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Wallabies toast hair-razing win!

Sunday 01st July 2007

Before and After: 'High Pants Hux' relieved Scott Johnson of his locks

Australia attack coach Scott Johnson has made a name for himself as a bit of a wisecracker, but the joke was firmly on him in the wake of the Wallabies' 20-15 Tri-Nations triumph over New Zealand in Melbourne on Saturday.

In a moment of pre-match rabble-rousing, the Gérard Depardieu lookalike promised to do away with his luxurious locks if his charges notched one up against the All Blacks.

Johnson had harboured hopes that his rash promise had been swept away in the euphoria of victory, but Australia full-back Julian Huxley had remembered the offer all too clearly and duly relieved his coach of his hair at the post-match bash.

"I lost it, but it was a good one to lose," a shaven-headed Johnson said of the bet.

"Sometimes you say things and you try to retract them after they come out, but it's a bit too late."

It was sweet revenge for Huxley who Johnson had ribbed for being a "high-pants man".

"One of the boys I've been giving a hard time to decided he'll bring the blade out and do it," said Johnson on Sunday.

"It was 'High Pants Hux' - he is a high-pants man and the boys give him a bit of a ribbing for being a high-pants man. He did it to get me back."

Johnson has something of a track-record when it comes to pranks. He gained notoriety as Wales assistant coach when he referred to New Zealand as "a poxy little island".

With the New Zealand media frothing over in consternation, Johnson felt compelled to issue a 'correction'.

"After an overheard conversation that was meant to be kept private, I would like to make an apology," he said.

"I wasn't misquoted, I just got it slightly wrong - in fact, it's two islands!"