Dunn honing his attack in late charge for World Cup
COMBATIVE Bath hooker Tom Dunn is banking on an extra turn of pace and improved skills to earn him a coveted World Cup spot with England.
A gruesome finger injury denied Dunn the chance of a first cap last February after he was involved in the 2018 Six Nations squad, since when Luke Cowan-Dickie and Jack Singleton have moved ahead to challenge Jamie George and Dylan Hartley.
However, Dunn, currently starring in an energetic Bath pack, told The Rugby
Paper: “I spoke to (England scrum coach) Neal Hatley before the Six Nations squad was announced and although I’m probably fifth choice, I’m improving.
“You look at the other hookers and Jamie’s setpiece is outstanding while Luke is very good over the ball, so they’re things I’m always working on and England asked me to work on my change of pace in the ball carry and the linespeed in defence.
“I’m probably in the Jack Singleton camp at the moment where we’re both going well for our clubs and it’s still all to play for with England. If I can keep on playing well and making those improvements, hopefully it will fall into place.”
Dunn admits he is “more of a grunter,” but adds: “I’ll do the hard work, hit my rucks and carry hard into the heavy traffic, but I’m not one-dimensional and I’m definitely improving what I can do on the attacking side.
“You get the attacking types, the skilful Schalk Brits or Harry Thackers who love their hands on the ball like an extra back row, if not centre, and then you’ve got the old school like Rob Webber or Dylan Hartley – set-piece, nasty, over the ball, defensive leaders.
“I’m trying to mix it up a bit by being a bit quicker, but I never want to lose sight of my basics around set-piece, tackling and the breakdown.”
Dunn has had to work hard to get where he is after being rejected by Bath aged 18 and then rebuilding his career at the local university, working in bars to make ends meet before earning himself a full-time contract three years later.
But after celebrating his 100th first team appearance against Newcastle last week, he said: “It was a pretty special feeling and difficult to not feel too emotionally overcharged after struggling to get my foot in the door earlier in my career.”
With just the Premiership to play for, Bath have eight games left to salvage their season and get some much-needed silverware.
Dunn added: “Being out of the cups means we have extra preparation time for our league games and hopefully that will make a big difference.
“We’ve got a good bunch of hungry forwards and it’s not just me looking to break in with England. Beno Obano, Charlie Ewels, Tom Ellis, Elliott Stooke, Zach Mercer – I’d love to look left and right and see those boys there.”