BRUMBIES 16 - 35 HURRICANES
FULLTIME: That is it in Canberra. Despite dominating early, the Brumbies have fallen to the Hurricanes, going down 35-16. That is Stephen Larkam's last match coaching the Brumbies and now it is official, no Australian side has beaten a New Zealand side in Super Rugby in 2017.
79mins: One last scrum for the Brumbies.
78mins: Penalty to the Brumbies who will go for it.
77mins: Jordie Barrett kicks the goal right over the black dot.
76mins: TRY HURRICANES: Wes Goosen puts the nail in the coffin. The Brumies throw it wide and Jordie Barrett interepts the ball and finds Goosen who dives over.
75mins: The Brumbies running around in circles right now. They make half a break but the Hurricanes just survive.
73mins: Both sies making some changes now. The Brumbies have a scrum inside theri 22.
72mins: The Hurricanes chip the ball over the top but it is marked by Tom Banks.
71mins: Brad Shields makes way for Callum Gibbins.
70mins: Easy conversion by Jordie Barrett and the away side lead 28-16.
68mins: TRY HURRICANES: Finally, the Hurricanes have broken through and Tj Perenara goes over. Dane Coles breaks a tackle and throws the ball back infield to his halfback and he dives over.
67min: Both teams arejust kicking the ball now back-and-forth to eachother.
66mins: Christian Lealiifano has his first run of the game an makes about 10 metres before getting tackled.
65mins: PENALTY GOAL HURRICANES: Jordie Barrett lands the goal and the Hurricanes now lead by five points in Canberra.
64mins: The Hurricanes will go for goal.
63mins: The away side are just outside the 22 after 12 phases. Once again the Brumbies turn the ball over but this time it is a penalty.
62mins: The Hurricanes continue to attack the line, and once again the Brumbies force a turnover.
61mins: Five out and the Hurricanes have another scrum.
60mins: Another lineout for the Hurricanes. We are have 20 minutes to play an they away side hold a two-point lead.
58mins: Canes throw in five out from the line, but somehow the Brumbies turn the ball over.
57mins: The Hurricanes are 10 out and have a penalty advantage.
56mins: The Hurricanes chip over the top of the Brumbies defence but Tomas Cubelli takes a superb diving catch an takes the mark.
55mins: Another attacking throw to the Canes who are 22 out from the line.
53mins: But the Brumbies survive another onslaught. Brumbies scrum.
52mins: Dane Coles will stay on the field for the rest of the game. He throws the ball in at the lineout in his 99th Super Rugby game. They are right in front of the posts.
51mins: Both teams kick back and forth an eventually the Brumbies decide to go for a run.
49mins: The Hurricanes win a lineout and a right outside the Canes 22. But the Hurricanes turn the ball over and boot it away.
48mins: PENALTY GOAL HURRICANES: The away side take the lead for the first time as Jordie Barrett lands the penalty goal right in front.
46mins: Forward pass thrown by the Hurricanes, however they have a penalty right in front of the posts.
45mins: The ball does not go into touch and the Canes counter and nearly go all the way. Scott Fardy comes up with another big play however the ball goes to ground and the Hurricanes force a five-metre scrum.
43mins: The Hurricanes are right outside the 22, but Scott Fardy forces a turnover and the Brumbies win a penalty.
42min: The Brumbies clear out of the 22 and the ball goes out 10 away from halfway.
41mins: The Hurricanes get the ball and attack, but the Brumbies survive. But they are back on the attack again but once again they let the Brumbies off the hook.
40mins: The second half is underway in Canberra. Christian Lealiifano is on for James Dargaville.
HALFTIME: The Brumbies drive over the line but they are held up. Despite that they lead 16-15 at the break in Canberra. After a fast start, the away side have fought back. We are in for a cracking second half.
41mins: Another penalty to the Brumbies. They kick for touch once more.
40mins: YELLOW CARD HURRICANES: A blow to the away side as eff To'omaga-Allen is sent to the bin for a dangerous tackle. The Brumbies kick to the sideline and have a lineout inside the Canes 22.
38mins: PENALTY GOAL HURRICANES: Jordie Barrett goes for goal and kicks it over. Brumbies now lead 16-15.
37mins: Dane Coles is on for the Canes as Ricky Riccitelli goes for a HIA.
36mins: Beauden Barrett kicks behind the line and Ngani Laumape chases the ball. James Dargaville wins the race to the ball and finds Andrew Smith who clears the ball.
