The Brumbies have produced a stunning second half to overcome the Hurricanes in Wellington to secure their first win in the windy city since 2003.
The Brumbies started the match the better of the sides as they used a simple but effective one out ruck option that paid dividends when Fotu Auelua dived over from close range.
However, the old mistake of poor kicking that has plagued the side this season reared its head again with some less than effective kicking putting themselves under pressure and allowed the home side to get back into the game.
Tries to TJ Perenara and Victor Vito saw the hosts head to the sheds with a slight lead and with Perenara’s second of the night just after the resumption of play and another five pointer to Toomaga-Allen, the Hurricanes could have run away with the match.
The boot of Zack Holmes kept the Brumbies in touch and just as they did against the Bulls in Pretoria, the Brumbies showed they can rack up the tries with three second half tries in a fifteen minute period.
Sam Carter got the ball rolling when he finished up on the end of a line break started by his lock partner Scott Fardy to bring the lead back to two points.
Their next try had a stroke of luck after a Hurricanes scrum inside their own 22m area went awry and after the Brumbies recovered the ball, flanker Michael Hooper dived over to put the Brumbies in front.
The night was topped off by new flyhalf Holmes who scored his own try to contribute a personal tally of 22 points in the victory. His goalkicking proved the difference in the end and had been the subject of much debate during the week over his starting role. He led the team well and will have answered the question marks over his ability to fill the boots of injured flyhalf Christian Lealiifano.
The Brumbies escaped from the game relatively unscathed, with head knocks to Auelua and Hooper the only injuries of note. The biggest story to come out of the game will the termination of Ian Prior’s modelling career after suffering a nasty facial wound.
The bonus point win sees the Brumbies remain top of the Australian conference and sets up a mouth watering clash with the Queensland Reds in Canberra next Saturday that will surely determine who represents Australia in the finals but they will need to work on a few things at training this week if they to ensure it is them who fills that place.
Brumbies 37 – Auelua, Carter, Hooper, Holmes tries; Holmes 4 cons, 3 pens def Hurricanes, Hurricanes 25 – Perenara 2, Vito, Toomaga-Allen tries; Taylor con, pen.
