Hurricanes

Desperate times have arrived early for most of New Zealand's Super 14 rugby hopefuls.

Hurricanes coach Colin Cooper is banking on experience to keep his team's Super 14 rugby hopes alive as they head into Friday night's clash against the Crusaders in Wellington.

Cory Jane has been named in the Hurricanes starting line up for their Super 14 rugby match against the Sharks in Wellington on Saturday after being ruled fit this morning.

A month ago they were breathing in the rarefied air associated with a position on the upper reaches of rugby's Super 14 ladder. Now the Hurricanes appear in danger of wheezing at altitude on South Africa's high veld.

Hurricanes rugby coach Colin Cooper is hinting at a finishing surge as the key for his struggling side to topple the Super 14-leading Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday morning (NZT).

Hurricanes lock Jason Eaton's breach of team protocol occurred during a night out when a barman refused to serve him drinks, the Dominion Post newspaper said today.