The Bath front rower performed his primary hooker’s duties with complete assurance; smashed enthusiastically into a couple of meaty Italian forwards as he drove upfield; did all the right things in latching and guarding; and topped things off with a shoulder-first ruck entry that almost sent Maro Itoje rocketing into Azzurri airspace.
All things considered, it was a promising introduction to international rugby: a strong statement of intent and a clear sign of more to come.
But having waited patiently for his first opportunity, will a second one materialise? Or will Dunn be cast into the circle of rugby hell populated by a handful of lost souls who were granted a single tantalising taste of Test rugby off the bench and then banished – talented players from earlier times who would have felt socially distanced, had social distancing been invented.
Luke Cowan-Dickie’s injury hassles have given Dunn a better shot at featuring again, but the fact remains: England coaches have been in the habit of handing out cheap caps for donkey’s years.
If you’re struggling to remember the Bristol prop Jason Hobson and his eight minutes of Test activity against New Zealand in Christchurch a little over a dozen years ago, you’re not alone. The Red Rose selectors forgot all about him too, almost before he had finished showering.
Denne historien er fra November 08, 2020-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra November 08, 2020-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
England show who's No.1
ENGLAND women’s head coach John Mitchell says his side will take valuable lessons from the 24-12 win over world champions New Zealand as they build towards their WXV1 title defence.
Skivington: We're going to roll dice and go for it
THE Cherry and Whites are the enigmas of the Premiership.
Looking to go one step beyond this time around
NE small step is what it will take for Bath to go one better than last season and secure the Premiership for the first time, but it would be one of the biggest taken by the club in the professional era.
Four-try England make it 17 wins on the spin
ENGLAND women opened the Allianz Stadium era at HQ with a victory over New Zealand to make it 17 wins on the bounce before their WXV title defence.
Time for Borthwick to prove his worth
HONEYMOON periods are not set in stone and in my estimation Steve Borthwick’s ends this summer. Don’t get me wrong, he’s still in good shape.
Barrington ready to power up the Mob
RICHARD Barrington has signed up to the Ampthill “Mob” reassured that he’ll still have a target on his back most weeks.
Skivington keen to build identity
GLOUCESTER won their first trophy for nine years last season and reached the Challenge Cup final, but when George Skivington went on holiday the day after the campaign ended the words in his head were never again.
Roebuck targets England success
WINNING a maiden England Test cap to top the best season of his career will not be enough for Sale winger Tom Roebuck.
Booth: Tough telling players I was leaving
TOBY Booth admits telling his Ospreys players that he would be leaving at the end of the season was one of the hardest things he has had to do in his career.
Stephens' debut try sees off old rivals
DORKING had to dig deep in another tight game between two old rivals, with the lead changing hands twice and result in doubt right up to the final whistle.