Ban reduced for Australia lock Rob Simmons

Rob Simmons: Australia lock sees ban reduced to five weeks

Australia lock Rob Simmons has had his eight-week suspension reduced to five weeks following an appeal.

Simmons was banned for a tip tackle on France flanker Yannick Nyanga in the second half of the Wallabies' 33-6 defeat in Paris earlier this month.

He subsequently missed the matches against Italy and England and will also sit out the final game of the European tour against Wales on Saturday.

The Six Nations Committee said in a statement that Simmons will now be free to play from 4 February.

"The appeal committee found that the player's offending had merited a mid-range entry point, rather than the top end entry point that the Judicial Officer had originally found," read the statement.

"After applying aggravating and mitigating factors, the appeal committee imposed a reduced sanction of five weeks."

Meanwhile fellow lock Sitaleki Timani has been banned for a week for striking an opponent in the win over Italy.

Australia will travel to Cardiff looking to make it three straight Test wins after victories over Italy and England following the defeat by France.