Matt Giteau isn't the only Wallabies stalwart under pressure to regain his starting position with quiet achiever Rob Simmons squeezing out veteran lock Nathan Sharpe.

Coach Robbie Deans' high regard of Simmons' physical and efficient second-row play and rugby smarts have led to the 22-year-old gaining the job as Australia's lineout general for the start of the Tri-Nations.

In just his seventh Test, the Queenslander stepped up and delivered impressively as caller for the Wallabies to dominate the South African lineout in their 39-20 win on Saturday night.

Sharpe relinquished the honour to Simmons and was forced to come off the bench, replacing James Horwill in the second half, in his 95th Test.

Although the Western Force skipper, 33, is far more likely to achieve his 100-Test milestone at the Rugby World Cup than Giteau, who has 92 caps and was dumped from the 22-man squad to play the Springboks, he has a tough ask to unseat Simmons or Horwill.

The pair were instrumental in the Reds' unheralded pack laying the platform for their Super Rugby title this season, providing quality grunt work for an ultra-talented backline to thrive.

Simmons only made his starting debut for Queensland last year when Horwill was sidelined by knee surgery and admitted he was still surprised by his rapid rise.

It's put him in position to boss around the likes of Sharpe and fellow veteran Dan Vickerman, Australia's two starting locks at the 2007 World Cup, at training and in the Tri-Nations.

Simmons idolised Sharpe, a fellow graduate of The Southport School (TSS), when he first played the game, while his goal now is to emulate Vickerman's lineout calling ability.

"Obviously I grew up watching those guys playing together and I remember a couple of years ago sitting in the stands watching Dan Vickerman running the Waratahs lineout and everything seemed to (click)," he said.

"He was the head of it and he made everyone work around him and they knew what their job was, and he did his right, and everyone did their's right.

"That's something that I've been trying to strive for, leading that lineout and asking for perfection from everyone.

"The honour to call it at this level is great but I've got a lot to improve in that area as well."

It was a homecoming of sorts for Simmons, and four teammates, on Monday when the Wallabies kicked off a 10-day camp at his old school on the Gold Coast.

Simmons came through TSS 11 years after Sharpe, while back-rower Scott Higginbotham, injured prop James Slipper and winger Luke Morahan also graduated from there.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP