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Just four teams are left fighting it out, and a blockbuster night of Super Rugby kicks off with the Hurricanes hosting the Brumbies. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 5:20pm (AEST).
It’s been a dream season for the Hurricanes who have so far exceeded expectations and evolved their game into one of the most exciting styles of rugby in the world.
They are commanding favourites to win tonight and it’s not hard to see why, they are fresh from a week off and Beauden Barrett returns to terrorise the Brumbies.
The Brumbies played some amazing rugby against the Stormers in Newlands, the kind we haven’t seen from them for a long time. It was highlighted by a Jesse Mogg try to seal the game late, when they had just 13 men on the field.
They unfortunately will miss the strike power of winger Henry Speight who copped a hefty five-game suspension for dumping Stomers captain Juan de Jongh. Lausii Taliauli has been named as Speight’s replacement.
The Brumbies have also travelled a ridiculously long distance to get to Wellington for this game so fatigue is certainly a factor.
Head-to-head
There is reason for confidence in the Brumbies though. They defeated the Hurricanes in the Wellington side’s first home game of the 2014 season but since then the Hurricanes have lost just two of 15 games.
These sides have met in the finals before, with the Brumbies prevailing in the 1997 Super 12 semi-finals.
The Hurricanes have struggled in semi-finals, losing five of a possible six, with four of those margins being greater than 10 points. The Brumbies have won six of eight in comparison.
This match is between the best two defensive sides in the competition, the Brumbies ranked first and Hurricanes second.
Watch out for the scrum halves – TJ Perenara has scored 10 tries this year with only Waisake Naholo scoring more (11), while Nic White has assisted 15 tries, four more than the next best.
Prediction
The Hurricanes have been a force this year, and 2015 almost has a feel of destiny about it for them. It’s ridiculously hard to go against the Canes, especially when you consider the Brumbies’ travel schedule.
Hurricanes by 7.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.