A humiliating stat suggests Brumbies, Reds face impossible finals mission

The Brumbies and Reds carry Australia's hopes in the Super Rugby Pacific finals. (Getty Images)

It is Super Rugby Pacific's equivalent of a Mission: Impossible film plot line.

If the Brumbies and Reds are to keep their respective seasons alive, they must create history by becoming the first Australian teams to win a final in New Zealand since Super Rugby's professional era began in 1996.

As it stands, Australian franchises have a combined 0-21 win-loss record when facing New Zealand opponents in play-off matches across the Tasman.

The Brumbies meet the top-ranked Hurricanes in Wellington on Friday night, while the Reds play the second-placed Chiefs on their home deck in Hamilton the following evening.

New Zealand is a daunting road trip at the best of times, let alone in a sudden-death final.

But only last week, the Brumbies were a chance of avoiding the scenario in the opening week of the play-offs.

At the beginning of the final round of the regular season, the Brumbies knew they could finish as high as third on the standings.

A top-three finish would have guaranteed a home qualifying final, although they needed to secure a bonus-point win over Moana Pasifika and rely on other results to go their way.

Once the full-time whistle was blown in their 21-19 loss to Moana at Canberra Stadium on Saturday afternoon, however, the Brumbies found themselves sitting in sixth place.

The Brumbies could not stop Moana Pasifika at Canberra Stadium. (Getty Images: Mark Nolan)

A defeat to the Hurricanes, who have not lost at home this season, will end the Brumbies' campaign.

The Brumbies only have themselves to blame for being on the cusp of elimination as they lost matches they were expected to win, highlighted by the 3-4 win-loss return they posted at Canberra Stadium.

To the credit of the Brumbies, they did win two of the three matches they played in New Zealand, including a 50-24 victory over the defending champion Crusaders.

But the one loss they registered was against the Hurricanes, who convincingly won 45-12 when the two sides met in Christchurch as part of Super Round.

Sensibly, Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham instructed his players to "flush" out the disappointment of the Moana result as quickly as possible.

But there were lessons to take away from the shock defeat, with Brumbies fullback Tom Wright telling Stan Sport his side's physicality was "not up to scratch".

If the Brumbies are any hope of defeating the Hurricanes, they must dominate the collisions on both sides of the ball.

They will be punished if they allow the Hurricanes to win the p