Brumbies 'blocking out' horror playoff record in New Zealand

ACT Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham is urging his players to block out the past and not worry about the future ahead of their date with destiny.

Australian teams are a staggering 0-21 in Super Rugby play-off games when it comes to facing their New Zealand rivals across the Tasman.

The sixth-placed Brumbies have the chance to get one back for Australia when they take on the ladder-leading Hurricanes in a qualifying final in Wellington on Friday night.

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If the Brumbies fail, then it will be left up to Queensland to right the wrongs when they face off against the Chiefs in Hamilton on Saturday.

“We don’t talk about the historical events, we just stay in the present,” Larkham said of the incredibly one-sided statistic.

“This team is not the team that came over here and played the last time we were here.

“We’re also not a Reds team that’s come over, or a Waratahs team that’s come over, or a Force team, or a Rebels team. We are our own team this year.”

The Brumbies have fared well against NZ opponents this season – aside from their 45-12 loss to the Hurricanes in Christchurch.

Larkham’s men thrashed the Crusaders 50-24 in Christchurch and edged the Highlanders 14-10 in Dunedin, as well as posting home wins over the Chiefs and Blues.

But Larkham isn’t relying on those good results to get his team over the line this time around.

“Confidence doesn’t last very long,” Larkham said.

“It might get you into the game, but the reality of the game will either take your confidence away or maintain it. So it’s not something we’re going to speak about.

“It (our good record) might be in some players’ heads, but the most important thing is that they stay connected on the field, and they don’t think about anything that’s happened in the past or anything that’s going to happen in the future.

“We’ve gone about the preparation as per usual. We’ve had a good record against New Zealand teams over the last couple of years over here, so we want to treat it like any other away game.”

Larkham has made two starting XV changes to the side that suffered a shock 21-19 loss to Moana Pasifika last week.

Hooker Lachlan Lonergan and flanker Luke Reimer come into the run-on side for the knockout clash, with the bench strengthened by the return of utility back Ollie Sapsford from a knee injury.

For the Hurricanes, co-captain Jordie Barrett has overcome a hamstring injury to start at inside centre, while hooker Asafo Aumua, tighthead prop Pasilio Tosi and Du’Plessis Kirifi have also been named.