Dunning on brink of Force move

[travelling_gerry]

Wayne Smith | June 11, 2009

Article from: The Australian

WALLABIES prop Matt Dunning is understood to be close to agreeing to terms with the Western Force after the Waratahs rejected his request for a one-year contract with a one-year option.

Other players coming off contract have requested a similar arrangement to give themselves the option of joining the new Super 15 expansion club for its inaugural season in 2011, but Dunning also had a more personal reason -- to bring up his century of games for NSW without being locked into an extended period on the bench.

"If anyone deserves to bring up his hundred, it is Matt Dunning," NSW chief executive Jim L'Estrange said yesterday. "He was injured (with a snapped achilles tendon) all of the 2009 season, stranded on 99.
"But he has to make the decision that is best for him. He desperately wants to get back into the gold jersey again and he knows he's still good enough to be playing for the Wallabies.

"So he has to go to where he thinks he can generate the game time to give him the best chance of getting back into the Australian side. We're hoping he decides his best chance is with the Waratahs. The reality is that we have a portfolio of quality props, Al Baxter, Benn Robinson, Sekope Kepu and Dan Palmer.

"I'm not saying any of them rank ahead of Matt, but they can't all run on at the same time. And Matt knows that."

L'Estrange said the Waratahs were not interested in signing Dunning just for the 2010 season. "Matt is a key player for us over the next two seasons. We have our succession planning to do and if he is going to be here, we want him for two
years." Force officials were guardedly optimistic yesterday they could resolve the few remaining minor obstacles standing between them and Dunning's signature.

Indications are that if Dunning was to join the Force, he would leave his family behind in Sydney, at least initially, and so is hoping to delay the move to Perth for as long as possible. Given the majority of the Force players have been released to play in the Sydney premiership, Dunning should have no difficulty persuading the club to allow him to see out the season with Eastwood.

After that, there is the issue of how often he will be able to visit his family in Sydney and have them visit him in Perth.

If Dunning does opt to join the Force, it could trigger a double blow to the Waratahs because it would provide third-choice NSW hooker Damien Fitzpatrick with a further incentive to go to WA, knowing he would be guaranteed quality front-row support.

The Force already boasts one Wallabies squad front-rower in Pek Cowan and has just signed Tim Fairbrother from the Wellington Hurricanes, but the capture of Dunning might just be enough to tip Fitzpatrick's decision in Perth's favour.
L'Estrange was unable to make Fitzpatrick, who is with the Australian under-20 side at the junior World Cup in Japan, any guarantees he would receive consistent game time if he remained with the Waratahs.

"We've got two hookers signed and at this stage he won't be ahead of Adam Freier or Tatafu Polota-Nau," L'Estrange said. "We're pushing hard to keep him because we believe it will be best for his long-term rugby development to stay with NSW. We're very hopeful."

So too are the Western Force, but it seems both franchises will be kept waiting until Fitzpatrick returns from Japan.

Beating Fitzpatrick home from Japan will be Waratahs strike weapon Rob Horne who sustained a hamstring injury in Australia's opening-match 86-0 thrashing of Canada
Electrifying Sydney University speedster Clinton Sills has been named as Horne's replacement. Sills is regarded as one of the fastest rugby players in the country.

The Australians go into Saturday's crucial clash with Wales not having conceded a try.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...4-2722,00.html

[sandgroperrugby]

Well we could get a 2 for one special out of this one quality young hooker and one older but reliable and proven at this level (though not necessarily the next level up) off of the bench prop that can cover either side of the scrum. I think that the Force recruitment team know what is best for the forward pack and is going about securing players that don’t crumble at scrum time. I think it may take a little while for all of these players to get accustomed to one another and start working together as a tight unit but when they do look out!!

[tic]

Batten down the Crispy Cremes in Perth.

[travelling_gerry]

Dont have one.

Maybe an opportunity?

[Burgs]

So long as the Force Front Row is picked on current merit and not past reputation then fine, let him come. By next seasons S14 Pek will keep him on the Bench anyway.
I honestly can't see Dunning playing any more meaningful Wallaby matches.

