Forwards getting hairy before local derby
A big hair battle between two big Wallaby forwards has broken out on the eve of the Waratahs-Reds Super Rugby clash.
Fijian-born Queensland lock forward Radike Samo fired the opening salvo when he claimed NSW hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau had trimmed his wild afro hairdo.
That miffed Polota-Nau, who has Tongan heritage, a bit because he's vowed not to cut his hair until his struggling Sydney club side Parramatta wins a game this season
On Good Friday he decided to get his own back.
"I'm pretty sure that at least with my 'fro you can wash it," he told AAP.
"I'm not too sure if you can go down to Radike's scalp and get all the creepy crawlies from it."
Polota-Nau's admiration for the afro dates back to when he saw a old black and white film of Tonga's famous 1973 Test win over the Wallabies in Brisbane.
"Aw geez, there was not one bloke without an afro ... don't know whether or not they could afford scissors back then," he joked.
"It was pretty hard to tell which player was which."
Telling which is which between Samo and Polota-Nau won't be too difficult when they literally go head-to-head or 'fro-to-'fro at Suncorp Stadium.
But they won't be the only ones that stand out - Reds rake Saia Faingaa is renowned for his braided locks.
Polota-Nau declared himself fit and ready to go after nursing an AC joint problem earlier in the week.
"The medical staff has given me the leniency to get it right, because it was a bit worrying on the weekend," Polota-Nau said.
Also returning to the side on Saturday are skipper Phil Waugh, centre Tom Carter and the Waratahs other big ball carrying forward Wycliff Palu.
"It's always great to have Cliffy back because just looking at him will scare you enough, I can relate to that living with him," joked Polota-Nau.
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