Brumbies vs Hurricanes: Former NZ U20 rep stars for Brumbies
The Brumbies have ended the Hurricanes’ winning streak in a performance that saw the Wellingtonians beaten in some key areas they’ve been dominant in so far in 2024.
The hosts had no interest in waiting for the game to get going to find their feet in the contest, instead coming out of the gates firing, clearly motivated by last week’s 46-7 demotion at the hands of the Blues in Auckland.
The Hurricanes on the other hand lacked energy and made uncharacteristic errors, although still held a significant upper hand in areas we’ve come to expect dominance from them.
Here are five takeaways from the contest.
The Brumbies set the tone and the Hurricanes obliged
There’s been no team more physically imposing in phase play than the Hurricanes this season, with the entire Wellington forward pack capable of winning the contact and getting over the gain line.
The Brumbies however flipped that script, winning the collision area early and forcing the Hurricanes onto the back foot.
Players who have been powerful on both sides of the ball were overwhelmed by an efficient, organised and hungry Brumbies pack full of intent.
Rob Valetini was immense, as were Rory Scott and Tamati Tua, rounding out the three leading ball-carriers in the contest by a clear margin.
The Brumbies finished the game with 63 per cent possession and forced the Hurricanes to make nearly double the number of tackles, racking up 300 post-contact metres; over double their opponents’ tally.
The Brumbies out-muscled the Hurricanes consistently in phase play, something no other team has done this season. The Canes will adjust their height in the tackle for the Waratahs game, the Sydneysiders drew the short straw being the next team to face the Hurricanes.
The Hurricanes’ scrum doesn’t care
With momentum very much in favour of the Brumbies, the Hurricanes’ scrum silenced the crowd at GIO Stadium.
If it wasn’t for the visitors being able to piggyback scrum penalties up the field, who knows what the scoreline in this game would’ve been.
Allan Alaalatoa returned from injury just in time to experience the best front row in the competition in person and was duly penalised, adding to Xavier Numia’s already compelling case for All Blacks selection.
The Hurricanes enjoyed another game with 100 per cent scrum success and the fruits of that labour was evident, as was the Brumbies’ labour at lineout time.
The Australian heavyweights typically excel at lineout time but the introduction of Charlie Cale to the starting unit has only elevated that, with the No. 8’s explosive ability to get off the ground and steal ball continuing to make life hell for opposition.
The lineout would have been a big focus after the loss to the Blues, and Stephen Larkham will be a very happy coach seeing the bounce back.
This Brumbies midfield has it all
Second five-eighth Tamati Tua started this game with a bang and had his way against an All Black star in Jordie Barrett. The big midfielder’s pace proved too much for the Hurricanes’ defence as the 26-year-old ran hard lines that splintered the defensive line.
Unfortunately for Joe Schmidt, Tua is a born and raised Kiwi with no apparent ties to Australia to make him eligible for the Wallabies.
The chemistry between Tua and centre Len Ikitau may have been a compelling option for the new Wallabies boss, given Ikitau’s proven international class.
With both players in their mid-20s, this is a combination with a bright future. However, with Tua’s form, it will be interesting to see whether he stays in Australia or backs himself to be in contention for higher honours back home.
Tua has played three games for the Blues and represents Northland in the NPC, having played in the New Zealand U20s in 2017, the last time New Zealand won the world U20 champs.
Tua signed with the Brumbies in 2023, following a standout season with Northland. That means he wouldn’t be eligible for the Wallabies until 2028, when he’s 31.
Injuries are now hurting the Hurricanes
Yes, this team has incredible depth. For a player like Cam Roigard to go down and a player like TJ Perenara to come into the starting XV, that is a luxury of all luxuries.
When Asafo Aumua went down in Fiji, it looked as if the Hurricanes, and All Blacks for that matter, would be without their star hooker for the remainder of 2024. It may well eventuate that the Hurricanes will have to complete their title run without the All Black bruiser’s services, but expect to see Aumua in action for Scott Robertson later in the year.
Aumua’s understudy, James O’Reilly, has been in quality form in 2024, performing his core roles well. As mentioned, the scrum was strong throughout this game and while the lineout struggled, O’Reilly’s throwing was rarely to blame. His major fault was missing the tackle on Tua, leading to the Brumbies try.
However, the hooker’s participation in the contest only lasted 26 minutes, leading to extended minutes for 21-year-old Raymond Tuputupu. The recent New Zealand U20 product was thrown in the deep end in this clash and played admirably, being active on defence although not all that accurate, and the main issue with his lineout throws was timing and throwing harder than his teammates expected, leading to fumbles.
But the main issue for the Hurricanes was the lack of Aumua’s X-factor. In a game where the collision area was hard won and not going the Canes’ way, Aumua’s immense strength and game-breaking physicality could have been a real difference maker.
A weekly reminder: Ruben Love is really good
We’ve seen a lot from Ruben Love this season and this game again proved his talent is international ready.
There were linebreaks and good field positioning when patrolling the backfield, but one particular challenge that the Brumbies threw – or rather kicked – Love’s way was a flurry of contestable bombs. While the 22-year-old isn’t the shortest fullback, he isn’t the tallest either, potentially making life difficult when competing in the air.
