KEY POINTS:
The quips keep coming. Is he always like this or is it his defence mechanism?
Not sure, but we do know that a number of times in his career Wallaby prop Matt Dunning has been classified as a joke, someone not worthy of a small number on his
jersey in international rugby.
He wore the humiliation of the Dumb and Dunning headline when he kicked an instinctive dropped goal with the Waratahs needing a bonus-point try instead and was in a late-night scuffle with a taxi driver.
But it was the Wallaby selectors last year who aimed the most painful blow in Dunning's direction. His cards were marked, "Thanks but no thanks".
The 28-year-old was unwanted. His part in the 2005 embarrassing front row fiasco against England could not be tolerated. If he was going to be a test prop he had to compete better. His record of 24 consecutive tests from the 2003 World Cup final to the tour of Britain was over.
The message from the Wallaby staff was emphatic. They wanted Dunning to concentrate on being a loosehead prop, not a bit-part player who covered both sides of the scrum. They needed him to lose weight and regain it in muscle and they wanted an attitude change.
Part one of Dunning's redemption came with his selection for the Wallabies' Tri-Nations start against the Springboks, and the prop answered with a stout performance.
"Matt was not expected to do so well and he did well," forwards coach Michael Foley said. "Some people thought we got hysterical about it but he did do well."
Dunning still has a roly-poly figure that clicks over at about 123kg, a physique that suggests a bygone era in rugby. But the trainers and staff believe he has hit new standards.
He felt better after his reconditioning, he had more energy around the field.
"I still have a lot to improve on and a good plastic surgeon could do a lot with this face but there is a lot of improvement needed in my game," he said.
The big test within tomorrow's international, though, is against Carl Hayman, the rock-strong tighthead prop in the All Black scrum.
Dunning is not getting overtaken by any hype about his rebirth against the Boks.
"Look, it was only one game. This week is a far greater challenge, I think. No disrespect to the Springboks at all - they are a great pack and a great side. But I think New Zealand showed last weekend their front row was pretty destructive and pretty impressive."
The Wallabies have prepared for a much lower scrum engagement from the All Blacks. They have worked on ways to counter a faster and lower scrum hit than they got from the Springboks.
Hayman was the pivotal weapon in a physical All Black unit.
"He is just so consistent," Foley said. "Tighthead prop is the toughest place of all, physically, and there are different challenges all the time."
Foley, the former Reds and Wallaby hooker, recalled playing against Hayman early in his career in 2001 when the tyro prop was not so consistent.
"Now he hits each scrum with a lot of force and you can't outsmart a guy like that until you match him physically."
Foley wants referee Marius Jonker to have an even call with his scrum commands so the front rows can sort out their tempo. The Wallabies feel the All Blacks scrum sets very late and low and almost gets a roll into the engagements - something they are sure to make the South African referee aware of.
The entire All Black scrum has a synchronised power that Dunning agreed was most impressive. Without help from the back five forwards, a powerful front row could not function properly.
"The All Blacks seem to be very well coached. You can see they are all working very hard to the same sort of plan and Carl Hayman is the rock which makes the while thing just come together.
"Mind you, Tony Woodcock was pretty destructive last week too."
Dunning was born in Canada while his parents were on a working holiday, but he grew up in New South Wales. He first propped against Hayman in 1996 when they opposed each other for their national secondary school sides.
Observed Dunning: "He sets up virtually identical every scrum. His engagement processes, everything he does, is like a good golfer's routine and he seems to do it so easily.
"So even when he is tired he can still do the same thing. Or maybe he doesn't get tired - one of the two. I know I do, but he is pretty impressive."
Dunning gave credit to Foley and former national coach Alec Evans for their tuition in a range of areas about his game.
He said he would not try to unsettle Hayman with any sledging - the job was too tough to waste his breath on a lost cause. Occasionally Hayman offered a dry line but usually they were both intent on working hard. Nor did Dunning think it a good plan to rile Hayman - the quiet players were the most dangerous.
Asked whether it would help to upset Hayman's routine, Dunning quickly turned the question back on his interrogator, asking for some ideas. It showed the quirky part of Dunning's nature, which has occasionally got him in strife off the field and brought some concentration slips on it.
Dunning admitted he let the criticism of his play get to him. He took it too personally and his play suffered. He felt he may have taken some unfair hits in the media but he had learned to cope better.
"There are always things you think are unfair in the press. You blokes' job is to sell papers, not to worry about my self-esteem. Look, maybe I have been unfairly treated; probably I have, but I'll leave it at that. It is in the past. you can't get bitter. You have to get better."
