Team Naming Qualifying Final vs Brumbies

After securing 4th place, the Hurricanes earned a trip to Canberra to face the Brumbies in the qualifying final on Saturday, 7 June, 9.35 pm at GIO Stadium.

Off the back of a 64 - 12 victory against Moana Pasifika, which featured many strong individual performances and a debut try to Tjay Clarke, the Hurricanes have named a strong, settled team with only one change to the starting 15, with Caleb Delany replacing Hugo Plummer at lock.

Tevita Mafileo and Callum Harkin are named on the bench, with Ngatungane Punivai joining them after returning from an ankle injury.

After a strong performance against Moana Pasifika, the backline remains the same with Brett Cameron continuing at first five and with Ruben Love as fullback.

The two sides last met in Round 11 at the GIO Stadium in Canberra. The Hurricanes won the match 35-29 after leading 20-15 at halftime. The Brumbies opened the scoring after nine minutes, but after twice drawing level, the Hurricanes went ahead after 37 minutes, going on to win the match, their first victory in Canberra since 2017.

Tries for the Hurricanes were scored by Ngatungane Punivai (2), Kini Naholo (2) and Billy Proctor. Ruben Love kicked 10 points, made up of two conversions and two penalties.

The Brumbies scored four tries, including one by their captain Allan Alaalatoa. Noah Lolesio kicked nine points.

Hurricanes Head Coach Clark Laidlaw said, “It's an exciting week with the playoffs. We’re looking forward to heading over to Canberra tomorrow (Thursday).

This is what the work is for at the start of the year: to still be alive for the top 6 and still be in the competition.

We can't wait to give it a real crack in Canberra, we know it's a tough place to go and play, but that’s something we are embracing and looking forward to.

It’s nice to have a couple of guys back, Asafo (Aumua), Caleb (Delany) and Ngane (Punivai), giving us some strength in depth in the squad again.

We were really happy the way we played on the weekend, and want to continue the momentum we had into this game, and start well, but we know the Brumbies are a completely different proposition, as is the playoffs. 

We want to treat each day for what it is on its own merits, and get each day right so we can enjoy ourselves on the weekend.”

1 Xavier Numia

2 Asafo Aumua (Co Captain)

3 Tyrel Lomax

4 Zach Gallagher

5 Caleb Delany

6 Devan Flanders

7 Du’Plessis Kirifi (Co Captain)

8 Peter Lakai

9 Cam Roigard

10 Brett Cameron

11 Fatafehi Fineanganofo

12 Peter Umaga-Jensen

13 Billy Proctor (Co Captain)

14 Bailyn Sullivan

15 Ruben Love

Impact

16. Raymond Tuputupu

17. Tevita Mafileo

18. Pasilio Tosi

19. Hugo Plummer

20. Brad Shields (Co Captain)

21. Ereatara Enari

22. Ngatungane Punivai

23. Callum Harkin