Hurricanes blow Brumbies away in Qualifying Final

MATCH REPORT: A record onslaught has sunk the Brumbies as the Hurricanes emphatically extended Australian misery in New Zealand Super Rugby finals games.

The top-placed Hurricanes won Friday’s qualifying final 66-12, scoring five tries before the break to quickly snuff out the prospect of a hoodoo-busting effort from Stephen Larkham’s men.

They led 31-0 before going to the break ahead 38-7 and remaining ruthless enough to inflict the biggest finals defeat on an Australian team in Super Rugby history.

It was more points than the Brumbies had ever conceded in a first half and a record score from the Hurricanes against their rivals, as the hosts clinically ended a Brumbies season that began with promise before slowly withering in a sixth-place finish.

The Brumbies had won four of their past six games in New Zealand and beaten the Hurricanes in their past three post-season matchups.

It offered some hope that, finally, after 21 attempts, an Australian team could win a Super Rugby finals game in New Zealand.

But on a wet, windy, cold Wellington night they were never in the hunt, left to rue a handful of early errors that sent the hosts on their way.

Trapped on their own goal line in the opening minutes, the Hurricanes managed a clearing kick and swooped when the Brumbies fumbled, to race 60 metres and score the opener.

Tries came thick and fast and they were going at a point a minute when lock Warner Dearns slid over to make it 31-0.

With All Blacks No.10 hopeful Ruben Love pulling the strings, the Hurricanes right-side attack terrorised the Brumbies.

Centre Jordie Barrett was evasive and scrumhalf Cam Roigard added to that with slick play back inside that netted him two tries.

Winger Ngane Punivai scored a second-half hat-trick, Love (nine conversions, one penalty) staying perfect off the tee with a sideline conversation with 90 seconds to play.

The Brumbies were clunky in attack and while scrumhalf Ryan Lonergan tried hard, he often watched his flat-footed men reach for passes they could only get a finger to.

Fullback Tom Wright showed glimpses of his best to break tackles and create some momentum in an encouraging sign ahead of next month’s trio of Wallabies Tests.

But the errors piled up as the Brumbies left it for the Queensland Reds, who face the Chiefs in Hamilton, to face history head on this Saturday.

The scorers:

For Hurricanes:
Tries: Delany, Roigard 2, Proctor, Dearns 2, Ngane Punivai 3
Cons: Love 9
Pen: Love

For Brumbies:
Tries: Toole, Edmed
Con: Lonergan

Teams:

Hurricanes: 15 Callum Harkin, 14 Josh Moorby, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Kini Naholo, 10 Ruben Love, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Peter Lakai, 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi, 6 Brad Shields, 5 Warner Dearns, 4 Caleb Delany, 3 Pasilio Tosi, 2 Asafo Aumua, 1 Xavier Numia.
Replacements: 16 Raymond Tuputupu, 17 Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18 Tyrel Lomax, 19 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 20 Brayden Iose, 21 Ereatara Enari, 22 Jone Rova, 23 Ngane Punivai.

Brumbies: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Andy Muirhead, 13 Hudson Creighton, 12 David Feliuai, 11 Corey Toole, 10 Declan Meredith, 9 Ryan Lonergan (captain), 8 Charlie Cale, 7 Luke Reimer, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Cadeyrn Neville, 4 Lachlan Shaw, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Lachlan Lonergan, 1 James Slipper.
Replacements: 16 Billy Pollard, 17 Blake Schoupp, 18 Rhys van Nek, 19 Nick Frost, 20 Rory Scott, 21 Klayton Thorn, 22 Tane Edmed, 23 Ollie Sapsford.

Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
Assistant referees: Todd Petries, Warwick Lahmert
TMO: Richard Kelly