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Simmons out of Wallabies' Test
AAP
August 3, 2015, 9:43 am
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika faces a difficult selection problem after lineout general Rob Simmons was ruled out of Saturday's Rugby Championship decider against New Zealand in Sydney.
Simmons is to undergo wrist surgery for a scaphoid injury and will also miss next week's Bledisloe Cup Test in Auckland but he is expected to make a full recovery before the Wallabies take on the USA in Chicago in the lead up to the World Cup starting next month.
Simmons, a veteran of 52 Tests, has been Australia's lineout caller and leading jumper and Cheika will be forced to carefully weigh his options before selecting his locks to face the world champion All Blacks.
He has the choice of two veterans in former skipper James Horwill and Dean Mumm to replace Simmons and could also drop non-jumping giant lock Will Skelton to start both of them in the second row.
After struggling for form this year, Horwill impressed when he came off the bench in last month's Test win over South Africa in Brisbane.
Recently returned from an overseas stint, Mumm was just as impressive off the bench in the victory against Argentina in Mendoza a week ago.
"Obviously we're all disappointed to lose Rob," said Wallabies coach Cheika.
"We've been able to build some real depth in the lock position, and Rob's injury presents an opportunity for another player in the squad to stake their claim."
https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sp...allabies-test/