Matt Dunning
Encyclopedia
Matt Dunning is an Australian rugby union footballer. He was educated at Northholm Grammar School
and represented New South Wales and Australian Schools, U19s and U21s. Dunning plays club rugby for Eastwood
and has represented the New South Wales Waratahs
in the Super 14
since 2001. He made his international test debut at the age of 24 on 25 October 2003 during the 2003 Rugby World Cup
. The match, against Namibia
was won 142-0 and is the largest winning margin for an Australian side. The only other match he played in during the tournament was the 17-20 loss against England
in the final. He is also well known for his drop goal in the 2003 Super 12 season. His team, the NSW Waratahs, needed a bonus point to make the finals. Since the Waratahs were playing with advantage, and still needed two more tries to gain the bonus point, Dunning decided to kick a drop goal, which he assumed would miss. This would result in the penalty being awarded, which would allow the ball to be kicked into touch and possibly a line-out drive that could lead to a try. Unfortunately, the kick hit its mark and sailed through the posts, much to his and his teammates' dismay.
Dunning's scrummaging
style has at times been criticized.
His brother is Canadian prop Casey Dunning
.
Northholm Grammar School
Northholm Grammar School is associated with the Anglican Church of Australia and is located in Fiddletown, New South Wales, Australia.The school was established in 1983 and celebrated 20 years of operation in 2003, an event which Northholm highlighted by 'Back to Northholm' day, where current and...
and represented New South Wales and Australian Schools, U19s and U21s. Dunning plays club rugby for Eastwood
Eastwood Rugby Club
Eastwood Rugby Club is a rugby union club playing in the Sydney grade competition. The club is based at T G Millner Field, named in honour of its benefactor Colonel Tom Millner MC VD, and the club's players and supporters are primarily drawn from the Northern Suburbs and Hills District of Sydney....
and has represented the New South Wales Waratahs
New South Wales Waratahs
The New South Wales Waratahs are an Australian rugby union football team, representing the majority of New South Wales in the Super 15 Super Rugby competition...
in the Super 14
Super 14
Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...
since 2001. He made his international test debut at the age of 24 on 25 October 2003 during the 2003 Rugby World Cup
2003 Rugby World Cup
The 2003 Rugby World Cup was the fifth Rugby World Cup and was won by England. Originally planned to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, all games were shifted to Australia following a contractual dispute over ground signage rights between the New Zealand Rugby Football Union and Rugby World...
. The match, against Namibia
Namibia national rugby union team
The Namibian rugby union team, nicknamed the Welwitschias or Biltongboere, represents Namibia at rugby union. Although they are a tier-three nation in the International Rugby Board tier system, the team have participated in all three Rugby World Cup competitions since their first appearance in 1999...
was won 142-0 and is the largest winning margin for an Australian side. The only other match he played in during the tournament was the 17-20 loss against England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
in the final. He is also well known for his drop goal in the 2003 Super 12 season. His team, the NSW Waratahs, needed a bonus point to make the finals. Since the Waratahs were playing with advantage, and still needed two more tries to gain the bonus point, Dunning decided to kick a drop goal, which he assumed would miss. This would result in the penalty being awarded, which would allow the ball to be kicked into touch and possibly a line-out drive that could lead to a try. Unfortunately, the kick hit its mark and sailed through the posts, much to his and his teammates' dismay.
Dunning's scrummaging
Scrum (rugby union)
In rugby union a scrum is a means of restarting play after a minor infringement. It involves up to eight players from each team, known as the pack or forward pack, binding together in three rows and interlocking with the free opposing teams forwards. At this point the ball is fed into the gap...
style has at times been criticized.
His brother is Canadian prop Casey Dunning
Casey Dunning
Casey Dunning is an international rugby union player for Canada, who grew up in Australia. He plays at prop and played for English club Pertemps Bees during 06/07 season. In the 06/07 season Dunning broke his ankle which resulted with him being sidelined for many months, however he did make a...
.