Hurricanes are shockers in more ways than one

By WYNNE GRAY

The Hurricanes continue to be the most shocking side in the Super 12.

In the cold of Canberra yesterday, at a ground where the Brumbies are rarely defeated, the Hurricanes conquered the defending champions 20-13 to stay in the race for the semifinals.

It was a remarkable result for a number of reasons.

Since the start of the Super 12 seven years ago, the Brumbies have had an 83 per cent winning record at home and they had not lost two games in succession since 1999.

Their last loss at home was in the 2000 final against the Crusaders. Yesterday's defeat meant a twin-game dive, after their single-point loss to the Crusaders a fortnight ago. So confident was the TAB of the outcome that they posted odds of $1.18 for a Brumbies win, with the Hurricanes paying $4.50 for a victory.

Try finding someone to explain how the Hurricanes can reverse an opening-game 60-7 loss to the Blues and then yesterday nail the champions. It was the biggest upset of the season, greater than the Chiefs' win against the Highlanders.

The Brumbies were well off their game, yet they were further disrupted by the Hurricanes' swarming defence, a tactic which threatened the offside laws all the time, rattled the champions and eventually the patience of referee Tappe Henning, who sinbinned David Holwell.

Brumbies coach David Nucifora thought more Hurricanes should have joined him for repeated infringements.

"I would have liked to have seen a few more go to the bin because I don't think you should reward negative play. It should, instead, be punished," he said.

However, it showed how the Brumbies can be unsettled, how their lack of variety can be a strength and weakness.

While the Hurricanes hit, the Highlanders stalled against the Waratahs to undermine their final-four fortunes. They remain fourth, but have a curly journey left, with matches against the Brumbies, Blues and Reds.

The Hurricanes and Highlanders have a bye this weekend, which gives an opportunity for the Reds and Blues to overtake them on the points table.

The Blues scraped home against the Cats in a dour game in Bloemfontein, the Chiefs lost a very untidy match against the Sharks in Durban, and the Crusaders beat the Stormers to stay unbeaten after seven games as they left for their campaign in South Africa.