Dunning heavier, now happier

[Burgs]

Dunning heavier, now happier

By Adrian Warren
May 20, 2007

STACKING on the kilograms has made recalled Australia prop Matt Dunning a happier as well as heavier chappy and helped put the enjoyment back in his rugby.

The big Waratahs front rower played 24 successive Tests from the 2003 World Cup final through to the 2005 spring tour.

However, the 28-year-old prop didn't play a single Test last year and appeared to be in the international wilderness after being part of the much maligned Wallabies front row on the 2005 tour.

His fortunes took another turn for the worse at the start of the season when he missed a number of games through injury, but impressive form in the second half of the Super 14 tournament secured selection in the initial Wallabies squad of the season.

Dunning felt his strong display against New Zealand lynch pin Carl Hayman helped him get back in the selectors' good books.

The Canada-born prop revealed he had put on around eight kilos and was now up to around 121kg, which he regarded as his best playing weight.

"The last couple of years I've been looking more at keeping my weight down, so I went back to doing stuff I'm good at and working on my strengths, so I put a bit of weight on,'' Dunning said.

"That was aided by the injury I had earlier in the year, being in a knee brace for four or five weeks there's not much else I can do.

"Mentally, I want to play and I enjoy coming to training and thinking about football, I probably wasn't in that place in 2005 and 2006.

"Maybe keeping my weight down and not eating was making me irritable.''

Dunning said re-starts coach and 1999 Wallabies World Cup-winning hooker Michael Foley had placed a much bigger emphasis on the scrummaging of the back five. (I guess that's why Dunning and Baxter are back in )

The Waratahs prop could yet line up against his brother and fellow prop Casey, at this year's World Cup.

Casey has played a handful of Tests for Canada but will undergo ankle surgery tomorrow.

One of the Wallabies' new co-captains, flanker Phil Waugh, is set to resume training tomorrow after suffering an ankle tendon injury last week.

AAP

[Flamethrower]

The last couple of years I've been looking more at keeping my weight down, so I went back to doing stuff I'm good at and working on my strengths.

And that would be..................................... eating

[pruc]

maybe his now big enough to be a human cannon ball? thats why he was selected

[Jess]

Maybe it's just because he's actually bigger than knuckles now and knuckles is a wee bit scared of him.

And with the new 'angry' al baxter I'm guessing Connolly just knew what was good for him... or else.

hehe.

[Burgs]

Have to admit, the above versions of logic are more feesable than for either of them being selected on merit

[prop53]

good to see the ladd going places again

[chook]

The Dunning is the most under-rated player in world football.

[Burgs]

Oh, I dunno Chook, I rate him fairly regularly.
Probably on second to how often I rate Trestle...

[chook]

The Dunning likes to feed off Trestle

[prop53]

Dunning just likes to eat period.

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