Three Points
Brumbies can learn from Tahs' win in Wellington
Brett McKay
June 24, 2015
The fast-paced attacking Highlanders aren't smokeys for the title, they're real contenders © Getty Images
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Two absolutely stonking matches were presented to us in the first week of the Super Rugby play-offs, and if the semis this weekend coming are even half as good, we'll be in for another treat.

The Highlanders beat the Chiefs 24-14 in Dunedin in the first qualifier, and then the Brumbies beat the Stormers 39-19 in Cape Town in something of a boilover. Both games were free-flowing affairs, entirely living up to the 'high-octane rugby' mantra of Super Rugby in 2015.

Here were a few things to stick out from the first week of the finals.

Highlanders prevail under the roof

It started with what should remain a contender for the Super Rugby Try of the Year - despite the mere detail of the try being called back because a fraction of a boot touched a millimetre of touchline on the edge of a TV frame that only the TMO had the capability of seeing, and ended with an 80th minute penalty that sank the Chiefs properly.

In between was a constant din of a packed-to-the-rafters Forsyth Barr Stadium noise and a game that ebbed and flowed and had you on the edge of the seat from whistle to whistle. If it gets topped as the game of the year, then the Finals Series has some real treats left up its sleeve.

The Highlanders' Aaron Smith celebrates his side's finals win, Highlanders v Chiefs, Dunedin, June 20, 2015
Aaron Smith is at the heart of the Highlanders' attack © Getty Images
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And though the game was tight in the first half, the Highlanders really started pressing on the second half. Most importantly, whenever the Chiefs were able to post points, the Highlanders were always able to reply and generally within minutes.

The Chiefs would've thought they were right in the game, with their 9-8 half-time lead, but Aaron Smith got that backhand flick pass away - the one Sam Bruce and I raved about the Scrum5 podcast this week - for Waisake Naholo to score in the 44th minute. Lima Sopoaga converted, and then added a penalty three minutes later, and suddenly, the Chiefs' narrow lead was a nine-point deficit from which they never really recovered.

It was a great game, well won by a team in absolutely supreme form. I've suggested they're a smokey for the title, but they're better than that; they're genuine contenders. They could absolutely beat the Hurricanes in Wellington, and they'd be raging hot favourites in a shock home Final against the Brumbies in Dunedin.

They're the real deal, and it's all about the spirit of the group from the south. Though after raising it last week, I'm also not ruling out possible superpowers in Elliot Dixon's head tape.

Brumbies continue Stormers drought

In the three of the five years of the Super Rugby conference format, the Stormers have hosted a home play-off match by virtue of topping the South African conference. They have not won any of those play-off matches.

It gets worse than that, too. In their existence, the Stormers have played in seven play-off matches for just one win - the 2010 semi-final win over the Waratahs, before losing the final to the Bulls a week later.

Joe Tomane of the Brumbies smiles as he runs in his third try of the match, Stormers v Brumbies, Play-off final, Super Rugby, Newlands Stadium, Cape Town, June 20, 2015
The Brumbies had no need for the maul with Tomane on the field © Getty Images
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And four of their play-off losses have come at home, including all three under the conference format. Newlands is the Stormers' fortress, where they win more than 60% of matches, yet their finals record at home is appalling.

For the Brumbies, though, the win in Cape Town will be a real kick-in-the-pants confidence boost, and they'll draw on their experience of 2013 - and ideally learn from the outcome - in order to win in New Zealand, having again notched a play-off win in South Africa.

For all the talk of the Brumbies being a maul-only side, they only took the ball into a maul three times for the match. And they already had a significant lead on the board before they did maul; the point is they didn't need to rely on the lineout set-piece, because they were already having great success going wide.

How they adapt for the Hurricanes will be interesting. Back in April, the Waratahs had some success in attacking to the right, and catching Julian Savea out of position three times. If Matt Toomua or Christian Leali'ifano can get the pass in the right spot, the Brumbies certainly have flyers who can finish the job.

Meanwhile, with their feet up...

I wrote last week that the Hurricanes and Waratahs would be sitting back with the feet up hoping that the four other teams belted seven shades out of each other in the qualifiers.

Mission accomplished.

The big questions for this week are how much did the 80-minute end-to-end sprint take out of the Highlanders, and how will the Brumbies overcome the fatigue factor coming back from South Africa?

The Chiefs were the only side this season to win in New Zealand the week after returning from the South Africa, but in reality, few teams faced the task. Several teams came back from the Republic via the Western Force in Perth, and several others had the bye on return. No team has won in South Africa one week, and then won in New Zealand the next. But that's what the Brumbies face. And in a Super Rugby semi-final, no less.

The Highlanders, on the other hand will fancy their chances in Sydney. They beat the Waratahs well in Round 5, and have won away in South Africa, in Australia, and in New Zealand since. They've just put away the most recent back-to-back Champions, and they fear no-one.

But how much of an advantage is the week off for the Hurricanes and Waratahs? What price on momentum, at this time of year? The Hurricanes and Waratahs will tell us they're refreshed and over any niggly injuries. The Brumbies and Highlanders will say they've riding the wave and niggles don't hurt when you're winning.

Happily, we get to find out on Saturday who's right. Strap yourselves in.

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