Brumbies set unwanted records as winless Aussie finals run continues

The ACT Brumbies have been belted by the Hurricanes in Wellington. (Getty Images: Hagen Hopkins)

The ACT Brumbies have been eliminated from the first week of the Super Rugby Pacific finals, smashed by the Hurricanes in Wellington.

The loss continues the horror record of Australian franchises playing finals in New Zealand, having never achieved one win in 22 attempts since 1996.

The Queensland Reds face the Chiefs in Hamilton on Saturday, needing a win to advance to the second week of the finals.

The ACT Brumbies have been dumped out of the Super Rugby Pacific finals series after setting unwanted club records in Wellington on Friday.

The Brumbies gave up 66 points, the most the franchise has ever conceded, as the Hurricanes marched to a 66-12 win.

The 54-point defeat is the largest loss an Australian side has had in a Super Rugby finals match.

A dismal first half set up the loss, where the Brumbies gave up 38 points, the most ever conceded by the Brumbies before half-time.

The loss extends the dire record of Australian franchises playing finals in New Zealand. No Australian side has ever won a finals match across the Tasman since the professional era began in 1996.

That record now stands at 0-22 after the Hurricanes, who finished on top of the table at the end of the regular season, dismantled the Brumbies to march into next weekend's semifinals.

"They've been class all year, and they showed that again tonight," Brumbies captain Allan Alaalatoa said after the defeat.

"There were plenty of good moments for us, but we didn't capitalise on them … it's going to be a tough review for us."

Rain had fallen in the New Zealand capital throughout the day, and a downpour hit just before kick-off.

The Brumbies started smartly and spent most of the opening minutes inside the half of the Hurricanes.

But the home side was first to score, converting a Brumbies knock-on into a 70-metre try.

Openside flanker Luke Reimer failed to catch a wide pass from scrumhalf Ryan Lonergan, giving the Hurricanes the ball against a fractured defensive line.

After one breakdown, the Hurricanes spread the ball to the right, and a lovely sequence of passing led to lock forward Caleb Delany touching down for the opening try in the seventh minute.

The Hurricanes attacked down the right just three minutes later, with another nice sequence of short passes leading to scrumhalf Cam Roigard scoring to give the home side a 14-point lead.

That lead was extended to 17 in the 15th minute when fly-half Ruben Love chipped over a simple penalty goal attempt, with the match getting away