The Hurricanes stormed to a 56-7 bonus point victory over the Brumbies in Wellington to take the top spot on the Super 14 table with matches in Round 11 still to come.
The Brumbies scored an early converted try but then the Hurricanes hit back with a try from Cory Jane which was the first of eight tries.
Replacement winger Zac Guilford scored two second-half tries as the Hurricanes scored four tries in each half to overrun the Brumbies by a record score, the first time in Super rugby they have scored more than 50 points against an Australian side.
The Brumbies scored the opening try after fewer than two minutes through Wallabies prop Ben Alexander, but the Hurricanes responded with eight unanswered tries to post the imposing victory.
"We were pretty happy with the way the game went apart from the first couple of minutes which were pretty scrappy," Hurricanes captain Rodney So'oialo said.
"We let them score an early try but we wanted a big game and we managed to produce it.
"Apart from the first couple of minutes we played the way we wanted to play."
Alexander's opening try, converted by Mortlock gave the Brumbies a 7-0 lead and boded well for the former champions.
But the Hurricanes clicked into gear almost immediately to help keep alive their challenge for a top-four place.
Backs Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Tamati Ellison and David Smith scored tries as the Hurricanes established a 25-7 lead by halftime.
David Smith's strong running and that of Ma'a Nonu in midfield created space from which the Hurricanes scored superb counterattacking tries.
Guilford scored two tries in the second half and replacement loose-forwards Faifili Levave and Victor Vito scored others at the Hurricanes took complete control of the match.
Flyhalf Willie Ripia finished with three conversions and two penalties.
Scorers
Tries - Jane,Smith,Ellison,Smith, Levave, Guildford 2, Vito
Penalties -Willie Ripia 2
Conversions -Willie Ripia 5
Drop Goals -
Brumbies
Tries -Ben Alexander
Penalties -
Conversions -Stirling Mortlock
Drop Goals -
Venue: Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Kick-off: Saturday 25 April, 5.35pm (Local)
Match Officials
Referee: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)
Touch judges: Keith Brown (New Zealand), Mike Fraser (New Zealand)
Television match official: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)
Assessor: Glen Wahlstrom (New Zealand)
Teams
Hurricanes: John Schwalger, Andrew Hore, Neemia Tialata, Jeremy Thrush, Bryn Evans, Karl Lowe, Scott Waldrom, Rodney So'oialo, Alby Mathewson, William Ripia, David Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Conrad Smith, Tamati Ellison, Cory Jane.
Replacements Dane Coles, Jacob Ellison, Jason Eaton, Victor Vito, Piri Weepu, Jason Kawau, Zac Guildford.
Brumbies: Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, Salesi Ma'afu, Ben Hand, Peter Kimlin, Mitchell Chapman, George Smith, Stephen Hoiles, Josh Holmes, Matt Toomua, Alfi Mafi, Tyrone Smith, Stirling Mortlock, Francis Fainifo, Adam Ashley-Cooper.
Replacements Huia Edmonds, Nic Henderson, Henry Vanderglas, Julian Salvi, Patrick Phibbs, James Stannard, Afusipa Taumoepeau.
.jpg)