[shasta]

Dont have one.

Maybe an opportunity?

Looks like he's only coming for S14 season (leaving the family in Sydney). Due to that and the pending loss of A J Whalley, Miami Bakehouse has put on hold it's plans to open a Cottesloe franchise until business conditions improve.

[KenyaQuin]

Looking at players the Force have recruited and who've, with proper coaching and opportunity, turned out to be good value for money (when initially may have looked like probable lemons), I'm easy about Dunning coming over and having a spell with the Force.

[Timbo]

Isn't there a cashed up Japanese or French team without much nouse that wants a fall on your face prop with a perfect drop goal record.

Someone please save us!

[Sheikh]

If he does come, he shouldn't be on starter money. Pek and Tim are the starters and Dunning will have to prove he's better to get starts.

Useful bench player, but we've got Boof and K-Bomb and I'd rather give them runs off the bench.

[robyn <3]

PLEASE! Exactly MSB, what about Kieran Longbottom and Gareth Hardy? Kieran is the first of many Western-Australian-born young guys who will come though OUR system and play for the force. It is his or Boof's spot Dunning will be taking and that is hideous to think about. We just don't need him Both are strong players and we just don't need Dunning. Either one of the boys we are already paying will miss out or we can waste money on Dunning and he can miss out on game time. That money would be better invested elsewhere in our recruitment program. Please no!

[slomo]

sign him up on a pay per play basis...
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[travelling_gerry]

Justin Chadwick
June 11, 2009 - 3:09PM
Western Force will know by Friday whether they have been successful in luring Wallabies prop Matt Dunning to the Super 14 franchise.

And the Force have put an offer to Lions flyhalf Andre Pretorius after Stormers five-eighth Peter Grant knocked back the Force's advances.

Dunning, stranded on 99 caps for the Waratahs, is eager to come to Perth to further his career but is hesitant about leaving his family behind.

The 43-Test prop, who can play on both sides of the scrum, was forced to sit out the entire 2009 Super 14 campaign after tearing his Achilles tendon while playing for the Wallabies last November.

"It's a big decision for Matt," Force rugby manager Mitch Hardy said.

"He's just in discussions with family and trying to sort things out there.

"Possibly his family will stay on the east coast and he'll come over here for the six months per year.

"We were expecting a decision from him on Tuesday but we've given him a bit of extra breathing space so the deadline there is tomorrow afternoon.

"I think the family thing is the most important thing for him."

Hardy said the Force could provide Dunning with the perfect platform to press his claims for a Wallabies recall.

"We would have a great front-row trio there in (hooker Tim) Fairbrother, Dunning and (Pek) Cowan," Hardy said.

"Matt sees a big opportunity of coming over to the Force where he will get a lot of game time as opposed to staying at the Waratahs.

"He would also be able to put his best foot forward for the 2011 World Cup."

The acquisition of Dunning would more than offset the loss of fan favourite AJ Whalley, who will link up with French outfit US Dax next season.

"To have someone like Dunning, who has Test experience under his belt, coming back in to our organisation will bring a lot of experience back to the table," Hardy said.

Hardy said the Force had tabled an offer to 30-year-old Pretorius and were awaiting a decision from the 31-Test veteran.

"He's interested," Hardy said.

"(Coach) John Mitchell's had a chat to him and we've put an offer in front of him and we are just waiting for a decision.

"He has to weigh up where his rugby aspirations lie as to whether or not he still aspires to play for the Springboks and be involved in Currie Cup campaigns back in South Africa.

"We are hoping that the contract we put together will allow him to achieve both those options."

Star playmaker James O'Connor will wait to see who the Force secure as their new five-eighth before making a decision on his future.

© 2009 AAP

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news...0611-c4js.html

[mudskipper]

Could someone inform the Perth Taxi drivers....

[retiredrucker]

pretorious and dunning are both injury prone.

If Dunning has his wife and kids on the eastcoast they and he are going to be unhappy, which will lead to poor unfocused performances. Happpy wife happy life.

[lara93]

he has a wife?