Wynne Gray: Brumbies look to break Oz drought

David Pocock of the Brumbies. Photo / AAP

There hasn't been any swagger or Sam Gaze rancour from New Zealand's rugby sides who've gone about their business of beating the Aussies since way back when.

That record provoked frustrations and declarations of intent from the condensed quartet of teams across the track but those targets were given another hefty whack in the sole trans-Tasman clash this season.

The Hurricanes spluttered for large chunks of that match with the Rebels before wasting them 50-19 and pushing the Kiwis' winning streak out to 33 in an unprecedented run.

As the Aussies digested those continuing troubles, new chief executive Raelene Castle has been dealing with the unfavourable fallout from Israel Folau's social media comments and a $4 million financial deficit for the national rugby union.

The path ahead will be rocky but Castle and her comrades can be sure about the Super Rugby losing streak. It will end. One of their four sides - let's be charitable and not include the Sunwolves as a victim even though they are in the Ocker conference - will get past a New Zealand team, we just don't know when.

Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd offered that uncertainty before his side went to Melbourne then reopened the wounds against a Rebels team which had run up some decent results and been given renewed hope.

Next out of the gates tonight in Dunedin are the Brumbies who have won half their games this season in the jumbled production of their conference. They have brought some sting to their game but lack the consistency every coach craves and don't have a great record on the road.

They do have the impact of lock and skipper Sam Carter from a strong bench and crucially have the grafting poacher David Pocock to organise defences against whatever Aaron Smith conjures from his colleagues.

Pocock's return from his season sabbatical then injury has brought more definition to the Brumbies play alongside the quality from Tevita Kuridrani, Christian Lealiifano, Rory Arnold, Allan Alaalatoa and Scott Sio, however there are still too many gaps in their overall quality.

The Highlanders get that from Lima Sopoaga who has recovered from several weeks out with a leg complaint to kick the goals and direct the pathways for the cutting power of the Smiths and Waisake Naholo while Liam Coltman is back from concussion to run the set-piece against that strength from the visitors.

Concern will come with two defeats then the last round bye which has given the Crusaders, Hurricanes and Chiefs the slip on them in the Kiwi conference. Those losses were away from home where the Highlanders usually make the most of their chances.

If the Brumbies create a boil-over and stop the streak or whenever that happens, let's hope the New Zealand side shows more grace in their disappointment than we got from this nation's mountain bike winner at the Commonwealth Games.