Number eight Sam Simmonds thriving in second spell with England

Sam Simmonds is enjoying the second phase of his international career having learned to become comfortable in his own skin as an England number eight armed with a unique skill set.

Simmonds won seven caps in 2017 and 2018 after his explosive running sent waves rippling through the Gallagher Premiership, but having been asked to fill the boots of the injured Billy Vunipola and Nathan Hughes he was then evaluated on their strengths.

Considered too small for his position – he stands 6’0” and weighs 16 stones 2lbs – he was dropped by Eddie Jones in a setback that was followed by a serious knee injury.

But amid playing an influential role in Exeter’s double-winning year of 2020 that included being named European player of the year, England squads were picked against the backdrop of a clamour for his recall.

And although Jones persevered with Vunipola or attempted to mould Tom Curry into a number eight, Lions boss Warren Gatland resolved to take him to South Africa last summer on the evidence of his club exploits.

Now 27 and having been restored to England’s back row, Simmonds is able to shrug off any discussion over his size as irrelevant.

“The debate does still crop up, but ultimately I can’t change,” Simmonds told the PA news agency ahead of Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations title clash with Ireland.

“I can’t make myself 120 kilos, 130 kilos. It’s just not going to happen. When that debate started, I feel like I was almost filling the boots of people who weren’t there.

“When I was 22 I felt like a spare part – I’m in the team but I’m only in because someone was injured. I felt like I deserved to be there, but I also felt like I was being judged on ‘he doesn’t do this when Billy does this, or Nathan does that’.

“People’s