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Rugby Union
Premiership Rugby / Premiership Cup
Premiership Rugby 20/21 - Rd 17
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<blockquote data-quote="BPM" data-source="post: 1035202" data-attributes="member: 59968"><p>If you're talking about body shape then I agree, but I don't see enough of him at the breakdown to really rate him as a flanker (not just over the ball).</p><p></p><p>The closest 7/8 comparison in the Premiership is probably Ben Earl, but while Simmonds is definitely better with the ball, Earl is considerably better at the breakdown and dog work. Ardie Savea would be another good comparison with some similar qualities to Simmonds, but again, he's much better at the core elements I'd expect from a flanker as well as having pace and an outrageous leg drive.</p><p></p><p>The Exeter 'configuration' is made to maximise Simmonds' X factor qualities. I've often tried to analyse it and most of the time he just isn't where I'd expect an 8 or a flanker to be. Take him out of a system that's made to work for him and I'm not sure he'd be anywhere near as effective.</p><p></p><p>It was similar with Dombrandt - totally different styles but hear me out here ... When he first broke through Robshaw and Clifford did literally ALL of the dog work and Dombrandt floated around looking for good lines to hit. When that 'system' changed and Dombrandt was asked to do more, it took him quite a long while to adjust and he was nowhere near as good - he wasn't making line breaks or offloading and he wasn't much cop at the coal face. He's over that now and has found a way to combine his trademark style with more work rate, but it's taken a while.</p><p></p><p>My point is, saying Simmonds would work just as well as a flanker outside of the Exeter system is fanciful. He might get there, but he's really have to adapt his game and it would take a long while to adjust. Picking him in a Lions back row for example would be a risk depending on who's with him. Gatland could find a way of doing it with someone like Beirne at '7' (Exeter numbers) and a big carrier like Stander at 6, but that would mean ignoring stellar back row players like Curry or Watson who don't need a system to work for them.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="BPM, post: 1035202, member: 59968"] If you’re talking about body shape then I agree, but I don’t see enough of him at the breakdown to really rate him as a flanker (not just over the ball). The closest 7/8 comparison in the Premiership is probably Ben Earl, but while Simmonds is definitely better with the ball, Earl is considerably better at the breakdown and dog work. Ardie Savea would be another good comparison with some similar qualities to Simmonds, but again, he’s much better at the core elements I’d expect from a flanker as well as having pace and an outrageous leg drive. The Exeter ‘configuration’ is made to maximise Simmonds’ X factor qualities. I’ve often tried to analyse it and most of the time he just isn’t where I’d expect an 8 or a flanker to be. Take him out of a system that’s made to work for him and I’m not sure he’d be anywhere near as effective. It was similar with Dombrandt - totally different styles but hear me out here ... When he first broke through Robshaw and Clifford did literally ALL of the dog work and Dombrandt floated around looking for good lines to hit. When that ‘system’ changed and Dombrandt was asked to do more, it took him quite a long while to adjust and he was nowhere near as good - he wasn’t making line breaks or offloading and he wasn’t much cop at the coal face. He’s over that now and has found a way to combine his trademark style with more work rate, but it’s taken a while. My point is, saying Simmonds would work just as well as a flanker outside of the Exeter system is fanciful. He might get there, but he’s really have to adapt his game and it would take a long while to adjust. Picking him in a Lions back row for example would be a risk depending on who’s with him. Gatland could find a way of doing it with someone like Beirne at ‘7’ (Exeter numbers) and a big carrier like Stander at 6, but that would mean ignoring stellar back row players like Curry or Watson who don’t need a system to work for them. [/QUOTE]
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Premiership Rugby 20/21 - Rd 17
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