Cape Town - The Hurricanes are licking their wounds after suffering a huge defeat to the Brumbies and now expect a reaction on Friday in their game against the Highlanders.
The re-match of the 2015 final sees both sides coming into Round 2 having suffered defeats in the opening weekend.
After the departures of several senior players the Hurricanes have turned to the likes of Victor Vito for a guiding hand after such a comprehensive setback, and the No 8 admitted that the 52-10 loss was so painful it was on a par with actually losing last year's final.
"For the team we want to be, I think personally that we were (embarrassed)," Vito told the Dominion Post.
"At the time I didn't want to see anyone, but we've got over it and you've got to make sure you lick your wounds in this competition.
"It's only week one (but) the way it was feeling it was almost like we lost the final all over again."
The Hurricanes team review on Monday was described as "pretty brutal" by head coach Chris Boyd, who now is looking for a response in an early-season test of character.
"It will be interesting to see (how the players react)," Boyd added.
"I don't think anyone who does anything competitive likes to get a whipping and so I'm sure that some individuals and parts of the game will want to right their wrongs from the weekend."