'It beggars belief' - Steenson on Simmonds' England snub, retirement and Exeter's naked bus celebrations
Gareth Steenson has been having the time of his life in recent days, Exeter Chiefs wrapping up the delayed 2019/20 season by following up their Heineken Champions Cup final win over Racing with success in the Gallagher Premiership final last Saturday versus Wasps.
It’s the Devon club’s first-ever league and cup double, the amazing feat achieved just ten years after their initial promotion to the English top flight.
For Steenson, the 36-year-old who joined Exeter in 2008 when they were a Championship outfit, the outrageous success marks the end of his stellar playing career and he is now set to go into coaching.
He does so, though, bemused that Joe Simmonds, the 23-year-old out-half he helped nurture to take over as Exeter’s leading No10, has been snubbed by Eddie Jones for the England squad announced on Monday for the autumn series of Test matches which begin in Rome this Saturday.
Speaking during an appearance on the latest episode of The Rugby Pod, Steenson told hosts Andy Goode and Jim Hamilton that he was at a loss as to why Simmonds – and his old brother Sam – were ignored by Jones despite their title-winning contributions at Exeter.
Plenty to chat about in the world of rugby this week as @jimhamilton4 and @AndyGoode10 have their say on Eddie Jones’ 36 man training squad 🏴
Give it a watch 👇https://t.co/npr63tITLf
— The Rugby Pod (@TheRugbyPod) October 27, 2020
“I really don’t know,” said Steenson. “The improvement we have seen in him [Joe Simmonds] over the last year or so, he is driving those guys, he is driving around British and Irish Lions around the pitch, he is winning doubles, he doesn’t miss kicks at goal, it beggars belief.
“I don’t understand why, or even why Sam is not in the squad either. The guys have performed every week at the top level consistently with the club and that is all you can ask them to do. When they are doing that, that is the only chance they have of getting in, so I’m hoping they get the opportunity at some point.
“I know Sam has done it [been capped by England in 2018] but for Joe, he is somebody who is going to push Exeter Chiefs on and this was just the start of him hopefully winning a few big trophies with the club.”
Steenson was speaking after a hectic few days of celebrations following the nerve-wracking win over Wasps, a triumph that resulted in Exeter leaving their hair down in trademark Chiefs fashion. “There was a wee bit of no clothes on at some point, a bit of a sing-song on the way home and stuff. It was really good fun, really special,” he admitted following a final where for the second Saturday in succession he was an unused replacement.
“I’d love to have got on the field but I was just so happy that we had won the game because it was so tight. It could have gone either way… it was sheer relief. The only thing that could have happened was if I had come on and maybe missed a tackle or something and conceded a try. It was definitely hard to watch,” he said, adding that he can’t imagine putting on the boots again.
“My time is done. You’d have to be really, really scraping the bottom of the barrel for me to come back out and play again. You never say never but just now, the way I feel physically, the end that I had, you can’t ask for a better end. I’m pretty happy with what I have achieved and I could definitely go into retirement a very happy man.”
"The Exeter changing room is a unique place, it was like no other changing room"
– @Toottankwaldrom takes @heagneyl 👨💻 on a colourful trip down memory lane, explaining what makes @ExeterChiefs tick – and it's not just the rugby 🍩 🍔🍻https://t.co/kVnf81qsIy
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 24, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
Well said Mils. It is a big boost at last having Fergus Burke back at 10 for the Crusaders. Had a great season last year as the article says. Mils is also right about captain Codie Taylor’s performance in his return to the Crusaders last week. He was all class.
4 Go to commentsLet’s make them both Capt. I think we'd get the best of both of them and it would help alleviate some of the pressures of the role. They'd have to confer over on field decisions which should lead to “ learnings “ for both. They are our two best consistent performers.
16 Go to commentsOur best player by far..but not a good Captain..poor tactician cost the AB'S and Canes games by not taking the easy points and going for tries when the lineouts were a shambles..can he read a game? And his throat slitting gesture should disqualify him from the AB Captaincy..it is not the appropriate behaviour of an AB Captain.
