Wallabies vs Springboks: Australia recall lock Rob Simmons on standby

DISCARDED Wallabies lock Rob Simmons has been called back into camp in Brisbane ahead of Saturday night’s must-win clash with South Africa at Suncorp Stadium.

Rob Simmons is in the squad to face the Springboks. (Phil Walter/Getty Images)

Discarded Wallaby lock Rob Simmons was dramatically recalled back into the Australian test squad just hours before the kick-off to tonight’s Rugby Championship match against South Africa.

Simmons was in Sydney preparing to play for the Rays in Saturday’s National Rugby Championship clash with the Canberra Vikings at Concord Oval when he got the call to head straight back to Suncorp Stadium on standby.

Rugby Australia have not yet said who Simmons was on standby for, or whether he would play against the Springboks, and there are no reports of injuries to other backrowers.

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Simmons is no certainty to feature. (Phil Walter/Getty Images)

Simmons had been training with the Wallabies in Brisbane up until Thursday when he was dumped from Michael Cheika’s 23-man squad and replaced by Rory Arnold.

Despite having already picked their side to play the Vikings, the Rays reshuffled their line-up to accommodate Simmons only to lose him unexpectedly just before kick-off.

The Wallabies, sitting bottom of the championship standings after two heavy losses to New Zealand, have already lost Israel Folau and David Pocock for the must-win match.

Folau was a late withdrawal because of his dodgy ankle while Pocock succumbed to a neck injury. Dane Haylett-Petty will start at fullback for Folau while Pete Samu will get his chance in the starting side for Pocock.

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Originally published as Wallabies vs Springboks: Australia recall lock Rob Simmons on standby