Simmons must ‘put his foot down’

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has urged Rob Simmons "put his foot down" in Saturday's second Bledisloe Cup Test against the All Blacks in Dunedin.

Simmons' selection for Cheika's team on Thursday came as a surprise to many, with the lock set to play alongside Adam Coleman, with Rory Arnold moving to the bench.

Simmons, 28, had a poor Super Rugby campaign and was recently released from his contract with the Reds. He is expected to sign for the Waratahs soon.

Cheika, who dropped Simmons twice last year, had words of encouragement for the 72-Test veteran.

"It's an opportunity for Simmons to put his foot down now," Cheika told Yahoo! New Zealand in Christchurch on Thursday.

"He's having a change in his own career now … and I think it's time he puts a marker down for his international career as well in dominating that lock position.

"Saturday is the day to show that. He knows that as well. It's not anything I wouldn't say to him directly either. Saturday is the day for him to show up and say, 'Yeah, this is what I can do."