Sam Simmonds scores hat-trick to smash Premiership scoring record
Rugby NewsTuesday, 18 May 2021 at 21:56
Sam Simmonds smashed the Premiership try-scoring record for a season as his hat-trick helped Exeter Chiefs to a 32-12 victory at London Irish.
The British and Irish Lions number eight took less than seven minutes to equal Christian Wade and Dominic Chapman's mark of 17 tries.
He went in from close range 15 minutes later to set a new mark of 18 tries as Exeter went on to secure a try-scoring bonus point early in the second half.
Simmonds then rounded off his tally late on with the win helping Exeter return to second place in the Premiership..
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5 biggest names who AREN’T on Warren Gatland’s standby list
#1. Jonny May (England)
The wing’s form has dropped off a bit this year, but his absence will still come as a shock to many. He has a brilliant try-scoring record for England and is one of the best finishers around. However, a report in The Times suggests Gatland doesn’t see him as a brilliant player and sees him as more of a ‘speed’ merchant.
Reported Standby list: Jack Nowell (England), Jonny May (England), James Lowe (Ireland), Simon Zebo (Ireland), Hugo Keenan (Ireland), Leigh Halfpenny (Wales)
#2. Callum Sheedy (Wales)
During the 2021 Six Nations, Dan Biggar came under huge pressure to keep his Wales place, with Bristol's Sheedy breathing down his neck. However, the talented fly-half hasn't made the standby list while Biggar heads to South Africa as favourite to start for the Lions.
Reported Standby list: Johnny Sexton (Ireland), George Ford (England), Marcus Smith (England)
#3. Joe Marler (England)
Given how much was made of England not selecting Marler to start the World Cup final, with his scrummaging power missed, his case for selection by the Lions to face South Africa seemed strong. However, with Marler himself admitting he was a bit of a 'sh**' in 2017 it seems he's not even being considered for a call-up.
Reported standby list: Cian Healy (Ireland), Rhys Carre (Wales), Ellis Genge (England
#4. Leigh Halfpenny (Wales)
Arguably the best reader of play in the game, we can also call him the best goal-kicker in the world, if you like. Injuries hit Halfpenny at the wrong time during the Six Nations, but the Lions player of the series in 2013 remains a class act.
Standby list: Jack Nowell (England), Jonny May (England), James Lowe (Ireland), Simon Zebo (Ireland), Hugo Keenan (Ireland)
#5. Jonathan Davies (Wales)
Perhaps the biggest name to have been left out by Gatland. He has started all six of the Lions’ most recent Test matches and was named player of the series by his team-mates after touring New Zealand in 2017.
Reported standby list: Manu Tuilagi (England), Henry Slade (England), Cameron Redpath (Scotland), Garry Ringrose (Ireland)
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- Jordie Barrett over Damian de Allende is far from being correct. The hype around Dupont is also overreaching, he's probably 4th in the world and has been since the 2023 WC. He also avoids certain matchups which is strange. The rest of the list is pretty good apart from minor subjective biases.JasonMarlow16-09-2026
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