Brumbies vs Blues

A charge-down from Ofa Tuungafasi clinched a knife-edge Super Rugby Pacific semifinal at Eden Park.

To lift the silverware, though, they are going to have to get past the mighty Red and Black machine. Wet conditions and the stakes meant it was always going to be less than free-flowing. The Red and Blacks won at Eden Park, back in 1998; the Auks gained revenge for that with a triumph in the ‘03 final at the same ground. Tom Robinson'’s 73rd-minute lineout steal, with the Brumbies readying for another drive at the line. Two second-half yellow cards gave the Brumbies a route back as they charged back to within a single point in the closing minutes, and it was replacement Blues prop Ofa Tuungafasi who emerged an unlikely hero as he got up to charge down an attempted match-winning dropped goal from Brumbies flyhalf Noah Lolesio. Ioane and Barrett, who combined for 123 first-half running metres, featured prominently in the surging finish.

The 20-19 win confirms a much-anticipated all-NZ championship showdown against archrivals the Crusaders at the same venue next week, but not without a desperate ...

A sodden Eden Park and drenched Blues supporters could not dampen spirits. Not with a home final against the Crusaders to return to next Saturday. For all Super ...

Scott Robertson's men will arrive in Auckland with confidence in their defensive systems at least after a heroic effort to defeat the Chiefs in Christchurch. On attack, Robinson's direct presence and brilliant lineout work, including a steal on his own line with seven minutes remaining, delivered for the Blues while Barrett and Rieko Ioane were irrepressible. Ioane's lethal speed on the outside break; his support play and decision-making provided frequent highlights for the Blues. The Brumbies were devastated. Barrett pulled off a last-ditch tackle on Tom Banks; Stephen Perofeta somehow held Tom Wright up over the line and Finlay Christie stopped Jahrome Brown as he looked certain to score. A sodden Eden Park and drenched Blues supporters could not dampen spirits.

Dan McKellar's men are coming into the contest full of confidence after their comeback victory over the Hurricanes in Canberra. They are boosted by the return ...

The Blues' clash with the Brumbies will be shown LIVE on Stan Sport and the Nine Network. HOW TO WATCH BRUMBIES V BLUES The Blues have hit back to take a 20-7 lead over the Brumbies in Auckland.

Two rolling-maul tries for Brumbies' substitute hooker Lachie Longergan created a grandstand finish, with five-eighth Noah Lolesio having a drop goal charged ...

Blues hooker Kurt Eklund was sin-binned for a dumping tackle on Andy Muirhead and the Brumbies tried to make immediate use of the man advantage through Tom Banks, but Barrett was once again on hand to deliver a try-saving tackle in the corner. “But they just iced it at the end.” The Brumbies made a flying start with centre Irae Simone bursting through the Blues’ line off the back of a scrum and running 40m to score easily for 7-0 lead.

Dan McKellar said for the Brumbies to knock over the Blues at Eden Park they would have to shut down Beauden Barrett. “If he's a nine out of 10 on Saturday, ...

“If he’s a nine out of 10 on Saturday, we’re not winning,” McKellar said. The moment summed up the Brumbies first half and handed all the momentum to the Blues who scored two tries in 12 minutes to Hoskins Sotutu and Mark Telea to open up a 13-point lead at half-time. The semi-final exit was the final involvement for McKellar as coach, with the Brumbies mentor handing the keys to the castle back to Stephen Larkham as the mentor joins the Wallabies on a full-time basis. “We knew that it was going to take a helluva effort for us to come out here and to get the job done,” Brumbies captain Allan Alaalatoa said. But the Brumbies weren’t able to seize the moment, as the Blues snuck home to seal a home final where they will face the Crusaders at Eden Park. Unfortunately for the Brumbies, Barrett was as close to a 10 as possible as the two-time World Rugby player of the year led the Blues to the Super Rugby final with a nail-biting 20-19 win.