Rugby: Hurricanes out to overcome history

Hurricanes captain TJ Perenara and Cory Jane. Photo / Getty

The Brumbies have the wood on the Hurricanes.

Historically, that is. They lead 13-10 in head to head match-ups since 1996, but that will count for nothing tonight in the first of the Super Rugby quarter-finals in what is likely to be a chilly Canberra. For a start, there is no George Gregan, Steve Larkham is in the stands, and Tevita Kuridrani is no Stirling Mortlock. Jeremy Paul and Owen Finegan are long retired, George Smith now plays for the Reds, and David Pocock is on sabbatical.

The Hurricanes have not, however, won in Canberra since 2010 and indeed have only chalked up four victories there in Super Rugby history. Last season's opener saw them crash 52-10 in a poor display, which raised all sorts of questions about how fit and focused the visitors were for the encounter.

"I think there's only a small handful of our players who have succeeded in Canberra. We are still embarrassed by that game, but all of that is history. We are not taking the last three months into account," says Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd, who has Beauden Barrett and Dane Coles back in harness. Barrett set up three tries with crosskicks in the 56-21 victory over the Brumbies in Napier, so the Brumbies' back three of Tom Banks, Henry Speight and James Dargaville will be on high alert, as will the loose trio, up against a well-balanced Hurricanes' trio of Brad Shields, Ardie Savea and Vaea Fifita.

The Australian conference champions are limited in some areas, as evidenced by their spotty 6-9 regular season record, but they have gnarly forwards in captain Sam Carter, No 6 Scott Fardy and loosehead prop Scott Sio.

"Set-piece is a very big part of their game. They have a strong scrum, a good lineout and drive a lot, so anyone who plays the Brumbies needs to deal with those parts of their game," cautions Boyd.

He will be seeking a faster start from his charges after being slow out of the blocks of late.

"We haven't done well in the last couple of weeks. We've been behind significantly in both the British and Irish Lions and Crusaders games and in Napier last time we were actually behind at halftime, and had a reasonable second half. It is an area of our game that we can be better in," he says. A good warm-up is in order then.

In 2016, the Highlanders laboured to a 15-9 quarter-final win in Canberra, so the potential for a lot of frothy, expansive rugby is minimal. Hurricanes coach Richard Watt, who has done a fine job with the pack, will be putting the onus on the lower numbers to mark up.

Accomplish that and they can start thinking about their flight to, most probably, Johannesburg.

Hurricanes: Nehe Milner-Skudder, Wes Goosen, Jordie Barrett, Ngani Laumape, Julian Savea, Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara (c), Brad Shields, Ardie Savea, Vaea Fifita, Sam Lousi, Mark Abbott, Jeff Toomaga-Allen, Ricky Riccitelli, Ben May

Reserves: Dane Coles, Chris Eves, Loni Uhila, Reed Prinsep, Callum Gibbins, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Otere Black, Cory Jane

Brumbies: Tom Banks, Henry Speight, Tevita Kuridrani, Andrew Smith, James Dargaville, Wharenui Hawera, Joe Powell, Jordan Smiler, Chris Alcock, Scott Fardy, Sam Carter (c), Rory Arnold, Allan Alaalatoa, Josh Mann-Rea, Scott Sio

Reserves: Robbie Abel, Ben Alexander, Leslie Leulua'iali'i-Makin, Blake Enever, Jarrad Butler, Tomas Cubelli, Jordan Jackson-Hope, Christian Lealiifano