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Forgotten English standoff Joe Simmonds is flying it in the Top 14
By Ian Cameron
Forgotten English flyhalf Joe Simmonds has emerged as the top scorer in the Top 14, showcasing his prowess with new club Pau in the French top flight.
The 26-year-old, who had fallen off England's selection radar prior to making the jump across the channel, has taken the French rugby league by storm, leading the points table with an impressive tally of 77.
Simmonds' points tally includes 17 penalties and 13 conversions, solidifying his position at the summit of the league's scoring charts. Pau, currently sitting in second place on the table, are on 22 points, as are league leaders Stade Francais; both teams having played six games each in the highly competitive Top 14.
Simmonds' rise through the points-scoring ranks will come as no surprise to Exeter Chiefs fans, even if he was consistently overlooked by England. The brother of British & Irish Lion Sam Simmonds, who spent his formative years at Exeter, played a pivotal role in the Chiefs' success in the English Premiership and in the Champions Cup before making the move to Pau, a decision that looks like a wise one based on the first six games of the 26 game regular season.
On the heels of Simmonds in the points-scoring race is another forgotten talent, former Ireland flyhalf Paddy Jackson. Having left London Irish in the aftermath of their collapse last season, Jackson now dons the colours of Lyon and has amassed an impressive 74 points. The 31-year-old Irishman has brought a wealth of experience to his new club, adding a dynamic edge to Lyon's attack. The Ulsterman - who was capped 25 times by Ireland - hasn't played for an Irish province since his IRFU contract was terminated in 2018 following a highly publicised court case in Northern Ireland.
Simmonds isn't the only English talent on the table. Former Leicester Tigers standoff Zack Henry also features among the league's top scorers. The Stade Francais playmaker currently sits in sixth on the points-scoring chart with 51 points to his name. He's scored 13 penalties and six conversions so far this season for the early season league leaders.
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Latest Comments
Perenara is super woke, the treaty of long ago is irrelevant to a game of rugby in Italy. By referencing it and claiming the countries going through tough times is clearly because Perenara doesn't agree with the democratically elected government of New Zealand that people from all ethnicities voted for. Perenara is making it divisive and political despite many of his team mates that wouldn't agree with his decision. The Allblacks saved this year's worst performance to combine it with the most divisive haka statement. Perhaps it's overdue now for NZ rugby to leave the haka for home games only, ensure that only the players that want to do it are included and never again have 'insertions' added by political activist players.
Go to commentsI expected a larger win than this and the ABs were off slightly whilst the rested Italians were well up for this and gave a real committed performance
Frustrating but a lot of those ABs forwards have done huge minutes this tour and Italy are not the side from the World Cup
Remember they beat wales and Scotland in the 6N
Drew with France and lost to England by 3
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