Wynne Gray: Brumbies can redeem Australian rugby

Beauden Barrett will again make life difficult for the Brumbies in Canberra tomorrow night. Photo / Photosport

If the Hurricanes fall over tomorrow night against the Brumbies, the fall-out will be as awkward as the Super Rugby format.

The cuzzies in Canberra are the unqualified qualifiers for the finals based on nothing but their nationality. One of the duds across the ditch was guaranteed a spot in the last eight and when pool play mercifully ended, the Brumbies were the best of the worst.

Seeing them in the playoffs is awkward enough but to then be rewarded as hosts against a Hurricanes side who had double their wins, moves into the bizarre category. It's another entry in the bulging file about what's wrong with Super Rugby.

Nothing much is going right for the Diggers this year with modest test offerings in June and a zero from 25 results chart against New Zealand teams in Super Rugby. About the only thing they've got on the button is realising Quade Cooper doesn't cut it as a test five-eighths, although injuries, form and attrition may see him reinstated by the end of the year.

All will be forgiven for the Brumbies and the nation's rugby path if they find their way past the defending champions and on to the podium tomorrow night in Canberra. That would be as big a scalp as the Sunwolves' effort in whipping the Blues ... but let's not go there.

The Hurricanes though, should have taken special notice of that meltdown in Tokyo as a warning about the consequences for any lack of preparation in this sudden-death game. All the sideline sniping about the blot from 25 does not matter a fig when referee Glen Jackson starts the match. On that note, have we done away with neutral refs for the playoffs? The Canes had Jackson last week in their win against the Crusaders so his calls will be very familiar. Otherwise the slate is clean, the Hurricanes 56-21 win against the Brumbies was a tasty result but has no impact about the outcome tonight in chilly Canberra.

The Brumbies may take more out of that match because they led 21-14 at halftime and with more leverage from their set-piece and breakdown, they know they could have made life difficult for the champs.

There has been a warm narrative about Christian Leali'ifano's return to the bench from leukaemia and the optimistic value about the bulk of the side being rested last week for this lifeline game of their season. The Highlanders and Blues struggled to wins in Canberra this year and the venue has a habit of being a leveller.

Beauden Barrett is one player who should stimulate the Canes and make the opposition edgy. He was sharp before the squared test series with the Lions where his quality showed in his general play with some questions about his goal-kicking. That job at the Canes is done by younger brother Jordie so big bro can run the rig.

There are others whose production needs to match their status and repaired captain Dane Coles will drive that from the bench and when he gets on the track. TJ Perenara has to work on his game rather than his mouth and Julian Savea needs to create greater support for the work-rate of tight forwards Mark Abbott and Sam Lousi.

They all have to be on the button unless they want to join the Blues with a hangover lasting into next season.