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WHEN Wallabies lock Rob Simmons has ventured from Queensland to the Central West in the past it has been to visit his relations, but when he arrived in Bathurst today it was part of a bigger mission.
It is a mission to end New Zealand’s Bledisloe Cup dominance.
It has been 12 years since the Wallabies have hoisted the coveted rugby trophy aloft, so in a bid to inspire his men to once more lay their hands on the Bledisloe Cup, Australian coach Ewen McKenzie came up with a new initiative.
Called the Bush2Bledisloe tour, it sees the Wallabies visiting Dubbo, Orange, Bathurst and Penrith in the lead up to their August 16 meeting with the All Blacks.
Not only will Simmons and his Australian team-mates train while they are in the Central West, but they will get the chance to interact with fans as well.
It is something Simmons thinks will not only give Bathurst fans something to remember, but inspire himself and his fellow Wallabies.
“I am really interested in this kind of thing, I have a lot of family out this way and my parents are from Wellington. They moved up to Theodore [Queensland] when they were younger,” he said.
“My grandparents and my mum’s side of the family are still down here in Bathurst and Orange, so we come down here every now and then to catch up with them.
“Touching base with our fan base is what it is all about. They try to come to support us, so if we can support them and give them something for free, meet them and encourage them to see us, it will give us a home ground advantage.
“Ask any of the Waratahs players and even back in 2011, having that home support and to know they are cheering for you rather than the other team is massive.”
The 115 kilogram lock who stands at two metres tall has become a permanent fixture in the Wallabies line up since making his debut off the bench during the 2010 Tri Nations opener.
He played alongside Saint Stanislaus’ College product Beau Robinson when Queensland won the Super Rugby crown in 2011 and hopes the Waratahs’ win in the same provincial competition last Saturday night will help the Wallabies just as the Reds’ success did.
Back in 2011 the Wallabies won the Tri Nations competition for the first time in 10 years.
“Usually when an Australian team is doing well at Super Rugby it translates into Wallaby form,” he said.
Simmons knows he faces a big test against a strong All Blacks line-out when they meet at ANZ Stadium in nine days given he will be doing the calling to hookers Nathan Charles and James Hanson, who have just three Tests between them.
Still, he is looking forward to it.
“It’s quite a big challenge, the All Black defensive line out is very good and have a very high percentage of turning over and making scrappy ball, so we are looking forward to that challenge and trying to make it a good contest,” he said.
“Their combinations all over the park [are strong]. They have been around for awhile and they blood young players through the system so they get to know they system and when they get their opportunity, they can fill in because they have got good players around them.”
