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A LOVELY tap-on pass it was, completed with the speed of a cracking whip and the subtlety of silver service at a fine diner.
Amid the bustling, rushing defensive line, this Wallabies player had the vision and skill to flick the ball, which caught out tacklers and created space for outside speedsters. Nothing new in that - happens at every training session at every level. Except on this occasion, the player was a front-rower who has never in his lengthy career shown any ability as a ball player.
Matt Dunning is discovering abilities he - and we - never knew he possessed. That's just the way, under this new regime of Robbie Deans, in which "the shackles are off" and players are dared to gamble.
It was the most risky piece of play Dunning had performed since his infamous drop-goal for NSW in 2002 but unlike the heavy criticism which followed then, the prop will be roundly complimented if he attempts a similar pass in a match, whether it is caught or grounded.
Deans adheres to the philosophy that if his players are harnessed they tend to rein in their performances.
Berrick Barnes's cross-field chip last Saturday was intercepted by Brian O'Driscoll and nearly resulted in a try for Ireland, but Deans made a point to praise the youngster's courage at the post-match press conference before a journalist had even asked about it.
It is hoped Barnes will try more of these kicks because Deans has faith it can become a valuable attacking weapon for the Wallabies, as it is for the playmaker he developed at the Crusaders - Dan Carter.
During yesterday's training drills at Coogee Oval, players worked on basic skills; passing, supporting the ball carrier and kicking.
There were no elaborate exercises. A simple game was played where two teams ran against each other and the idea was to the shift the ball wide as quickly as possible.
A kicking contest between the backs was aimed at familiarising them with the way the ball travels when kicked at different angles from the same position on the field.
These aren't secrets Deans is passing on from his days at the Crusaders, which made him the most successful coach in Super rugby history. As back-rower Rocky Elsom said, it's about developing a high level of skill by practising constantly.
"It's pretty well known if you watch the Crusaders play, they play the same way every single time," he said. "If you picked up their game plan a week before you play, it really wouldn't do you much good because you already know what they're going to do - it's just about stopping it. And also from their point of view, getting really good at doing it.
"They run the same type of program every single week and it's just whether or not the players turn up and implement it as to whether they win, and most times they do."
Even the country's most gifted playmaker, Matt Giteau, is feeling a loosening of the game plan's grip.
"Robbie's big thing is to back yourself," Giteau said. "Because we've had a lot of younger guys come in, guys with not a lot of Test experience, he just shows a lot of confidence in those guys. So everyone has the belief that you can go out and play your natural game.
"I think at Super 14 you've got a little bit more freedom to try things. In Test matches you tend to play a bit of a tighter game, you play the percentages a little bit more.
"We still have a structured game with Robbie but I think he wants you to back yourself more and to have the freedom to try things. If they don't come they don't come off, but at least you're trying things."
"Remember lads, rugby is a team game; all 14 of you make sure you pass the ball to ..........." 
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Originally Posted by tdevil
