Rugby: Cruden loses hair, gains starter's jersey

Aaron Cruden - sans hair - will start for the Hurricanes against the Brumbies on Friday night. Photo / Getty Images

It was a rollercoaster Super 14 bye week for Aaron Cruden. He had his locks shorn over a losing Big Mac bet, but today was a beaming recipient of the Hurricanes' No 10 rugby jersey with their season on the line in Canberra.

One of New Zealand rugby's rising stars usurped Willie Ripia for Friday's match against the in-form Brumbies for just his second Super 14 start, as they look to rectify a four-match winless streak.

He will form a fresh halves duo with Tyson Keats, with Piri Weepu granted bereavement leave after his grandfather's death, while Manawatu loose forward Nick Crosswell gains the No 7 jersey in the absences of the ill Karl Lowe and Scott Waldrom, whose wife is due to give birth.

Cruden returned to Wellington sporting a shiny pate after boldly wagering a mate he couldn't devour a whole family meal under the golden arches; including drinks and fries.

"The loser had to lose the 'do, so I won't be doing that again. He was struggling afterwards but he was smiling when he was shaving my hair off," Cruden explained.

But Cruden soon had his game face on after Cooper tasked him with leading the Hurricanes to their first win since February 27.

His only previous start was in the defeat to the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein, and now the Hurricanes need to go unbeaten for the final five rounds to be in playoff contention as they sit 10 points off the fourth-placed Stormers.

"I was pretty nervous in South Africa, especially being away from home. The nerves got the better of me there but on Friday night I'll be pretty excited.

"It's definitely do or die. I wouldn't say we're going to throw the ball around and play silly footy but we're treating it as every game we've got to win from here on. We've got the gameplan and the team to do that on Friday."

Cruden observed the Brumbies were a structured side who were chock-full of confidence, and would require some extra physicality from the visitors.

Having made an impact from the bench, including in the last-gasp 26-26 draw against the Crusaders, Cruden was keen to stamp his mark from the start.

Cooper defended his patient approach with the youngster many were tipping for an All Blacks tour last year, and just told him to play his natural game.

"It's a big connection at this level which doesn't just happen. He's come off the bench and performed against tough opposition like the Sharks and the Crusaders. We've just brought him on and we feel he's ready to start," the coach said.

Crosswell had only played sparingly at No 7, with Rodney So'oialo the cover at openside flanker. Cooper said Crosswell added excitement and a different style to the forward pack, whilst Keats was an energetic, in-form backup for Weepu.

After a tough, winless trip to South Africa and the heartbreak against the Crusaders at home, the bye was timely for Cooper's men who returned with a clear nothing-to-lose attitude with the sixth-placed Brumbies, Highlanders, Chiefs, Reds and Waratahs to come,

"The message is simple: we live or die," he said.

"(The bye) freshened us up. It came at a great time. We were pretty beaten up and beaten up on confidence. They came back hungry and refreshed and they're very clear about they've got to do. Just worry about ourselves and we need to win."

- NZPA