Hairycane goes Aussie

MAARTEN HOLL/Dominion Post

HAIRY MOMENT: Hurricanes lock Jason Eaton in action during yesterday's AFL match against the Tigers.

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The shorts weren't quite as tight as the real thing but the Hurricanes proved handy Australian Rules footballers at Elsdon Park in Porirua yesterday.

Wellington's AFL team, the Tigers, challenged the Hurricanes to the friendly pre-season match but only just prevailed 45-35.

Big Hurricanes lock Jason Eaton was left as a passenger at full-forward as the Tigers dominated the opening quarter, before Eaton sent out the battle cry: "We've got to resort to physicality," and a feisty tussle ensued.

"It's something different and the boys really enjoyed it," Hurricanes captain Rodney So'oialo said.

"They all had a bit of fun, a challenge and we obviously started realising that we had to harden up a little bit, these little [AFL] guys out here are pretty tough.

"That's what this game was about, a little bit of fun, a little bit of contact and obviously it simulates some of what we've got to do in the Super 14."

The Hurricanes first pre-season game is against the Crusaders in Motueka next Friday, and their Super 14 opener is against the NSW Waratahs in Sydney on February 16.

SCHEDULE: Hurricanes pre-season matches: January 25 v Crusaders at Motueka February 2 v Chiefs at Taupo February 8 v Brumbies at Levin.

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