Ex-All Black believes 2024 Hurricanes may be ‘better’ than 2016 champs

Rugby World Cup-winning All Black Mils Muliaina believes the 2024 Hurricanes are “possibly a better team” compared to the side that delivered the first Super Rugby title to the nation’s capital in 2016.

First-five Beauden Barrett put on a masterclass in wet conditions at the then-called Westpac Stadium as the Hurricanes ran away for a clinical 20-3 win over the Lions from Johannesburg. Fans flocked to the streets in Windy Wellington to celebrate.

Halfback TJ Perenara and flanker Brad Shields were named in the starting side on that August night, and both men are back playing with the Hurricanes in 2024. Perenara is starting after an injury to Cam Roigard and Shields is the team captain.

Eight years on, Hurricanes fans are daring to dream once again after the Clark Laidlaw-coached team’s impressive unbeaten run of eight victories from as many matches. But next up, they face the team who ended their quest for glory last season.

The Brumbies, who were “absolutely beaten up” by the Blues in Auckland last time out, have named a strong side of their own as they look to repeat their heroics from last year’s quarter-final in Canberra on Saturday afternoon.

“There’s no doubt they’re hurting from last week,” Mils Muliaina said on Stan Sports’ The Call Up.

“I was really surprised at the fact… the Blues just really strangled them really and showed physical dominance.

“That’s possibly one of the reasons why Alaalatoa was thrown straight in there – try and get that parity up front nice and early.

“For the Hurricanes on the other end of it… this Hurricanes outfit, I haven’t seen this for a very, very long time. I’d like to say they the fact they’re possibly a better team than the team that won the championship those years ago.

“They just seem really settled, really happy… they look, especially given it’s an afternoon game in Canberra, the sun will be shining, 40-odd degrees, I think the Hurricanes will love that.”

Stephen Larkham’s Brumbies have made three changes to their run-on side, including the headline-grabbing return of Wallaby Allan Alaalatoa at tighthead prop. Alaalatoa was injured against the All Blacks in Melbourne last year.

Alaalatoa will end a more than 260 day wait when the world-class prop takes the field at GIO Stadium this weekend, while another Australia international in Len Ikitau is set to suit up at outside centre after a handful of matches out.

“It is interesting, straight in there. Probably speaks to the fact he’d be on limited minutes,” former Wallaby Morgan Turinui said of Allan Alaalatoa.

“If they give him 30, 40 minutes, maybe 50 (but) probably not. If you get him to half-time, I think the Brumbies will be happy to get him through safety.

“Rory Scott gets a start for the first time this season. Len Ikitau is back as well, that’s almost as important as seeing Allan Alaalatoa back for the Brumbies.

“That’s important for a Brumbies team who will want to show a lot more. They would’ve been a little bit shocked and not embarrassed but it’s a bit of a wake-up call for where they’re at last week.

“Back in Canberra against the team in the competition, the most consistent team in the competition this week.”