BATH: World Cup-winning lock David Giffin has challenged Rob Simmons to take charge of the Wallabies' set piece and prove he can be one of the best second-rowers in the world.
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The Wallabies will travel to Cardiff on Tuesday to finalise preparations for their World Cup opener against Fiji at Millennium Stadium.
Simmons has the chance to cement his place as the Wallabies' lineout leader when he teams up with Kane Douglas in the starting side.
The 26-year-old is lining up in his second World Cup and has vowed to turn an injury-interrupted year into a positive by throwing himself into the tournament.
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika asked Giffin to tell locks Will Skelton and Kane Douglas they had been picked in the World Cup squad as part of plan to embrace Wallabies champions of the past.
Giffin partnered John Eales in the second row in the 1999 triumph, and he wants Queensland star Simmons to take his game to a new level on the international stage.
"He's still yet to show his best for Australia," Giffin said of Simmons.
"I think he's got an enormous amount of ability, but I think he should really use this opportunity at a World Cup to stamp his name as one of the best locks going around in world rugby.
"I think he's certainly got that ability but, to be honest, I don't think he's always shown that over the last few years. I think he can look to push his case not just for the Wallabies but to be one of the best."
Simmons started on the Wallabies' bench in the 2011 World Cup opener, stuck behind James Horwill and Dan Vickerman.
But now it's his job to "run the show" in the lineout and help the Wallabies' forward pack muscle up.
His year has been plagued by injury problems, missing the first eight weeks of the Super Rugby season and then breaking his wrist in a Wallabies Test against Argentina.
"Mentally I had a break at the start of the year, we've all been getting ready for this and we're not going to let anything get in the way," Simmons said.
"Obviously we want to win the [World Cup], but everyone wants to win it. In a year like this it's not really hard to get motivated.
"I've been doing the lineouts for a few years now and trying to run the show … I want to get the whole perception of Australia's scrum and lineout changed."
Giffin said the past players were excited to be invited by Cheika to be a part of the World Cup build up.
"It's certainly the most excited I've been [since the 2003 tournament]. The set piece faces the ultimate test in the World Cup," Giffin said.