35mins: The Hurricanes now have the ball and attack down the left wing. A great run by Jordie Barrett gets them 30 out from the line.
33mins: The Brumbies win the lineout and they hit the ball up before clearing.
32mins: Another penalty to the Brumbies who now have the chance to clear the ball out of their 22.
31mins: Penalty to the Brumbies now as they trap the Canes who fail to release the ball.
30mins: Penalty to the Hurricanes and the Hurricanes have a line out five out from the line.
28mins: PENALTY GOAL BRUMBIES: Wharenui Hawera kicks his second penalty of the match and the Brumbies now lead 16-12
27mins: Penalty to the home side as the Canes were offside at the ruck.
26mins: The conversion goes over and it is a one point ball game in Canberra.
26mins: TRY HURRICANES: The try is given. Tj Perenara throws the pass of Ben May's head and it goes over the top of the Brumbies defence and Jordie Barrett dives on the ball to score.
26mins: TMO HURRICANES: Jordie Barrett goes over for the try, but they are checking for a potentional knock-on in the lead up to the try.
25mins: 10 phases inside the Brumbies 22 and the Canes are still attacking. They are five out from the line.
23mins: Another throw in for the fired up Hurricanes.
22mins: The Brumbies go down the left wing and Julian Savea looks to power over, but he is forced into touch. The Brumbies survive once more.
21mins: The Hurricanes force a mistake and now they will have another scrum.
19mins: The Hurricanes got very close to scroing, but a little knock on by the defending champions lets the Brumbies off the hook.
18mins: The Hurricanes have a scrum inside the Brumbies 22, so they need to take advantage here as they have had little-to-no ball.
17mins: The conversion goes wide.
16mins: TRY BRUMBIES: The try is given and the Canberra crowd roars. Josh Mann-Rea is the man who scored. It looked like it was going to be no try, but one camera just caught the ball being planted on the ground.
15mins: TMO BRUMBIES: The Brumbies have another lineout and push over the line and they are claiming a try.
14mins: Another throw to the Brumbies.
13mins: The Brumbies put some pressure on the Hurricanes and win a lineout inside the Canes 22.
12mins: The Hurricanes win a lineout and Tj Perenara clears the ball but the home side counters.
11mins: PENALTY GOAL BRUMBIES: Wharenui Hawera lands the penalty goal and the Brumbies take back the lead.
10mins: The Brumbies win a penalty right in front of the posts and they are looking at going for three.
9mins: Brumbies scrum just inside the Hurricanes half for a knock-on.
8mins: Awful conversion attempt by Jordie Barrett as it goes well wide.
7mins: TRY HURRICANES: Wes Goosen goes over. The lineout is over-thrown and Goosen steps past three defenders and dives over the line for a beauty of a try.
6mins: Much-needed penalty to the Hurricanes as Scott Fardy failed to roll away. Beauden Barrett kicks the ball deep into touch. Lineout just outside the Brumbies 22.
5mins: It has nearly taken six minutes but the Hurricanes finally have the ball.
4mins: The conversion attempt by Wharenui Hawera hits the posts and goes wide.
3mins: TRY BRUMBIES: James Dargaville goes over for the first try of the game. The Brumbies get some quick ball and spread it wide and Dargaville is unmarked an strolls over the line.
3mins: The home side is only 10 out from the line and Scott Sio charges and now they are inches from the line.
2mins: After 13 phases, the Brumbies win a penalty on the halway line and they kick for touch. Lineout just outside the 22.
1mins: The Brumbies get the ball early from the kickoff and go on the attack. They are making no ground after 10 phases.
KICKOFF: We are underway in Canberra. The Hurricanes have first use of the ball.
9:33 pm: The Hurricanes are out at GIO Stadium. The Brumbies will be out shortly.
9:31 pm: The Hurricanes, of course, are defending Super Rugby champions, while the Brumbies are two-time champions having won the title in 2001 and 2004.
9:30 pm: This will be a big match for the Brumbies who welcome back
Christian Lealiifano, who had spent the last year battling cancer. Hello and welcome to live updates of the Brumbies hosting the Hurricanes at GIO Stadium in Canberra, Australia.
We bring you live streaming written commentary, video highlights (be sure to refresh your browser) and all the action. VIDEO will be available as soon as the final whistle goes.
Commentary will start from around 9:30 pm (NZT). In the meantime check out the video above as Mark Abbott talks about the importance of the match against the Brumbies.
