The Brumbies gave the Hurricanes a smashing in the Super Rugby opener, recording a 42-point win over last year’s runners-up.
REPORT: BRUMBIES SMASH CANES IN OPENER
Seven tries, all off them successfully converted, proved simply too much for the the Hurricanes to handle, the Brumbies gaining a bonus point for their trouble.
Final score
Brumbies 52
Hurricanes 10
The Australian conference in the revamped Super Rugby kicks off with a replay of one of last year’s semi-finals when the Brumbies host the Hurricanes. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7:45pm (AEDT).
Historically the Brumbies are very hard to topple at home. The Brumbies have made Canberra a fortress by winning 13 of their last 16 fixtures in the city. The Brumbies also carry the edge in the head-to-head battle with 12 wins to the Hurricanes nine.
However, the Hurricanes won the 2015 semi-final 29-9 and despite losing the redoubtable midfield paring of Ma Nonu and Conrad Smith still boast a threatening side. No less than seven All Blacks have been named.
The Hurricanes new midfield combination of Ngani Laumape and Vince Aso will be under intense scrutiny. Both are unproven at this level, but the young and potentially dynamic pair could cause carnage.
Laumape played for the New Zealand Schools’ in 2011 and then appeared in 30 NRL games for the New Zealand Warriors scoring 11 tries. Aso represented the New Zealand under-20s and was a regular for Auckland in the ITM Cup.
Elsewhere the Hurricanes have a settled look with nine starters still standing from last year’s final. Young hooker Leni Apisai will have his work cut out replacing injured captain Dane Coles and marking Stephen Moore in his 150th Super rugby game.
The Brumbies roster hints they will be one of the stronger teams in the Australian conference. Argentinian halfback Tomás Cubelli is a great addition to a side that includes 10 Wallabies.
The loose forward battle will be a mighty scrap. Scott Fardy, David Pocock and Ita Vaea line up against Brad Shields, Ardie Savea and Victor Vito. The Brumbies might have two out of three Wallabies in these spots but the Hurricanes trio are all of international class.
The established Hurricanes tighthead Jeff Toomaga-Allen will look to pressure Australian under-20s loosehead Allan Alaalatoa while Wallabies Matt Toomua and Tevita Kuridrani could find holes in the midfield.
Rory Arnold is the tallest lock in Super Rugby and an obvious pain in the lineouts. The Hurricanes lineout was sometimes shaky last year and is missing veteran Jeremy Thrush.
The Brumbies had the best defence of all teams last year, conceding just 261 points and 21 tries.
The Hurricanes have a better record than many in Canberra, having won four times there in 10 raids. These wins were in 1998 (32-29), 2002 (20-13), 2008 (33-15) and 2010 (23-13). Against Australian sides, the Hurricanes have won 43 and lost 30.
The Brumbies won their most recent clash at Canberra in 2013, 30-23, with Christian Lealiifano kicking a record six penalties.
Prediction
Brumbies by five.
FraggleWrangler
Roar Rookie
If the a city the size of Sydney is compared to Canberra for crowd numbers in proportion to population, then we should expect every Tah's match against a non-Australian opponent to draw a crowd (checking the calculator) of 154,285. Waratahs fans obviously aren't held accountable enough. .....and yes I was at the Brumbies game.
taylorman
Roar Guru
I was at that at the cake tin. Never been in such a subdued crowd. Even stopped cheering the blues tries myself as the lone voice around me. It was surreal.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Gee that's a lot for someone who supposedly plays the rules better than most.
Zero Gain
Guest
Just watched the replay. David Pocock, say no more. What an absolute beast and dictated the game in the forwards.
james
Guest
First round, both last years finalist beaten...I wouldnt read too much into this.
DaniE
Roar Guru
I've only got the Tahs to win by a few points, I've factored in a Goromaru weighting into my formula ?
RobC
Roar Guru
I was watching the fast ruck policing gs, and had brief flashes of many wins due to fast service. Then I thought about our D, and BD fails during trails. I hope to be wrong and see a Reds Blues final.
Rob na Champassak
Roar Guru
They'd have to fly the MCG up to Brisbane brick by brick. ;)
grapeseed
Guest
Don't be so sure Rob. I sense a red dawn, and I am rarely wrong about these things.
dahl
Guest
Halfway line 10 minutes after the hurricanes dominant scrum where rory arnold falls off the scrum as its moving forward too quickly. And halfway going the other direction in the second half rolled the hurricanes up and in. Brumbies scrum dominant except for one win to the hurricanes.
RobC
Roar Guru
Back to the Brums. Their lineout attack is very interesting. A telltale is the lack of defence in the maul in the latter part of the match. This is because the Canes saw three options: - lineout drive for a try - AB-esque trick pass trye, off a maul fake play - Squeak peels off the back of a maul for a try.
Cynical Play
Guest
Brumbies are hungry and driven. Convincing win , They are on the right track. Great defense. Top class forward display, with good bench support. As a Tahs fan I fear the next weekend in Canbera
RobC
Roar Guru
Hi DaniE. I think you'll have better luck tomorrow (not next week) eg Tahs match ;)
ethan
Guest
Can't we swap players and coach please? Thanks.
ethan
Guest
Nah Brumbies constantly committed penalties at the breakdown going hard for the ball. As Pocock goes harder than most for the pilfer he got pinged the most - I think 4 penalties against him before the yellow came out. They were fair calls to and he should have been binned earlier. But I don't think this will be a common theme throughout the season. Pocock's pilfers are usually legit. Tonight he just kept getting it wrong by tackling the player and not giving him air.
RobC
Roar Guru
dahl, I count one which was let go because Cubelli scored a try. Which was the other two?
RobC
Roar Guru
Yes thanks for correcting that. Toomua 62'. Poey should have been carded at 25', then again 54'. Smiler 43'
dahl
Guest
Who should have been binned and when? Name the plays...
Rugby Tragic
Guest
Lelo for me ...
dahl
Guest
Brumbies scrum destroyed the canes 3 times without penalty.