Rugby: Dunning escapes punishment

Matt Dunning was sent off for punching an opponent in his Force debut at the weekend. Photo / Getty Images

PERTH - New Western Force prop Matt Dunning is available for the start of the Super 14 season after escaping suspension for punching an opponent during a pre-season fixture.

Dunning, making his Force debut, was thrown into the fray in the 60th minute of the Perth side's 54-12 loss to the Stormers in front of around 18,000 fans in Cape Town on Sunday (NZT).

But the 31-year-old Wallaby, who signed on with the Force for the 2010 season after 99 games with the Waratahs, lasted just 15 minutes before he was shown a red card for punching an opponent.

Stormers forward Jacque Potgieter was also shown a red card for his involvement in the fracas.

Dunning fronted a judiciary today and pleaded guilty to striking.

But he escaped suspension after the judiciary deemed the red card handed out was punishment enough, freeing him for tomorrow's practice match against the Sharks in Cape Town.

He will also be available for the Force's final pre-season hit-out against the Reds on February 5 and the Super 14 season opener against the Brumbies on February 12.

The Force fielded a youthful squad against a near full-strength Stormers outfit and were duly put to the sword, with the South African side running in seven tries to two.

Wallabies Ryan Cross, David Pocock, James O'Connor, Nathan Sharpe and Cameron Shepherd only came on midway through the second half and will start when the Force unleash a stronger squad for the match against the Sharks on Wednesday.

Former Springboks first five-eighths Andre Pretorius will make his Force debut against the Sharks, while Brett Sheehan will start at halfback as coach John Mitchell attempts to build on-field chemistry between the pair.

"I'm excited, I've worked hard for three months in the pre-season," Pretorius said.

"This is my first full pre-season for a couple of years.

"Game time is something I'm looking forward to getting.

"I can't remember the last time I played in a warm-up game so it will good to get that game time and get used to the contact and get ready for the first game on the 12th of Feb."

Mitchell hoped his side would learn from the mistakes made in the heavy loss to the Stormers.

"There has been a lot of things we've been able to work on and bring solutions to," Mitchell said.

"There's nothing better than experiencing it in a real situation and making players aware of the fact they can fix things."

- AAP