However, Love’s explosiveness and fearlessness saw him claim all kicks that came his way and consistently threaten upon landing.
Comments on RugbyPass
Simply outrageous and demonstrably false to say Finau’s tackle on Lynagh was “2 seconds late” In reality it was probably 0.5 seconds after he passed the ball. If you carry the ball at speed to within 5m of the defensive line you can expect to get tackled. Finau could have pulled out of it and not absolutely flattened him for sure, but there was going to be contact either way. He seems like a high risk selection at the moment, but there is no one else like him in NZ at the moment. His big tackles make the highlight reels but he is also a great athlete, very fast for such a big man, spent most of his days at lock so also very strong in the line out.
21 Go to commentsYes, Finau looks like the best option. Blackadder is not big enough for an international 6 - he should join the queue at 7. Frizzell had the power and heft and line-out height to play lock, so maybe that is where the ABs should be looking, not at a 7 who’s not big enough for 6, but at a lock who might have the agility to play 6, like Scott Barrett, or… Natai Ah Kuoi, who absolutely fits that bill, but seldom gets to play 6 because the Chiefs have so many loosies.
21 Go to commentsPaul Quinn was a National MP.
5 Go to commentsNo need to worry about losers’ mentality hysteria from Australia. Finau has all the attributes, I don't recall a high or no arms tackle from him, and his timing has been controlled very well since the round 3 Lynagh tackle. It's an easy decision for Razor, the only question is who should back him up from the bench. He can't be overworked like Squire was in his first full season.
21 Go to comments“Reds coach Les Kiss saying later: “I think every player has the right to feel safe.” Maybe Rugby is the wrong sport for people who want to feel safe..?
21 Go to commentsNot sure what the context was, but the highlights showed one scrum against Aussie where the baby Blacks were going backwards at a pace. The pack has been the issue since 2017, so they might be in for another reality check soon. This tournament should really have been two rounds, would have learned a lot more.
1 Go to commentsPeter Lakai has a ‘lot of size’? Since when? To Kirifi maybe. I think Laidlaw clearly saw he’s too small for 6 or 8, so plonked him at 7. Has potential to be Ardies understudy in black for 7.
5 Go to commentsDalton for skipper?
15 Go to commentsOh he's ‘Irish qualified’ isn't that convenient. If Ireland get any more Kiwis (and Aussie) in their backline they might need to run out in green and black kit soon. How is the supposed best rugby system in the world in need of trawling for journeyman Kiwi players?
2 Go to commentsCallum Grace is playing well now that he's finally back in his best position. But given it was Razor who somehow thought Grace was dynamic enough to be a No8 when he's clearly not, Im not sure he’d backtrack on that. Finau is risky with his style, and there's almost no point picking Blackadder when he can’t stay on the field more than five minutes.
21 Go to commentsThe team on paper has more supposed ‘stars’ than a lot of the sides they’re losing to. They’ve got the Razor-blues and aren't playing for Penney. He should jump before he's pushed.
1 Go to commentsProof. That if you lay dramatic instrumental hip hop music over a video of a skinny pale white kid running an unopposed zig zag on a training ground filled with rookies - it’ll look next-level epic!
13 Go to commentsIf they win the challenge Cup then it will have all been worth it. If they don’t, then maybe he should go. Lots of ppl seem to think very highly of him as a coach, but maybe he would be better working under someone. Any top sides looking for forwards coaches rn?
1 Go to commentsJason Ryan knows his craft as forwards coach and I'm sure he’ll hold sway with Scott Robertson of who he feels worthy of selection…his credentials validated when he put a 7xcaps between them front row...Ethan, Samisoni and Lomax on Ellis Park…Go the AB's…
21 Go to commentsFascinating. I’m optimistic about a team coached by Schmiddy, Cron and Parling
14 Go to commentsI think if Blackadder is fit, he has to be in the team. If he isn’t, Finau would be good, and I always thought Akira deserved more of a crack at it. I think he looked better than ppl gave him credit.
21 Go to commentsThanks again Nick and interesting comments from Parling about his lineout preferences. Bearing in mind what Schmidt has said about prioritising Oz based players initially we may not see Skeleton until the EOY trip to Ireland and the UK. To me that suggests that Cale has to be ready by then. In the meantime we get 3 jumpers by having 2 jumping locks and a Wright/Swinton/Holloway/Leota type of guy at 6. I think that he (Parling) would do well to coach Valentini and Wilson to jump more. Surely they could learn more about this?
14 Go to commentsdo what the ABs normally do and cruise around the South Pacific to cherry-pick the contenders
21 Go to commentsGood read, GP comes across as a very knowledgeable guy and pretty decent human to boot! Genuinely leaves me wondering though, how Australia’s second city could be in with a serious possibility of being left without a pro team. Just how does that get to happen? Credit to the team though, they’re performing pretty well under some horrible circumstances and pressure on their livelihoods. Whoever made the call to boot out DR, his staff and the structure/connections/succession plans he had put in place in unbelievably short order needs strung up by their most sensitive body parts. Thought that at the time and of course, events unfolded even worse than feared!
14 Go to commentsCan’t see an appetite to pick Brad Shields for obvious reasons, but Devan Flanders has got to be in with a shout.
21 Go to comments