Hurricanes 56 Brumbies 7
He is sporting a Zapata moustache, the likes of which hasn't been seen since the days of Freddie Mercury in the 1970s, but Cory Jane is a rugby player whose time may have come.
An All Black tourist in last year's end of season tour of the UK, Jane
- aided by a powerful performance by midfielder Ma'a Nonu - scored the Hurricanes' first try and was then involved in two more as the Canes blasted out to a 25-7 lead, the winning of the match, and a bonus point after just 25 minutes.
There isn't much of him, but Jane is deceptively strong and has always had pace and good decision-making faculties. He nearly always makes ground when he runs from the back and is solid under the high ball.
He also has high skill levels - as witnessed when he somehow got the ball down in the corner to score while being slammed out of play by a desperate Brumbies defence.
That try came in answer to a fine start by the Brumbies after the Hurricanes' lineout worries continued from last week. They rather gifted the try to the Brumbies when they botched an attempt to throw a crafty short ball in the lineout.
It was too short and it wasn't straight and, from the resulting scrum, flanker George Smith made good ground and halfback Josh Holmes worked increasingly impressive prop Ben Alexander through some suspect defence to score.
Jane scored after good lead-up work by Nonu and hooker Andrew Hore and fellow All Black Conrad Smith got the next try - quick thinking from the tap and and he waltzed past retiring Brumbies defenders after more good work from Jane in pressuring the defence into making the error at the breakdown.
That's the thing about Jane - he looks insubstantial but he had the strength to stand in the tackle and con his opposite number, Wallaby Adam Ashley-Cooper, into infringing at the ruck.
He also runs the gaps smoothly and was involved in the build-up to the Hurricanes' next try - to winger Tamati Ellison. He benefited from a Nonu break which embarrassed his opposite, Wallaby legend Stirling Mortlock, who fell off the tackle.
Then the other winger, David Smith, capitalised on a Conrad Smith break to wriggle down the touchline, poke through a smart kick and won the race for the ball with three other Hurricanes and no Brumbies.
No one is suggesting Jane will supplant Mils Muliaina at 15 for the All Blacks. But, with Leon MacDonald seemingly at the end of his international career, Jane is probably next cab off the rank, maybe ahead of Blues contenders Isaia Toeava and Paul Williams on current form.
If Jane's silky skills caught the eye, it was also impossible to ignore Nonu. He outpointed Mortlock easily and has maintained his improved ball security and decision-making.
There are few runners who so badly frighten a defence close to the line and who can carve up today's stifling defensive patterns. He cut a regular swathe through the Brumbies.
In the second half, it was more of the Tarzan and Jane show. Nonu weaved and clattered through defenders and Jane strongly stood in the tackle after somehow cleanly fielding a hospital pass from Nonu as the tackler hit him - and nearly sparked another Canes try.
He might have had a penalty try, too, although the video ref gave the defence the benefit of the doubt when Jane was speeding through after a kick which landed in goal - and seemed to be taken out by Brumbies winger Francis Fainifo.
It was all Hurricanes - and they got closer to that sublime state of "putting it all together" than perhaps at any other stage of this season.
Lock Jeremy Thrush thundered around, locking partner Bryn Evans justified the decision to leave All Black Jason Eaton on the bench and first five-eighths Willie Ripia controlled matters intelligently.
The Brumbies barely threatened but that was as much down to a strong Hurricanes' performance as the Brumbies' failings.
Ellison put replacement winger Zac Guildford in for a try with a cut-out pass that left Brumbies grasping air; Victor Vito galloped over after a Ripia cut; and Guildford scored a joyous second after a flip reverse pass from Ripia and a searing run by David Smith.
Next week, it's sink or swim for the Blues in Wellington. After this form by the Hurricanes, the Blues might well pack their aqualungs.
Hurricanes 56 (C. Jane, C. Smith, T. Ellison, D. Smith, F. Levave, Z. Guildford 2, V. Vito tries; W. Ripia 5 con, 2 pen), Brumbies 7 (B. Alexander try; S. Mortlock con). Halftime: 25-7.
