It's now or never for Rob Simmons.
The 72-Test veteran has been given what appears to be one last chance to establish himself as a Wallabies regular in Saturday's second Bledisloe Cup Test in Dunedin.
Even Simmons was surprised when coach Michael Cheika named him in the second-row for the must-win clash at Forsyth Barr Stadium, ahead of Rory Arnold.
It comes after a lacklustre year for the 28-year-old, who is hoping to soon make official his move to the NSW Waratahs after he was deemed surplus to requirements by the Queensland Reds, his beloved home province.
He was also dropped twice last year by Cheika, who criticised his lack of aggression, and banished to the National Rugby Championship after the Wallabies were belted in the Bledisloe opener.
Cheika said he wanted Simmons to "put his foot down" against New Zealand or else youngsters like Izack Rodda would overtake him.
"There's a time where a player with his experience in this atmosphere has to stand up and say, 'this is the best that I can play'," he said.
"It's obvious that we're looking for one of our guys to step up and dominate that (lock) role.
"Simmo is seeing there's a few other chaps around him and he's going to have a chance to get ahead of them this week if he puts his mark on the game."
Arnold started in the first Test last weekend and his combination Adam Coleman is seen by many as Australia's best long-term option, but Cheika said he needed to develop more second-row depth.
Simmons is keen to repay Cheika's faith, saying he was on the way to fixing the aspects of his game that have undermined him.
"It's a work in progress and I don't think I've nailed it totally but I'm still working on it and trying to get better each week," he said.
In the other changes made to the team that lost 54-34 to the All Blacks, Tevita Kuridrani comes in at outside centre to replace Samu Kerevi.
Cheika admitted he may have done Kerevi a "disservice" by picking him too soon, with the Reds powerhouse having only recently recovered from an ankle injury.
Dane Haylett-Petty, meanwhile, is fit again and will start on the left wing, shunting last week's debutant Curtis Rona to the bench.
Cheika will finalise his reserves after Friday's captain's run.
Lopeti Timani and Jack Dempsey will fight it out for the same loose forward spot and with both battling minor injuries, whoever comes through training the best will win out.
WALLABIES: Israel Folau, Dane Haylett-Petty, Tevita Kuridrani, Kurtley Beale, Henry Speight, Bernard Foley, Will Genia, Sean McMahon, Michael Hooper (capt), Ned Hanigan, Adam Coleman, Rob Simmons, Allan Alaalatoa, Stephen Moore, Scott Sio. Reserves: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Tom Robertson, Sekope Kepu, Rory Arnold, Lopeti Timani/Jack Dempsey, Nick Phipps, Reece Hodge, Curtis Rona.
Share
