Brumbies seal Super Rugby semi final berth with win over the Hurricanes

The ACT Brumbies have saved Australian rugby’s blushes with a thrilling 35-28 quarter-final win over the Hurricanes, but now face an unenviable path to Super Rugby glory.

Tom Wright celebrates a try with teammates during the Burnbies’ win against the Hurricanes. Picture: Getty Images

There’s still a pulse in Australia’s ailing Super Rugby teams.

Not for the first time, the ACT Brumbies have saved Australian rugby’s blushes with a thrilling 35-28 quarter-final win over the Hurricanes in Canberra on Saturday.

They now face the dreaded prospect of having to win twice in New Zealand to take the title but that’s a problem for another day because the good news is that at least they’re still alive.

Australia’s other teams all folded like cheap suits and have already crashed out of the tournament, leaving the Brumbies to fly the flag alone against the three remaining Kiwi sides.

If it wasn’t for an officiating blunder that cost them victory in their final regular season clash with the Crusaders, the Brumbies would be hosting a semi next week but instead they’re off to Waikato Stadium in Hamilton to tackle the Chiefs.

It’s a tough assignment but the Brumbies have always been a side willing to roll up their sleeves and grind out wins through hard work.

Ryan Lonergan passes during the Burmbies’ win. Picture: Getty Images

Twice they found themselves trailing the Hurricanes inside the first quarter of the game but both times they levelled the scores with tries off the back of rolling mauls after spurning the chance of easy points from penalties.

It’s not pretty but it’s a highly effective tactic that the Brumbies have mastered and the Wallabies should consider using in their upcoming series against the British and Irish Lions.

Four of the Brumbies’ five tries against the Hurricanes were scored by frontrowers, two by hooker Billy Pollard and one each from props James Slipper and captain Allan Alaalatoa, who returned to the side from injury.

Brumbies hooker Billy Pollard fights his way over for a try. Picture: Getty Images

“It felt good to earn ourselves another week,” Alaalatoa said.

“We knew it was probably going to take everything we had. Physically, we spoke a lot about our tackle area and our tackle completion from the last time we played them.

“We backed ourselves. We knew that if we were going to beat the Hurricanes, we had to score some tries.

“The last time we played him, we didn’t get many A-Zone opportunities, so we wanted to take as many as we could.”

Only Tom Wright, who had an impressive game at fullback, chalked one up for the backline after he combined with powerhouse backrower Rob Valentini.

Noah Lolesio in action for the Brumbies. Picture: Getty Images

If the Brumbies have a weakness it’s with their defence. They conceded 50 tries during the normal season and gave up four more against the Hurricanes to keep the visitors in the game right until the final whistle.

There was some added pressure before the game when the Auckland Blues scored in the last minute to beat the Chiefs in New Zealand, meaning the Brumbies’ match was sudden-death. Had the Chiefs won, both the Brumbies and the Canes would have been assured a place in the semis regardless of the result but it was the Aussies who survived to fight again.

“It’s good for us to experience that pressure now, especially heading over to Hamilton now where it is going to be do or die,” Alaalatoa said.

“To have that feeling for the game I think it’s gonna be good for us heading into next week.”