Hurricanes v Brumbies Stat Attack

Duplessis Kirifi and Peter Lakai pack down in an earlier game against the Chiefs. Kirifi played the most minutes (1,117) of Hurricanes players this year, whilst two others also passed 1,000 minutes: Lakai and Cam Roigard.

Qualifying Final v Brumbies: Lost 28-35

For this year’s finals the well-established format of Quarterfinals, Semifinals and Final was tweaked with the Quarterfinals (four teams) being replaced by Qualifying Finals (six teams) with the highest of the losing sides guaranteed a place in the Semifinals. The Chiefs were the “lucky loser” with the Hurricanes and Reds missing out.

In previous years the Hurricanes had taken part in seven Quarterfinals: 2016 (beat the Sharks), 2017 (beat the Brumbies), 2018 (beat the Chiefs), 2019 (beat the Bulls), 2022 (lost to the Brumbies), 2023 (lost to the Brumbies) and 2024 (beat the Rebels). This year, the Brumbies were once again the Hurricanes nemesis.

Every match against the Brumbies was played in Canberra. The other four were played in Wellington.

The Hurricanes and Brumbies have now met on 34 occasions: the Hurricanes have won 14 times to the 20 of the Brumbies. Those 20 Brumbies wins are one more than the combined total of wins of the other four Australian  sides: Force (two), Rebels (one), Reds (six) and Waratahs (10).

The Brumbies have hosted the Hurricanes 21 times for 15 wins and six losses. In recent years they have been hard to beat at home winning 10 of the last 12 matches.

The Hurricanes and Brumbies have played 10 of their last 13 encounters in Canberra.

GIO Stadium has become something of a fortress for the Brumbies. Apart from one match at the Manuka Oval in 1996, they have played every game at GIO Stadium. The Brumbies home ground was initially called Bruce Stadium which lasted until 2002 when it was renamed Canberra Stadium. In 2014 it became known as GIO Stadium. The Brumbies have played 218 matches at the Stadium winning 163 (74.8%), losing 53 and drawing two.

By comparison the Hurricanes have won 68.8% of their matches played at home venues.

This was the Hurricanes first loss to an Australian side in 2025.

The Hurricanes have scored 28 points in a match 13 times, three of which were against the Brumbies. All three matches were lost I might add. By a remarkable coincidence when the Hurricanes first met the Brumbies in Super Rugby’s inaugural year (1996), the match was in Canberra and the home team won 35-28! It was the second-ever match for both sides. In this match just played the Hurricanes scored four converted tries and the Brumbies five converted tries. In 1996 the Brumbies 35 points were made up of four tries, three conversions and three penalties. The Hurricanes 28 points were comprised of three tries, two conversions and three penalties. The 1996 match was controlled by Australian referee Stu Dickinson.

The Hurricanes have conceded 35 points in a match 11 times five of which have been against the Brumbies.

Only once have the Hurricanes won with that total: against Gauteng (eventually becoming the Lions) at

Johannesburg in 1997 (37-35). On the other hand the Hurricanes have twice scored 35 points against the

Brumbies winning 35-16 at Canberra in the 2017 Quarterfinal and 35-29 in Round 11 earlier this season.

The Hurricanes have lost 10 matches by the margin of seven points including three times against the Brumbies.

The Hurricanes conceded 51 tries in 2025, only the fourth time they have given up 50 or more tries in a season.

In 2018 it was 51 tries, in 2019 it was 53 tries and in 2023 it was 52 tries.

In this match the Hurricanes passed 650 tries at all away venues. The total now sits on 651 tries.

The first try by the Hurricanes brought up their 200th scored in Australia. The total is now 203.

The total of all tries scored by the Hurricanes against all Australian sides, combined with those scored by the Australian sides against the Hurricanes, is 799.

The Hurricanes made just one change to their starting line-up from that which started in the previous match against Moana Pasifika. That change was in the forwards.

Ruben Love scored the Hurricanes first try in the sixth minute. It was his eighth in 43 matches. He also kicked eight points to add to the 10 points scored against the Brumbies in Round 11.

Fatafehi Fineanganofo’s try was his sixth in 12 matches in this his debut Super Rugby season. His try was the 650th scored in the 80th Super Rugby match played this year.

Pasilio Tosi scored his fourth try in his 39th match.

Bailyn Sullivan touched down for his 15th try in 48 appearances. One of those tries was for the Chiefs in 2021. All four try scorers had not scored against the Brumbies previously.

Sullivan, along with Kini Naholo, are joint holders for most tries scored for the Hurricanes in 2025 with eight apiece.

Brad Shields came off the bench to appear in his 127th Super Rugby match for the Hurricanes. That moves him into fifth place on the all-time appearance list ahead of Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith who both played 126 times for the Hurricanes. Shields has started 99 times. If his match against the British & Irish Lions in 2017 is included, Shields has represented the Hurricanes 128 times starting in 100 of them.

With eight minutes remaining in the match Peter Umaga-Jensen left the field for an HIA, which he failed. Of the 39 players who made an appearance this season, only five played in all 15 matches for the Hurricanes. They are Du’Plessis Kirifi, Peter Lakai, Xavier Numia, Cameron Roigard (he had the most starts with 14) and Bailyn Sullivan. Five players made just one appearance.

Kirifi played the most minutes (1117) whilst two others also passed 1000 minutes: Lakai and Roigard.

Billy Pollard scored twice for the Brumbies, his first tries against the Hurricanes.

Captain Allan Alaalatoa scored his second try against the Hurricanes. His first was in Round 11.

James Slipper scored his first try against the Hurricanes.

Slipper, Pollard and Alaalatoa all started the match and comprised the front row. I have no records but it must be a fairly rare occurrence for those wearing jerseys numbered 1, 2 and 3 to all score tries in the same match.

Tom Wright scored yet another try (his fourth) against the Hurricanes. He had previously dotted down in 2019 and in the Quarterfinal matches of 2022 and 2023.

Noah Lolesio kicked 10 points to add to the nine he kicked in Round 11. In all matches against the Hurricanes Lolesio has scored 74 points, not too far behind the record-holder for most points Stirling Mortlock who has 90 to his name.

Jack Debreczeni, who was a late change on the Brumbies bench, did not get onto the field.

Replacement Lington Ieli played his first match against the Hurricanes.

The Brumbies actually made just one change to their starting line-up from the one which appeared against the Hurricanes in Round 11. By contrast, the Hurricanes made eight changes.

Nic Berry controlled his 17th match involving the Hurricanes. It was his third match this season. Three of his overall tally are Hurricanes/Brumbies matches which were all played in Australia and lost by the visitors. Just saying.

In 30 years of Super Rugby the Hurricanes have played 422 matches for 243 wins (57.6%), 172 losses and seven draws. In 2017 they hosted the touring British & Irish Lions side drawing their non-Super Rugby match 31-31.