The Hurricanes overwhelmed the Brumbies 29-9 in Wellington on Saturday night to book a home Investec Super Rugby final next weekend.
The Hurricanes will host their maiden Super Rugby final at Westpac Stadium next Saturday against either the Waratahs or the Highlanders.
The Hurricanes out-thought and out-passioned the Brumbies. Continuity on attack and tremendous patience and energy on defence paved the way for this popular 29-9 win in front of 33,460 home fans.
They clinched the win with five minutes to play with replacement right wing Matt Proctor crossing for their fourth try of the night and fullback James Marshall converting to put them 20 points ahead.
This try captured the Hurricanes' high energy, positive mode of play that they have brought to the 2015 season. Counterattacking from deep within their own half, they chanced their arm and broke the advantage line. Explosive second five-eighth Ma'a Nonu made a telling burst through traffic in broken play and No.8 Victor Vito offloaded inside to Proctor in the tackle for him to score.
The Hurricanes scored tries through Proctor, left wing Julian Savea, openside flanker Ardie Savea and halfback TJ Perenara. They led 12-3 at halftime - but this could have been more if not for missed chances and dogged Brumbies defence.
The Hurricanes made all the early running, forcing the best defensive team in the competition this year into overdrive, but the game remained scoreless until the end of the first quarter.
The semi-final started at frenetic pace. After an early period on defence, the Hurricanes broke clear and very nearly broke through to score the game's first try through energetic hooker Dane Coles.
A subsequent penalty attempt by first five-eighth Beauden Barrett hit the uprights, before another Hurricanes raid was just thwarted when a short-side passing rush went to ground.
Ardie Savea, Julian Savea and Nonu all made further busts in broken play, Nonu almost freeing up a pass to centre Conrad Smith to score under the posts. Eventually it took a rampaging run by left wing Julian Savea to storm over in the left hand corner to put the Hurricanes ahead 5-0.
Right wing Nehe Milner-Skudder made a searing break and offloaded in the tackle to TJ Perenara. The halfback was brought down short, but loosehead prop Reggie Goodes was on hand to pick and go and lunch at the line only to come up short of the whitewash on the advice of the TMO.
The Hurricanes remained patient, Milner-Skudder and Perenara combined again and this time Perenara burst free to score a try. Barrett converted Perenara's 11th try of the season and the Hurricanes led 12-0 after half an hour.
Brumbies fullback Jesse Mogg kicked a penalty with the last act of the first half and the Hurricanes went into the break leading 12-3.
The Hurricanes engine room made a powerful start to the second half, driving the ball 15 metres from a lineout and winning another penalty.
From the next lineout in the corner, openside flanker Ardie Savea drove over the line to score their third try. Fullback James Marshall converted this try and the Hurricanes pulled ahead 19-3.
Brumbies first five-eighth Christian Lealiifano kicked his side's second penalty of the match, ahead of fullback Mogg chipping and chasing and almost regathering his own kick to score a solo try. But the bounce went against him, he knocked on and the Hurricanes held on.
It was tense over the next 10 minutes. Lealiifano kicked his second penalty, closing the margin to 19-9, but Marshall replied with a penalty in front to see the Hurricanes lead 22-9 with 15 minutes to play.
Brumbies midfielder Matt Toomua ran into space and kicked ahead, but Barrett cleaned up at the back, leasing to a Brumbies lineout error and the impetus for them to create the movement that led to the semi-final sealing try.
Scores:
Hurricanes 29 (Julian Savea, TJ Perenara, Ardie Savea, Matt Proctor tries, Beauden Barrett con, James Marshall 2 con, pen) beat theBrumbies 9 (Jesse Mogg Pen, Christian Lealiifano 2 pen). HT: 12-3.
The scoring action (by minute):
20th: Julian Savea try. Hurricanes 5-0
28th: TJ Perenara try. Hurricanes 10-0
29th: Beauden Barrett conversion. Hurricanes 12-0
40th (first): Jesse Mogg penalty. Hurricanes 12-3
43rd:Ardie Savea try. Hurricanes 17-3
44th: James Marshall penalty conversion. Hurricanes 19-3
51st: Christian Lealiifano penalty. Hurricanes 19-6
55th: Christian Lealiifano penalty. Hurricanes 19-9
65th: James Marshall penalty. Hurricanes 22-9
74th: Matt Proctor try. Hurricanes 27-9
76th: James Marshall conversion. Hurricanes 29-9
The Hurricanes team was:
1. Reggie Goodes Replaced by Chris Eves, 51st minute
2. Dane Coles Replaced by Brayden Mitchell, 75th minute
3. Ben Franks Replaced by Jeff Toomaga-Allen, 66th minute
4. Jeremy Thrush
5. James Broadhurst Replaced by Mark Abbott, 75th minute
6. Brad Shields
7. Ardie Savea Replaced by Blade Thomson, 51st minute
8. Victor Vito
9. TJ Perenara Replaced by Chris Smylie, 75th minute
10. Beauden Barrett
11. Julian Savea
12. Ma'a Nonu Replaced by Rey Lee-Lo, 75th minute
13. Conrad Smith (c)
14. Nehe Milner-Skudder Replaced by Matt Proctor, 41st minute
15. James Marshall
Reserves
16. Brayden Mitchell
17. Chris Eves
18. Jeffery Toomaga-Allen
19. Mark Abbott
20. Blade Thomson
21. Chris Smylie
22. Rey Lee-Lo
23. Matt Proctor