Last year he took a break from rugby and spent some time in South Africa doing conservation work as well enjoying a stint in the Japanese Top League.
Simmons said the Waratahs needed to be on their game given how sharp Pocock usually is after returning from injury.
“I’ve seen him come back 10 out of 10,” Simmons said. “He’s going to come and perform and he’s going to have to be something we have to consider through the week. We know we’ll have something coming for us if we don’t pay attention to what he can bring to the game.
“I know playing with David is always fun and playing against him is not so fun. He’s really going to lift that team and they’ll be better for a player like that coming back into it.”
The Brumbies have been short on depth in the back row this year with the departures of Scott Fardy, Jordan Smiler and Jarrad Butler.
Pocock could be the surge of energy the Brumbies need to kick off their stagnant season, which has yielded two wins and two losses.
After being pipped 18-10 by the Queensland Reds, then thumped 33-10 by the Melbourne Rebels, the Brumbies will be eyeing the Waratahs clash as a chance to motor their way up the Australian conference.
By the same token, so too will the Waratahs, who are on a high following their 51-27 demolition of the Rebels on Sunday in Sydney.
One of the most pleasing aspects for coach Daryl Gibson would have been seeing his men pull their weight at scrum time against a highly regarded Rebels pack.
The return of tight-head prop Sekope Kepu and Simmons from injury ensured the NSW scrum wasn’t a pushover, as it was against the Sharks and Jaguares.
“We knew we had to wear them down and match them up front and then we knew the rest would unfold,” Simmons said. “No one really wants to talk anything up, but it was good to not get the same result as the week before. We need to keep improving that and working in those areas.
“We came up with a game plan. It was good to see over an 80-minute period that the boys stuck at it and didn’t go away from the game plan, especially after those first 20 minutes where we knew it was going to be tough.”
Simmons, who was one of the Waratahs’ key signings this year, said he had settled in well after a long stint at the Reds.
“The guys have accepted me coming down and made me part of the team as quick as possible,” Simmons said. “From day one I couldn’t have had more fun. I knew a couple of the guys and they’ve introduced me and got me in amongst the group and got out and about off the field.”
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Tom Decent is a journalist with Fairfax Media.
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