The Red Baron
Chilla Wilson (44)
I can see why Link has put Simmons at 6. Fardy is out, Horwill, Douglas and Timani are equally as bad as each other, may as well keep two of them on the field plus Simmons.Yes it isn't his usual role, but it may just work.
Simmons has been one of the only tight forwards in recent times (apart from Squeaky) to have a decent workload - and an actual impact at the breakdown. Why not roll the dice with him at 6 then? We could have shifted Mowen to 6 and McCalman to 8, and that might have worked. However having proficient lineout operators in Mowen and Simmons is preferred. When it comes to the scrum, maybe Link thinks 3 locks will be able to provide a solid platform.
I don't know for sure, but what I will say is that a fit Simmons had to be part of the team. Not that he is a world beater, it is just that he is actually performing better than most of our fit piggies - and that is saying something.
Personally, I would have gone for a pack of:
1. Robinson
2. Moore
3. Slipper
4. Simmons
5. Douglas
6. Mowen
7.Gill
8. McCalman
But hey, that's just me. Still feel like I'm moving deck chairs though. I think I might go back and play RWC 2011 on my Xbox. There, I am an inside centre/flyhalf who can kick goals from halfway, slot through gaps like a ghost and my forward pack actually wins clean ball from scrums and rucks..
Maybe I am over this year. The season is way too long nowadays.
Simmons has been one of the only tight forwards in recent times (apart from Squeaky) to have a decent workload - and an actual impact at the breakdown. Why not roll the dice with him at 6 then? We could have shifted Mowen to 6 and McCalman to 8, and that might have worked. However having proficient lineout operators in Mowen and Simmons is preferred. When it comes to the scrum, maybe Link thinks 3 locks will be able to provide a solid platform.
I don't know for sure, but what I will say is that a fit Simmons had to be part of the team. Not that he is a world beater, it is just that he is actually performing better than most of our fit piggies - and that is saying something.
Personally, I would have gone for a pack of:
1. Robinson
2. Moore
3. Slipper
4. Simmons
5. Douglas
6. Mowen
7.Gill
8. McCalman
But hey, that's just me. Still feel like I'm moving deck chairs though. I think I might go back and play RWC 2011 on my Xbox. There, I am an inside centre/flyhalf who can kick goals from halfway, slot through gaps like a ghost and my forward pack actually wins clean ball from scrums and rucks..
Maybe I am over this year. The season is way too long nowadays.