Blues vs Brumbies

Beauden Barrett has slotted a field goal after the fulltime siren for the Blues to steal a famous Super Rugby Pacific victory from the Brumbies in Canberra.

Pollard scored his late try off a trademark Brumbies lineout and maul and Lolesio snuck his conversion inside the right post to put them up by one with just over a minute to play, before the Blues pulled off their great escape. The hosts had shot out of the blocks and led 7-0 after Pete Samu found a patch of grass to plant the ball in the second minute. The Blues' 21-19 win - a club record 12th straight - moved them further ahead on top of the ladder and likely relegated the Brumbies to third place with one round to play.

It was played at a Test match intensity and once again ended with a Barrett sinking Australian hearts as the Blues came away with the 21-19 win over the ...

With the game in the balance, it was a pair of clutch moments from both 10s that ultimately decided the game. This was typified down to 13 as the Blues needed a bevy of opportunities to find the line after waves of gutsy defensive plays. They found themselves firmly in the firing line of referee Damon Murphy as a one-sided penalty count quickly emerged, allowing the Blues to rack up nearly twice as many carries. The inability to close out the final 60 seconds cost them in the end but make no mistake - this is a Brumbies team that can seriously make a title push and match it with the best in the competition. It's a script fans are all too familiar with as the Blues found a way to cause a late turnover and ultimately seal the victory via a Beauden Barrett drop goal. It was played at a Test match intensity so it's almost fitting it ended with a Barrett sinking Australian hearts as the Blues came away with the 21-19 win over the Brumbies.

Beauden Barrett and the Blues hit Canberra for a much-anticipated clash between the top New Zealand and Australian sides.

Dragged into a dog fight in Canberra, the Blues gritted their teeth to snatch an improbable injury-time victory - through a Beauden Barrett drop goal - that ...

Without their dominant forward platform and fast-paced ruck tempo in the first half the Blues often lacked patience on attack. Such an advantage cannot be underestimated. Clarke was distressed with the nature of his injury. As fatigue set in and replacements were injected the match opened up somewhat in the final quarter but the Brumbies largely succeeded in forcing the Blues to play the match on their terms. Barrett then hit the drop goal while under advantage. While the Blues made hard work of crossing for their only try to Barrett just before the break, the Brumbies seized their only genuine chance by stealing a Blues lineout and scoring through former Crusaders loose forward Pete Samu in the third minute.

The Blues travelled to Canberra to take on the Brumbies on Saturday night in a top-of-the-table clash between the best side in New Zealand and the best side ...

Off in 61st minute. A nice chase off a Barrett kick almost result in points for the Blues but Perofeta was (illegally) stripped in the tackle. Dropped the ball cold when the Blues were on attack and White raced away to almost score but Tuivasa-Sheck turned and chased the halfback down, bringing him to ground him in a dodgy tackle. Saw plenty of ball throughout the match, whether stationed on the left or right wing, often popping up at first receiver or even at halfback. Ran in for an easy try on halftime. An excellent run early in the match saw Clarke get the best of three Brumbies defenders and set up the Blues’ first attacking opportunity but was held up from the ensuing lineout. Didn’t exactly get the ball on a dinner plate from his forwards but generally dealt well with the scrappy possession. Despite clocking up the most metres of any player on the field, struggled a bit in contact with the Brumbies doing well to contain the All Blacks number 8 and more often than not seemed to wrestle him back behind the advantage line. Struggled to work his way into the match and was probably the least effective second-rower on the park tonight. A key lineout option when the Blues were inside the opposition 22 but otherwise a relatively quiet game from the captain. Wasn’t as penetrative on offence as he has been throughout the rest of the season – as was a trend with the rest of the Blues forwards thanks to the Brumbies’ dogged defence. Struggled a little bit to leave a mark in a hugely physical contest but used his quick-stepping in close to some success.

All Blacks star Beauden Barrett kicked a drop goal after the siren to give New Zealand's top team this season a 21-19 win over…

The Brumbies chose to kick for the sideline and soon after they got their famed rolling maul into action. “Listen, they’ve got to win the ref wrestle. In the background chase All Blacks winger Caleb Clarke blew a hammy and had to leave the game. But Fainga’a did well to prevent a try before his yellow card and the Blues were held up over the line on three occasions. The halftime break gave the Brumbies a chance to reset and they took it. It was a lead they held until almost two minutes after the half time siren and in between it was virtually one way traffic.

How did the Brumbies rate in their heart-breaking loss to the Blues in Canberra?

Subbed on for White in the 60th minute. Managed to get his hands on the ball but was well contained on the wing. Returned to the fray to replace Scott and filled in as a backrower. Made a cameo when Fainga’a was yellow-carded and performed admirably in an underpowered scrum. Saved a try by knocking the ball into touch to prevent Heem from touching down in the 34th minute. Was effectively shut out of the first half. Was involved in everything, and kicked the Brumbies out of danger when they were under pressure. It was a huge shift from the skipper, leading from the front in making 18 tackles. Even with the ball in hand, he wasn’t his explosive self. Did a lot of the unnoticed hard yards, making 10 tackles and three carries. However, a crucial turnover allowed Beauden Barrett to snap a field goal to win it for the Blues. Made an important try-saving tackle on Roger Tuivasa-Sheck in the first half.