Brumbies brush off poor transtasman record

The statistics are damning, but the Brumbies insist Australia’s diabolical transtasman Super Rugby record is irrelevant ahead of their quarter-final against the Hurricanes.

Kiwi sides won all 25 regular season matches against Australian teams, with the Chiefs completing the rout by beating a second-string Brumbies in Hamilton on Saturday.

The Brumbies weren’t disgraced in the 28-10 defeat and have a host of stars set to return for the final after resting players for the dead rubber.

The Hurricanes became the only team to defeat New Zealand conference champions the Crusaders with a 31-22 win in Wellington.

That booked their place in Friday night’s playoff in Canberra, where the Brumbies will aim to be the first Australian team to defeat a Kiwi team since May last year.

“Regardless of what’s happened in the past, that’s not going to affect us,” said Brumbies hooker Robbie Abel.

“I think for us, that couldn’t further in the back of our minds.

“We’ve really been focusing on us and focused on winning.”

Veteran Scott Fardy claimed to be unaware of the Kiwi domination when asked about the statistic.

Incidentally, the Hurricanes were the last New Zealand team the Brumbies beat, but 511 days will have

Regardless of what’s happened in the past, that’s not going to affect us. Robbie Abel

passed since round one, 2016 when the two sides run on to GIO Stadium.

Co-captain Sam Carter and Wallabies forwards Scott Sio, Allan Alaalatoa and Rory Arnold are expected to start, while Jordan Smiler and Chris Alcock are also set to return to the XV. Halfback Joe Powell is likely to relegate Argentina No 9 Tomas Cubelli to the bench, after a breakout year in the Argentinian’s injury-enforced absence.

Tom Banks is set to return to the starting backline along with Wallabies centre Tevita Kuridrani, but Kyle Godwin and Aidan Toua’s season is over after suffering injuries in the loss to the Queensland Reds.

Star flyhalf Christian Lealiifano could be a wildcard selection, less than a year after being diagnosed with leukaemia.

After starting against the Chiefs, Abel is likely to return to the bench in favour of Josh Mann-Rea, the firstchoice hooker this season.

“It’s more about the bigger picture and whatever’s best for the team. Whatever that is, it’s the coach’s call and we’ll take it as it comes,” Abel said.