Brumbies end Hurricanes’ unbeaten run
The Hurricanes will be glad to see the back of Canberra, after their unbeaten run in Super Rugby Pacific in 2024 came to an end at the hands of the Brumbies yesterday afternoon.
The team from New Zealand’s capital city have now gone six matches without a win in Australia’s capital city, having last tasted success there in 2017.
Three tries inside the first 20 minutes at GIO Stadium gave the Brumbies a 21-5 lead and they never looked back from there as they won 27-19 to close the gap between themselves in third and the Hurricanes in first to six points.
The Brumbies’ lineout had been a mess in their loss to the second-placed Blues at Eden Park in Auckland last weekend, but they made full use of it early, going close with a maul then sending Noah Lolesio over down the left.
Prop Xavier Numia responded for the Hurricanes after their own lineout drive, picking up a sloppy poss and crashing over, but when second-five Tamati Tua and winger OIlie Sapsford both cut through down the right, the Brumbies were racing clear.
Their lead became 24-5 when Lolesio slotted a penalty, but Numia was able to cut into the deficit before the break, scoring his second try after the Hurricanes returned to fundamentals, carrying the ball solidly up the middle of the field.
A penalty early in the second half stretched the Brumbies’ lead back out to 15 points, but Jordie Barrett replied with a break down the left, just as his coach Clark Laidlaw was saying on the broadcast that the situation was “a great test” for his side.
Reserve halfback Richard Judd made a crucial play to keep the Hurricanes in it, holding up Brumbies lock Tom Hooper as he looked to crash over and break the stalemate that ensued over the rest of the second 40.
Lolesio missed a chance to extend his side’s lead to 12 when his penalty hit the left upright with just over five minutes to play, but it didn’t matter, as his side soon celebrated an important win, just seven days after they lost by 39 in Auckland.
The big picture
The Hurricanes remain in first despite their loss, depending on last night’s BluesReds result. The Brumbies move back past
the Chiefs to third.
What’s next
The Hurricanes return home to host the Waratahs on Friday. With the New South Wales team having only managed two wins this season – both against the Crusaders – that match shapes as a good chance to bounce back before their trip to Auckland for a top-of-the-table clash with the Blues in round 12.