Brumbies dig deep to end Chiefs’ two-year Super Rugby reign
Jarrad Butler scores decisive push-over try after Waikato outfit fight back from 19-point deficit
Australia's ACT Brumbies ended the Waikato Chiefs' two-year domination of Super Rugby with an epic 32-30 play-off win in Canberra on Saturday.
The two-time winners shot out of the blocks to lead 22-3 after 28 minutes only for the Chiefs to storm back and level the scores at 25-25 with under 30 minutes left.
But the Brumbies hung on with a push-over try to flanker Jarrad Butler on the hour.
We knew it was going to have to be a full 80-minute performance, you just cannot knock a side like that over easily
All Blacks fly-half Aaron Cruden had the chance to send the game into extra-time, but missed a sideline conversion attempt after Gareth Anscombe's try three minutes from time.
In the other play-off, the Coastal Sharks beat the Otago Highlanders 31-27.
This means the Brumbies now will have a mouth-watering showdown with the NSW Waratahs in a semi-final in Sydney, while the Sharks face the Crusaders in Christchurch. Both games are on Saturday.
"We knew it was going to have to be a full 80-minute performance, you just cannot knock a side like that over easily," Brumbies captain Ben Mowen said.