Bledisloe Cup: James Slipper and Rob Simmons were schoolboy teammates and their bond continues at the Wallabies with their school coach
A bond that has existed since school will grow stronger for Wallabies James Slipper and Rob Simmons on Saturday night with their schoolboy coach Matt Taylor still guiding them
It’s fitting that James Slipper will celebrate his 100th Test on Saturday night at Suncorp Stadium with fellow Wallabies centurion Rob Simmons and the team’s defence coach Matt Taylor.
The trio’s bond dates back to 2006, with Taylor coaching The Southport School’s First XV rugby side that included Slipper and Simmons.
Taylor guided TSS to the GPS premiership, and repeated the feat the following year, with Slipper still part of the team.
Taylor’s association with Slipper and Simmons continued at the Reds Academy and when he was a Queensland assistant.
And it’s a seemingly unbreakable relationship that has extended to the international arena with the Wallabies.
“We’ve had a lot to do with each other over the years,” Taylor said/.
“For me it’s been great coaching them again. They mean a lot to me and it’s great when those guys who were young men achieve so much in the game in terms of the amount of caps they’ve earnt for their country.
“They’re both good guys and I’ve really enjoyed it.”
Taylor said prop Slipper’s ability to turn his career and life around after being banned for two months ban for using cocaine in 2018 had been inspirational.
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“He had a tough time there for a while. He had a few issues that he had to sort out, but he’s very proud of where he is now,” Taylor said.
By working through those issues he’s a better person. It’s great. He’s come through the other side.
“You talk to anyone in the squad, a lot of players think very highly of him.
“It’s great he’s found his way through and he’s got 100 Tests for his country.”
Taylor was also full of praise for 31-year-old lock Simmons, who will make his 104th Test appearance on Saturday night when the Wallabies attempt to inflict a rare defeat on the All Blacks.
“Consider how many times he’s played for Australia ... he’s been constantly around the team for all that time,” Taylor said.
“Everyone you talk to will tell you what a great lineout technician he is, and that’s one of the reasons why he’s starting this weekend.
“You’d have to say he’s been one of the best locks in the game in the past 10 years.”
Taylor said the friendship between “boy from the bush” Simmons and “coastie” Slipper was a good example of how different types of people could bond at a boarding school.
“They’ve got an enduring friendship that will probably last them all their lives now,” he said.
Taylor said the “stars had aligned” for Slipper to play 100th Test at Suncorp Stadium during
“I think his family have got a box at Suncorp, so they’re all going to be there,” he said
“The guys get a lot of confidence playing at Suncorp Stadium. They enjoy playing there.
“They often see it as a national stadium because it’s a constant in Queensland, whereas sometimes down in Sydney you could be playing at maybe one of three places.”