16 Go to commentsForget what was said or how many players said it. TONY BROWN IS THE NEW ATTACK COACH. That’s the only story worth freaking out over. The springboks are going to grow their game an awful lot over the next cycle and it’s not just the 19 disgustingly arrogant Irish players who refused to shake Ebens hand and said “see you in the final if you can cheat your way past France” who will find that out first hand.
121 Go to commentsOn one hand I think it's a bit ridiculous that this gar into the season and with only 2 wins the Crusaders may make the finals. On the other hand if it was only top 4 or 5, then that last several weeks may be mainly dead rubbers. Nope, 8th place after round robin shouldn't be able to lift the trophy.
4 Go to commentsI do think the media in NZ treated him badly. Sam is a legend. He is humble, a great rugby mind and leader. What happened in the final could happen to anyone. The margins is so fine these days. I lay blame at the feet of the coaching staff and NZ rugby. The stats tell’s all. The AB’s was the worst disciplined side in the WC with more red and yellow cards than anyone else. Problem is NZ rugby is not training their players to play safer. And thats the danger a fast game brings. More yellow and red cards. But Sam Cane in my eye was and still is a great ambassador for the game, that just had a stroke of bad luck.
5 Go to commentsI hope Jim and co. Add this to their list of icebreaker questions they can ask all their guests going forward. So we can eventually hear what everyone thinks about this subject. “What do you think Ireland meant…”
121 Go to commentsHe’s a dominant personality. That might be both a good and bad thing in team dynamics. Certainly it ruined Smith’s first crack at 10 with Owen at 12. BTW, Bristol flatter to deceive. When things really matter, they tend to deliver less rather than more. Farrell would have been good for them
36 Go to commentsGot a lot of over the top abuse from Crusader fans, in particular, who thought every 7 they had was miles better. Now we will see if anyone is better? Laid his body on the line every game so finishing early makes sense. A lot of life left after rugby.
5 Go to commentsA poor decision to appoint Carley as not only is Pearce a better referee but also importantly speaks French.
2 Go to commentsHe is 100 % on the mark. Malicious arrogance with a lack of respect for the other teams mostly the south. they must learn from True rugby nations like the Boks and Kiwis
121 Go to commentsThis Outiniqua boy has played sublime rugby and deserves a spot in BI LIONS team. Well played son
4 Go to commentsI don’t like to see players miss big matches but this ban looks to be tailored to allow him to compete in the final. In principle a suspension for a very dangerous tackle in a semi should warrant missing the relevant final. Done now. One the flip side having both teams with very strong squads/teams available for the final will add to the occassion hopefully.
1 Go to commentsTalent to burn and a huge engine..hope he gets a shot at higher honours
2 Go to commentsIf anything like his dad he has a bright future, Soane was the best ball carrying props ive ever seen using a combination of pace power and footwork.
1 Go to commentsThose who saw Sharks vs Clermont and Ox N'Che vs Rabah Slimani should have a good idea of the best scrumagers… May be not the best props…
2 Go to commentsIt's been an unusual era of unpopular, highly competitive, domineering, fairly big fly halves in the home nations with Farrell, Sexton and Biggar. Russell is different in personality and player I think. I'd rank Sexton first of the three because he is just as good a game controller but also has a great passing game. And his competitiveness never seems to cause problems with refs.
36 Go to commentsThank goodness he wasn't born in Scotland, he'd have been a great candidate for the Scottish Barbarians. I wouldn't put it past them to push for a “where the player was conceived” rule 😂
2 Go to commentsOwen Farrell is one of the most polarising figures in the game. His entire attitude on the field (and sometimes off of it) smacks of arrogance and he is about as brash as Donald Trump in a political debate. Yet behind that facade is a calculating, determined and powerful leader who drives any team forward with an Iron will. You are right in that he gets better in the heat of battle and in the face of overwhelming odds. He develops a narrow focus and he delivers his best in a way that few others can. He is one of Englands great performers who sacrificed alot for the team and who often bears the weight of responsibility of leadership alone on the field and in front of the media. Despite what many think of him he is a fantastic game manager with a good rugby brain. He will be sorely missed from the international stage
36 Go to commentsAlways proud of the effort, Sam. The All blacks never stop fighting, never just roll over. He didn’t get anywhere near the respect he earned, but that’s due to results, not commitment to the cause. Have fun dominating in Japan!
1 Go to comments