Rugby: Chris Eaton plots rise from bench for Canes

Hawke's Bay and Hurricanes rugby halfback Chris Eaton appreciates the irony.

During his 2006, 07 and 08 seasons with the Magpies he was the young apprentice hoping for some minutes off the bench while former All Black and now Magpies assistant coach Danny Lee had the monopoly on the No9 jersey. This season with the Hurricanes Eaton, 28, has lost the starting berth to young gun, 19-year-old TJ Perenara, and again finds himself chomping at the bit for game time.

"I'm hoping for another start as soon as possible but in the meantime I just have to do my best off the bench," Eaton said after Monday's training sessions had ended.

"It's the same for DK," Eaton said referring to his 20010-11 Magpies teammate Daniel Kirkpatrick.

One of Perenara's 2011 IRB Junior World Championship-winning New Zealand Under-20 teammates Beauden Barrett has been in such scintillating form at first five-eighth for the Canes, two-time world age group champion Kirkpatrick's game time has been limited to minimal minutes off the bench in recent weeks.

"With Tusi [Pisi] here now Beauden will find himself being pushed at training," Eaton explained.

Pisi was one of Samoa's stars at last year's World Cup and recently returned to New Zealand after a stint in Japan.

"There's plenty of competition for berths and that's good for any team," Eaton said.

While the St John's College product may not be getting the amount of game time he wants, Eaton has nothing but praise for the 2012 Canes outfit. He was quick to reply when asked what the difference was between last year's and this year's team.

"Everyone is happy to be there. It's a pretty good environment ... it's easy for everyone to get along with each other and we all have a good time."

Needless to say, they will have an even better time if they can record their first home win this season when they take on the Sharks in New Plymouth tomorrow night.

Kirkpatrick, who has yet to decide on an ITM Cup side for this season, has missed out on a berth in the 22 for tomorrow night but Bay flanker Karl Lowe is starting.

Hurricanes: 1 Ben May, 2 Dane Coles, 3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 4 James Broadhurst, 5 Jason Eaton, 6 Jack Lam, 7 Karl Lowe, 8 Faifili Levave, 9 TJ Perenara, 10 Beauden Barrett, 11 Julian Savea, 12 Tim Bateman, 13 Conrad Smith (c), 14 Cory Jane, 15 Andre Taylor.

Reserves: 16 Motu Matu'u, 17 Michael Bent, 18 Jeremy Thrush, 19 Mark Reddish, 20 Chris Eaton, 21 Tusi Pisi, 22 Charlie Ngatai.