The Brumbies head into Friday night’s qualifying final against the Hurricanes in Wellington with their season on the edge and an ugly number staring back at them: Australian teams are 0-21 against Kiwi opposition in New Zealand. A win would send the Brumbies into the Super Rugby Pacific grand final. A loss ends the run.
The matchup is why Hurricanes Vs Brumbies is drawing attention now. The Hurricanes beat the Brumbies 45-12 in Super Round, and this time the stakes are much higher than a regular-season meeting. The winner keeps moving. The loser goes home.
James Slipper is part of the reason the Brumbies have a chance to believe they can do it. He has become the most-capped Super Rugby player ever this season, has played 100 matches for the Brumbies and was part of Queensland’s title-winning side in 2011. He also scored a crucial try in the ACT’s win over the Crusaders in February, a reminder that he still turns up in decisive moments.
Slipper has not dressed up his own milestones as the point of the season. “I’ve always played the game for the team. Team milestones and team achievements come before the individual,” he said. “In my mind, celebrating with your teammates after a win or finals win or whatever is why you play the game.” For a side trying to end Australia’s losing streak in New Zealand, that is the only frame that matters.
Charlie Cale adds another layer to the Brumbies’ night. He missed a large chunk of last season with back spasms, and a shoulder injury slowed his start this year. He said the interruptions made selection and opportunity feel far less certain. “I missed a lot of footy last year, and even missed a little bit of footy this year, so it would be very, very special for me if I got back in there (Wallabies),” Cale said.
He has put that aside for now. “It’s completely out of your hands, so you can’t really worry about the things you can’t control, so I’m fully focused on the Brumbies situation at the moment,” he said. That focus matters because this is not a free swing. The Brumbies lost 21-19 to Moana Pasifika last Saturday, then had to reset for a final that asks them to do what no Australian side has managed in New Zealand all year.
The Hurricanes, meanwhile, return with added strength. Jordie Barrett is back after a hamstring injury, while Asafo Aumua, Pasilio Tosi and Du’Plessis Kirifi are also available again after their own fitness issues. The home side finished top of the table and already showed how far ahead of the Brumbies they can be when they ran in 45 points against them earlier in the season.
That leaves the Brumbies with a simple task and a difficult one. Beat the Hurricanes in Wellington, and they live on for one more week with a place in the grand final still open. Fail, and the season ends in the one place Australia has not been able to crack all year.