Lineups
Brumbies
1. Scott Sio, 2. Josh Mann-Rea, 3. Allan Allaalatoa, 4. Rory Arnold, 5. Sam Carter (c), 6. Scott Fardy (c), 7. Chris Alcock, 8. Jordan Smiler, 9. Joe Powell, 10. Wharenui Hawera, 11. James Dargaville, 12. Andrew Smith, 13. Tevita Kuridrani, 14. Henry Speight, 15. Tom Banks
Reserves: 16. Robbie Abel, 17. Ben Alexander, 18. Leslie Leulua'iali'i-Makin, 19. Blake Enever, 20. Jarrad Butler, 21. Tomas Cubelli, 22. Jordan Jackson-Hope, 23. Christian Lealiifano
Hurricanes
1. Ben May, 2. Ricky Riccitelli, 3. Jeff To'omaga-Allen, 4. Mark Abbott, 5. Sam Lousi, 6. Vaea Fifita,7. Ardie Savea, 8. Brad Shields, 9. TJ Perenara (c), 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Julian Savea, 12. Ngani Laumape, 13. Jordie Barrett, 14. Wes Goosen, 15. Nehe Milner-Skudder
Reserves: 16. Dane Coles, 17. Chris Eves, 18. Loni Uhila, 19. Reed Prinsep, 20. Callum Gibbins, 21. Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22. Otere Black, 23. Cory Jane
Match facts and stats
Referee: Glen Jackson
Assistants: Nic Berry and Will Houston
TMO: Ian Smith
The Brumbies have won five of their last seven games against the Hurricanes (L2), although their two defeats in that run came in their last three meetings; they also conceded their equal most ever points against the Wellington side in their most recent clash (56).
This will be the third Finals meeting between these teams, with the spoils currently split at one win apiece; the Brumbies earning a 33-20 semi-final win in 1997 before succumbing to the Hurricanes 29-9 in the 2015 semi-finals.
The Brumbies had won six Finals games in a row on home soil before losing 15-9 against the Highlanders in 2016.
The Hurricanes (14.5) have made the most clean breaks per game of any team so far this season, while the Brumbies (6.1) have conceded the fewest per game.
The Hurricanes boast the two top try scorers in Super Rugby this season in Vince Aso and Ngani Laumape (14 tries each), while no player has assisted more tries than half back duo, Beauden Barrett (13) and TJ Perenara (11).
Past meetings
Head to head: Played 23, Brumbies 13, Hurricanes 10 Draws, 0
In Australia: Played 12, Brumbies 8, Hurricanes 4
Last time played: Hurricanes 56 def Brumbies 21, April 21, 2017
Last time in Australia: Brumbies 52 def Hurricanes 10, February 26, 2016
Head-to-head: Brumbies - $1.17 Hurricanes - $4.80
Prematch banter - Hurricanes to hold nothing back for do-or-die Brumbies clash
Hurricanes halfback TJ Perenara doesn't expect the Brumbies to try to curtail his side's attacking brilliance by slowing the tempo of their Super Rugby quarter-final.
With the high-scoring Hurricanes hunting their first win in Canberra since 2010 to progress to a semi-final, the Brumbies could try to force this visitors into a dour contest on Friday night.
But the Hurricanes' star No. 9 isn't expecting the Brumbies to apply the brakes.
"This Brumbies team plays well with ball also," Perenara said.
"I think if they get the opportunities, they'll play and, if they get opportunity to kick to the line and take a set-piece, I think they'll do that.
"I don't think they see speed of game as a weakness."
Beauden Barrett rejoins Perenara in the halves after missing last week's win over the Crusaders which denied the Christchurch team an unbeaten season.
They form a backline boasting Ngani Laumape and Jordie Barrett in the centres, wingers Julian Savea and Wes Goosen and fullback Nehe Milner-Skudder.
But the Hurricanes' array of attacking talent doesn't mean the Brumbies will be without a way to match them, Perenara said.
"The Brumbies are a very good set-piece team and they strike well off the set-piece," he said.
"For us, we know we've got to limit penalties and limit our errors to stop them from getting as much set-piece as they would like."
The Hurricanes will start favourites after playing their part in New Zealand sides' 25-0 whitewash of Australia's Super Rugby teams this season.
"Regardless of what results have happened throughout a season, when you come to crunch time, it doesn't mean anything," Perenara said.
