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.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
Oops
Skinnyman
Roar Rookie
Stomping no where near the ball should be red full stop. It is no longer the 90s so no longer an innocuous tickle up. I'm not saying Canes didn't deserve the win but Barrett should have seen red and miss the final for dangerous foul play.
MJB
Guest
Oh... that's what that was! And here was I wondering why the crowd was calling for Jerry Springer... Well done on the win Digger. Good luck for next week!
Sandy B
Guest
your kidding! - the "neutral" ref gave a penalty try in the tahs game for a pretty innocuous head tap!
somer
Guest
I thought Jackson was pretty good, certainly no howlers and the 50/50 calls went both ways. Having said that neutral refs should be mandatory in the finals.
Kia Kaha
Roar Guru
Thanks for the call Brent. Well done to all the Canes fans.
Jerry
Guest
They lost by a try to the Reds.
Rugby Tragic
Guest
Congratulations Digger.... yep one more ..
somer
Guest
It would have been unduly harsh to sin bin Barrett for what was a pretty innocuous tickle up. A penalty was fair given the Brumbies playing was cynically impeding ball and Barrett was rather ineffectively trying to get the big lump to move.
Winnie
Guest
The Crusaders just about won a final in 2011 eventually only losing by a penalty to the Reds. Let's just be brutally honest the Brumbies finished 5th for a reason in regular season play. The Hurricanes played like a team coming off the bye, quite a few handling errors. They went off the boil in the second 20 of the 1st half and then 1st 20 in the second. The Brumbies played ok but even without the "Jet lag" they would have struggled against the Huricanes
Jono
Guest
Oh no. Tired team captain after a very disappointing loss is asked about a game in the following week that might not happen and who he would support and doesn't give a rousing support for a particular team. Call the ARU and have an investigation immediately! In short: mountain out of a mole hill. You see this all the time with disappointed captains and players flat after a win when answering questions on the field. I'm sure he'll state his full support for the Tahs if they win and he is asked...actually this wasn't really any shorter tham the first part.
Digby
Roar Guru
Commiserations to Brumbies fans, always tough to lose a semi. Great night, stadium atmosphere was fantastic and the Jerry chants at the end was very special. One more lads.....
mugsyinjapan
Guest
Didn't get to see the game as I just finished work. Result was to be expected I think. I follow the Brumbies, so was hoping it wouldn't be such a blow out. From what I've read, sounds like a combination of poor game plan, some tired bodies and the Canes just too good and strong. I hope the Canes go on and win it all next week. They deserve it. They've been the form team all year and I've always liked watching them play. Congrats to The Hurricanes and here's hoping for a good game next week.
Billy Bob
Guest
He was thinking he had a friendly ref?
Harry Jones
Expert
Brilliant Canes! DiggerC more tequila! Nice guys do win!
Rugby Tragic
Guest
A lot of errors by the Canes in the 1st semi but Brumbies, as with so many teams before them found backing up and travelling is hard on the bodies. I think their game plan was not right though... to kick away possession to the Canes was, at least in the first half was fatal. They must of know that they were going to run it back to them which meant more defensive effort on top of the travel. It was always going to require a monumental effort to quell the threat of the Canes backline. In Australia, they suggest that their cup runneth over with No 7's... Hmmm I think the Kiwis have a few as well. Ardie Savea, the apprentice that Hansen took on the EOYT last year has seem to grow a leg in 2015, the younger brother of Julian Savea looks to have a big future in Black ahead of him.
soapit
Guest
ha ha, i was picturing you too nervous to jump on. personally i do think mccaw more of an all round spoiler which is perhaps more a function of his all round game. pocock probably does it at the ruck pilfer area where he spends most of his efforts but people generally accept that more as its more of a grey area. a discussion for another night but in short, no i wont be avoiding noting mccaw being the top of pushing to find exactly where the refs is willing to blow. (i say this in acknowledgement that he's top of every other area). he did start going a bit silly with it last year until the refs stood up to him tho.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
This has been a problem all year and with the finals, I had hoped we would have had neutral officials.
Bakkies
Guest
Go the Highlanders
Debz
Guest
Awesome game by the Canes :) commiserations to the Brumbies - especially Pocock.