Used Cars For Sale
    • New Cars For Sale
    • Demo Cars For Sale
  • Daddy’s Deals
×