Dave Dennis undergoes US training program to boost World Cup hopes
DAVE Dennis is embarking on a gruelling training program in San Francisco in a bid to convert himself into a lock to boost his World Cup hopes.
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INJURED Waratahs captain Dave Dennis is embarking on a gruelling training program in San Francisco in a bid to convert himself into a lock to boost his World Cup hopes.
Dennis, whose season was cruelly halted after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in the Super Rugby semi-final, has hit the west coast of the US to train at the Sparta Science headquarters during his holidays.
Leaving behind partner Mo’onia Gerrard and their first child Francis, born just six weeks ago, Dennis is training for four hours a day and living solo in a cottage for two weeks as he prepares to make the most significant change of his career.
Since entering the professional system, Dennis has developed as a backrower and played only two of his 18 Tests for Australia as a lock.
But with a shortage of second-rowers and lineout specialists in the Wallabies following the departures of Kane Douglas, Sitaleki Timani and Ben Mowen, Dennis sees an opportunity to break into Australia’s World Cup squad next year in the second row.
Dennis will press his case to new Wallabies coach Michael Cheika when he returns from the spring tour in December to begin his final season in charge at the Waratahs.
“The whole reason I came over here is to get my body right,” Dennis said from San Francisco this week.
“It is a change of environment, it is two weeks of intensive training for my leg.
“I felt I needed to get away and do it.
“Another reason I came over is that I need to put on a bit of size to play in the second row, it is still an option.
“I haven’t had a chance to speak much to Cheik, I’ve tried to give him his space.
“My feel is that I’m probably a better going to the World Cup as a lock/six, rather than a six/lock.
“I am sure there will be some rotating in those positions between myself, Jacques Potgieter and Will Skelton at the Waratahs next season. We’ve just signed Sam Lousi from the New Zealand Warriors so he’ll add depth in our lock department.
“I have played the position before and I’m a big believer that you don’t need to be two metres and 120kg to succeed in the second row. If your technique is all right you can get away with staying a little bit lighter.”
At 192cm and 110kg, Dennis is certainly smaller than the average sized international lock but he played the position consistently coming through the ranks at Sydney University, and has been one of Super Rugby’s most successful lineout takers in the past two seasons.
But he must add weight to push in the scrums, and after the Waratahs used the Sparta training program to become the fittest franchise in 2014, Dennis is applying the training for his individual growth.
Phil Brady, Sparta’s director of performance, has been highly impressed by Dennis, who expects to be fully fit by round one of Super Rugby next year.
“David is one of those athletes, even on holidays, he is determined to get himself in better physical shape, and that is a sign of a true professional,” Brady said.
“When I see Dave, I see a big guy who is very skilled at rugby, but he also has a lot of untapped athletic potential, just to be more well-rounded as an athlete.
“Dave not only looks after himself on the field and in his leadership development and the intensity he trains with, but he looks after himself when nobody is watching, and that is what a true professional does.
“Do they eat right, do they go to bed early and get enough sleep, are they looking after soft tissue on a daily basis? Dave does those things.
“He has a ton of potential to go on in rugby.”
The Sparta program is used by NFL’s Atlanta Falcons, the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers, and the All Blacks, while individual superstars Jeremy Lin (NBA), Chase Utley (MLB), Tyson Ross (MLB) and MacLeod Bethel-Thompson (NFL) are also disciples of the revolutionary training.
It revolves around tailored strength and speed programs designed simply from the results of vertical jumps off force plates.
Dennis plans to be on the ground running when the Waratahs begin their pre-season training in a fortnight.
“The knee is pain-free so it’s progressing really well,” Dennis said.
“The goal is to run in the first week of pre-season and then get right for the first round of next year’s Super Rugby season.
“I want to make it back to the field and go back-to-back with the Waratahs next year.
“When I got injured, I had four weeks of not doing much, but since then I was in at the Tahs every day.”
Brady believes the Tahs, under new Wallabies coach Michael Cheika, are well-placed to win successive Super Rugby titles next year.
“Guys like David Dennis are ultimate professionals, when you have got guys like that in a team and a coach like Cheika, you’re always going to be in a good position to win,” Brady said.
WHAT IS SPARTA SCIENCE TRAINING?
- Strength and speed-based training, tailored for each individual after taking results of vertical leaps from force plates.
- Unique exercises include pulling and pushing weighted sleds, carrying heavy weights one-handed while balancing with your core, and using PVC pipes to massage soft tissues.
- The Sparta program is used by NFL’s Atlanta Falcons, the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers, and the All Blacks.
- Individual superstars Jeremy Lin (NBA), Chase Utley (MLB), Tyson Ross (MLB) and MacLeod Bethel-Thompson (NFL) are also disciples of the revolutionary training.
- Waratahs used the program for the first time in 2014, and won their maiden Super Rugby premiership.
- Waratahs strength and conditioning coach Tom Tomblesom has been poached by England’s national team and is tipped to implement the Sparta training regime as part of their World Cup preparations.