Captain Alaalatoa lays down the challenge for his Brumbies team

ACT Brumbies captain Allan Alaalatoa has laid down the challenge for his team to man up against the Blues or face elimination when the two sides meet in the first semi final of the Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific competition this week.

The Brumbies have never beaten the Blues at Eden Park with their last meeting in April ending in a 46-7 thrashing of the Brumbies by the Blues.

Alaalatoa says the past two years are probably the first time they have been over to New Zealand to play in the finals and experience what it’s like to play at Eden Park as well.

He says they are going to lean on the experiences of those players who were there.

He adds the current core of players have been around for a number of years and were involved in those last two years and having the experience of playing semi-finals over in NZ is going to be massive for them.

Alaalatoa knows his side must win the physical battle to have any hope of turning the tables this time around and he is confident they can, having won seven straight matches since that round 10 lesson.

While no Australian team has ever won a finals match in New Zealand, Alaalatoa is convinced the Brumbies can create history – if they match the Blues physically.

The Brumbies will be hosted by the Blues at 7.05pm this Friday at Eden Park in the first semi final.

The Hurricanes will host the Chiefs at 4.35pm Saturday in the second semi final.