Super Rugby
Hurricanes 'panicked' under Brumbies' breakdown pressure
Sam Bruce
February 27, 2016
© Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd lamented his side's inability to cope with the Brumbies' breakdown pressure and defensive line speed following a disastrous 42-point loss in their Super Rugby opener.

The 2015 runners-up had no answer to the Brumbies' combination of potent attack and tireless defence in Canberra, conceding a whopping 31 turnovers compared to the hosts' 13.

The Hurricanes also struggled at scrum time, as had been predicted pre-match.

"Clearly we don't like losing any game but to lose and concede 50 was really disappointing for everybody," Boyd said.

"Every day's for reflection, but we had trouble at scrum time; we made far too many errors; we couldn't build any pressure because we kept getting slow or dead ball.

"And so our inability to recycle phases under pressure at the breakdown was probably the key really."

Brumbies humble Hurricanes (Australia only)

While admitting there were no real positives apart from a "solid" lineout, Boyd rubbished suggestions from the Fox Sports commentary team the Hurricanes appeared short of conditioning.

"Absolutely not," he replied when asked about the claims.

"We collectively, we test and retest and put those at scrutiny against New Zealand standards and I would think that on average our squad is probably in better condition, or as good as condition, as it's ever been.

"So I'm not aware of those comments but I would think that they're off the mark."

Veteran winger Cory Jane backed Boyd's summation, admitting his side panicked under the Brumbies' constant breakdown pressure.

"We just made too many mistakes," he said.

"I guess they put pressure on us with line speed and we knew it was going to come.

"We panicked a little bit and once we turned the ball over to them, you know they've got (Scott) Fardy and (David) Pocock that love stealing the ball, and once they did that we kind of panicked and next thing you know we're under our sticks."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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