The Brumbies went down to the Crusaders a fortnight ago, 31-33. Do they have the game to beat the Chiefs this weekend? Photo: Jayzie Photography.
The Brumbies take on the Chiefs in the Super Rugby semifinals in Hamilton on Saturday night, with statistics very much against the Canberra team.
No Australian Super Rugby team has won a playoff game of any description on New Zealand soil since the Brumbies beat the Hurricanes in the semis before going down to the Blues in the 1997 final.
That’s a 20-match losing streak by Australian teams in finals in New Zealand.
The Brumbies have gone close in the past three years. They went down 20-19 to the Blues in 2022, 19-6 to the Chiefs in 2023, and to the Blues 34-20 in 2024.
There are, of course, lingering memories amongst Brumbies supporters of the final that got away in 2023 in Hamilton when the Brumbies led 22-12 before going down 27-22.
Having commentated that game in Hamilton and, in fact, every final the Brumbies have been in since 1997, I can attest to the hurdles faced by Australian teams in New Zealand.
Hamilton, in particular, is imposing because of the city. It is hard to escape the passion the locals have for their team.
Then there is the constant ringing of cowbells throughout the game.
The Brumbies, though, have the game to beat the Chiefs.
In Round 3 this season, the Chiefs beat the Brumbies in Hamilton, with the Brumbies trailing by five points with five minutes to go. However, a late try and two goals gave the home side a 49-34 victory.
The Brumbies were without one of their star players, Rob Valetini, on that day.
And the Brumbies are a far different team than they were in March this season, as evidenced by the past fortnight’s loss to the Crusaders and the win over the Hurricanes.
The Brumbies’ victory over the Hurricanes was particularly impressive, given the Wellington team’s form going into the quarterfinal, with a five-game winning streak.
What we have seen is a significant lift in intensity and physicality by the Brumbies, which has been missing in some of their games this season.
The form of Tom Hooper, in particular, has been one of the reasons why the Brumbies head into the semifinal with momentum.
The Brumbies will need to lift their defence to another level with Damian McKenzie capable of launching attacking raids from anywhere on the field.
The Brumbies’ lineouts will no doubt receive plenty of attention at training this week after faltering in the quarterfinal against the Hurricanes.
There is confidence in the Brumbies camp that they have learnt plenty from the past three years of finals experience in New Zealand.
It is one thing to talk about it, though; it’s another to put a response to lessons learned into practice.
