Hurricanes Thrash Brumbies 66-12 to Advance in Super Rugby Pacific Finals

The ACT Brumbies were eliminated from the Super Rugby Pacific finals after a 66-12 loss to the Hurricanes in Wellington on Friday. The defeat set multiple unwanted records for the Australian franchise. The Hurricanes scored 38 points before half-time, the most the Brumbies have ever conceded in a first half.

They finished with 66 points, the highest total the Brumbies have allowed in any match, and the 54-point margin is the largest loss by an Australian side in a Super Rugby finals match. Rain fell in Wellington throughout the day, with a downpour striking just before kick-off.

The Brumbies began the match inside Hurricanes territory but conceded the opening try in the seventh minute when lock forward Caleb Delany finished a 70-metre sequence after a Brumbies knock-on.

Scrumhalf Cam Roigard scored three minutes later to make the score 14-0. Fly-half Ruben Love added a penalty goal in the 15th minute, and outside centre Billy Proctor crossed for a third try before lock Warner Dearns scored in the 32nd minute to give the Hurricanes a 31-0 lead. The Brumbies scored their first points when winger Corey Toole chased a chip kick from scrumhalf Ryan Lonergan.

Roigard replied with another try just before the break, sending the Hurricanes into half-time ahead 38-7. Substitute back Ngane Punivai scored a hat-trick in the second half as the Hurricanes added four more tries.

Roigard said the result carried extra weight because of the teams' history. "Us and the Brumbies have a lot of history, and we've been on the other side of it," he said. "It was personal for us this week.

The Hurricanes finished the regular season on top of the table and advanced to next weekend's semifinals. Australian sides now hold a 0-22 record in Super Rugby finals matches played in New Zealand since 1996. The Queensland Reds will play the Chiefs in Hamilton on Saturday.