Moon deserves his chance
By Mark Stevens
29/9/18
Rob Hunter believes Ben Moon’s call-up into the England training squad this week was just reward for his consistency over a great number of years.
The 29-year-old prop is currently one of the club’s longest-serving players, amassing over 220 first team appearances since making his debut in National League One against Sedgley Park back in October 2008.
A cornerstone of the Chiefs pack as they have risen over the years to English champions, the Tiverton-born was summoned earlier this week to Bristol by England head coach Eddie Jones after Joe Marler confirmed he was retiring from international rugby.
He lined-up alongside club-mates Jack Nowell, Henry Slade and Harry Williams in a 36-man squad, who were meeting ahead of the upcoming Quilter Autumn Internationals, where England will tackle Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa.
His elevation, however, has been praised by forwards coach Hunter, a man who knows him inside out.
“It’s fantastic for Moony,” said Hunter. “He’s one of the most consistent players in the league and is very under-rated. He does a fantastic job for us and he’s very clear about his role out on the pitch. He’s doesn’t do the flamboyant stuff, he’s just gets on with his job, he knows his value to the team and is arguably one of the best handling props around.
“As I often say, you know what you get with him. He helps produce hot ball, he makes his stop tackles, he clears out and he’s very good at set-piece. He does everything you ask of him, but he does it very well, every game.”
Hunter’s view was endorsed by Chiefs’ head coach Ali Hepher, who added: “He’s had to work hard and keep sticking at it, and it just shows you that sometimes an opportunity arises.
“I think he enjoyed it up there. He got stuck into training and certainly he’ll be well and truly ready for it, so that step up at this stage of his career should be good and comfortable for him.
“It says to everyone out there that if you perform well over a long period, you might get your opportunity.”
But whilst Moon was given his chance, team-mate Sam Simmonds will have to wait a little longer after he was a surprise absentee from Jones’ latest squad.
The talented back-row has started the new campaign on fire, scoring five tries in just three appearances to date. Two of those came in last week’s victory up at Newcastle Falcons, where he produced a man-of-the-match display to help the Chiefs make it four wins from four starts.
Although disappointed to miss out on inclusion, Hunter believes Simmonds - who has won seven Test caps - will continue to flourish and keep knocking on the selection door.
“Simmo reminds everyone every week what he’s about,” said Hunter. “We love Sam here and we’ve got a very specific role for him within the side. It’s a funny one, though, because you have to decided how you play him and how you get him on the ball, because when you do he’s electric.
“If you give him a role which involves him not touching a ball, then obviously you’re wasting him. It’s a bit like Rob [Baxter] said last week, if you need someone to terrorise defences, sidestep people and be a rockstar in your attack, then he’s your man. That’s not to sat he can’t defend because he’s a fantastic tackler and he’s good over the ball.
“For me, all the talk about size is just so misunderstood. If you are sitting there looking at everything, you look at his talents and you say ‘how do I get those talents onto the pitch?’ For us, that’s very easy.”