Brumbies’ loss to Chiefs means Australia finish Super Rugby season 0-25 against New Zealand rivals
AUSTRALIA’S Super Rugby teams have finished the season 0-25 against New Zealand rivals, the first time in history they’ve failed to beat a trans-Tasman rival.
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WINLESS. Hopeless.
Australia’s Super Rugby teams have finished the season 0-25 against New Zealand rivals, the first time in history they’ve failed to score a single regular-season win over a trans-Tasman rival.
The 2017 clean sweep was completed on Saturday when the Chiefs defeated the Brumbies 28-10 in Hamilton.
That is 25 games against Kiwis teams for 25 defeats.
Most of the matches haven’t been close, highlighting the growing chasm between the traditional rivals one month before the first Test of the Bledisloe Cup, a trophy Australia has not held since 2002.
MATCH REPORT: Chiefs beat Brumbies
The Brumbies had made 12 changes from their previous match, a 16-15 loss to the lowly Reds.
Coach Stephen Larkham admitted this week it was a deliberate ploy to rest his best players for the quarter-final clash in Canberra next Friday, against the Chiefs or Hurricanes.
But whatever side the Brumbies put out next week will not be favoured, given the dark history of this season.
Never has the gap seemed bigger.
Even during the 14-year Bledisloe drought, Australia’s Super Rugby teams had their moments.
The Brumbies won the title in 2004, the Reds claimed the premiership in 2011, and the Waratahs broke their drought in 2014.
But for none of the Australian teams to record one win over a Kiwi side? Unthinkable, yet a stark reality.
While the Brumbies rested prop Alan Alaalatoa, flanker Chris Alcock and halfback Joe Powell, the Chiefs also withdrew All Blacks Brodie Retallick, Sam Cane, Anton Lienert-Brown, and just before kick-off, Liam Messam.
Yet the Canberra side, despite being within three points of the home side early in the second half, always looked a step behind.
Led by whiz-kid Damien McKenzie, the Chiefs constantly found holes in the Brumbies defence and dominated the scrums.
With a quick turnaround before next week’s playoff, Larkham must find an ingredient that has evaded his side and all other Australian sides this year to pull off an upset win against a Kiwi side.
Otherwise, for the first time, Wallabies players will have to prepare for a showdown with New Zealand in a year where none of their players know what defeating a Kiwi team feels like.
AUSTRALIA V NZ SUPER RUGBY 2017
1. Blues 56 Rebels 18
2. Crusaders 17 Brumbies 13
3. Hurricanes 71 Rebels 6
4. Reds 20 Crusaders 22
5. Rebels 14 Chiefs 27
6. Crusaders 45 Rebels 17
7. Brumbies 13 Highlanders 18
8. Highlanders 51 Rebels 12
9. Blues 24 Force 15
10. Reds 15 Hurricanes 34
11. Waratahs 22 Crusaders 41
12. Hurricanes 38 Waratahs 28
13. Hurricanes 56 Brumbies 21
14. Force 7 Chiefs 16
15. Brumbies 12 Blues 18
16. Chiefs 46 Reds 17
17. Waratahs 33 Blues 40
18. Force 6 Highlanders 55
19. Highlanders 44 Waratahs 28
20. Rebels 19 Crusaders 41
21. Blues 34 Reds 29
22. Chiefs 46 Waratahs 31
23. Force 12 Hurricanes 34
24. Highlanders 40 Reds 17
25. Chiefs 28 Brumbies 10
Originally published as Brumbies’ loss to Chiefs means Australia finish Super Rugby season 0-25 against New Zealand rivals
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