Dunning Not Content With Fine

Warratahs prop Matt Dunning anounced today that he will appeal the $3,000.00 fine imposed on him for being inappropriately affected by alcohol in public. His stance is backed by the Australian Rugby Union Players' Association who say that there is an important precedent at stake in this case. The precedent seems, from what I can gather from their argument, that if Dunning can be fined for drinking in a hotel, then any player who has alcohol at any time in a hotel can be fined. As an ancillary and procedural matter, the Association claims that it was unfair that they were unable to introduce evidence about the intention of the Players Code of Conduct under which Dunning was convicted.

The Assocaition, I would say, seems to miss the point. Surely the key here is that Dunning is alleged to have damaged a taxi while intoxicated. The damage was caused outside of any hotel, in a public place as he was being delivered to his destination, Bill Young's hotel. He has admitted being under the influence of alcohol at the time, and that people who saw him would have known he was under the influence, or drunk. He's admitted that much, but still denies that he was drunk. If you accept his argument, then it comes down to a subjective test that would reflect the capacity for consuming alcohol that individual had. Surely the objective test is the better one, and the code is aimed at protecting the public as well as the reputation of the game in general.

I'm not trying to say that players shouldn't ever get on the turps, but I am suggesting that players should behave themselves in public. In this case the police were involved, as was a taxi driver who sustained some damage to the vehicle by which he earns his living. Dunning allegedly did nothing about the incident until such time as he was contacted by the police, according to reports. He shouldn't be getting into trouble like this, and most employees are responsible for bringing their employers into disrepute if they attract undue attention to themselves in their personal lives.

As for the argument about the introduction of evidence on the point of the intention of the code of conduct, I think that is valid. These semi-judicial bodies need to realise that they are making decisions that are very important and ought to allow evidence to be called that may have some bearing on the issue to ensure that the correct decision is made. The point seems realted to the issue, and so Dunning ought to have been allowed to call evidence in relation to it. Would it affect the outcome? Who cares. The fact is that it might have, or conceivably could have and so ought to have been allowed. He should make the argument on appeal and see how he gets on. Click here for more on that.

Greg Gowden delivers an interesting round of ussie rugby this week in a colum covering mutliple areas. A good read, and you can find it here. Also Greg covers several changes to the Wallaby team that are being mooted for the end of year tour this season, to try to change the way the team is performing at present. It seems that a decision has been made that a new half back is required, and adventurous changes are promised for the end of year tour. Click here to see what some of those are.

Newcomer to the Wallabies training camp, Brett Sheehan, sent a scare through the camp yesterday when struck in the eye by a tackle bag. Apparently he was blinded for a period of time, and some reports had him with a broken eye socket. Apparently all has been cleared and he will continue to train with the team. For the latest on that, click here.

I'm sad to say that there was noting reported on the All Blacks today of any great moment. It seems that some players have been released to take part in the new domestic competition and as such the focus on the national team has eased somewhat. It is a shame that we are not seeing the same media bickering that was the build up for the last test in Brisbane. I guess that is to be expected with the Bledisloe Cup already having been decided, however a clean sweep would surely be a good thing to round out the final clash of this season with the Wallabies. A big ask, and possibly a loss would do the team some good before heading off to the Republic to take on the Africans twice at home. The All Blacks will need to have their lineout sorted when they head over to the Republic.