Brumbies score last-ditch try to make Super Rugby final with 'greatest ever' win

A LAST-ditch try by the Brumbies sunk the Bulls in Pretoria overnight and put the ACT side through to its first Super Rugby final in nine years.

THE ACT Brumbies have recorded one of their greatest ever victories after a last-ditch try sunk the Bulls in Pretoria to win through to their first Super Rugby final in nine years.

Down by four points with less than two minutes on the clock, five-eighth Matt Toomua broke the line before slipping a flat pass to centre Tevita Kuridrani for the match-winning try.

An ecstatic Brumbies coach Jake White said he and assistant coach Laurie Fisher both rated the miraculous escape as "the greatest win the Brumbies have ever had''.

"It's got to be,'' the World Cup winning coach said.

"I spoke to (man-of-the-match) George Smith after the game and he said he's never experienced anything like that in his life.

"We defended and defended and the law of averages told us we were going to get out of our half and have one crack at getting the win. And then it happened.''

Heading into Sunday morning's semi-final at the intimidating Loftus Versfeld the Bulls had won 22 of their past 24 home matches against Trans-Tasman teams and all five of their home finals matches.

And they were well on track to improve that record late in the game.

However, Bulls captain Dewald Potgieter controversially turned down three penalty goals to kick for the corner while one point up in the final 13 minutes.

"They have the best goalkicker in the whole competition (Morne Steyn) and a new hooker on who has to throw the ball into the lineout. And they decide to go for touch,'' White said.

"It's moments like that that change the whole destiny of clubs.''

More puzzling was the fact that Steyn sprayed a desperate drop-goal attempt between the second and third turned down penalty shots.

"That's finals football. That's what pressure does to top players,'' White said.

It took a message from Bulls coach Frans Ludeke to take the three points when they were next offered by referee Craig Joubert in the 76th minute.

Bulls captain Dewald Potgieter defended his decision to turn down the three previous penalty goals.

"We tried to spend most of the time in their territory and it was working for us right up until the end when we took that penalty and were back in our own half,'' he said.

"We just couldn't exit from there. We were struggling all night with our exits.''

Christian Lealiifano converted tries by fullback Jesse Mogg and Kuridrani to add to his four penalties while centre JJ Engelbrecht crossed for the Bulls' only try and Steyn kicked six penalties.

The Brumbies now turn their attention to the Chiefs, who beat fellow New Zealanders the Crusaders 20-19 earlier on Saturday.

They'll return to Canberra until Wednesday before travelling to Hamilton for Saturday's Super Rugby final.

While the Brumbies finals travel schedule is not quite as gruelling as that of last year's Super Rugby runners-up the Sharks, White didn't deny it would take its toll on his team.

"It's going to be an uphill battle that's never been done before,'' he said.

"But there's a lot of things that haven't been done by teams before and the Brumbies have done them week-in, week-out.''

Super Rugby final
Saturday, August 3
Chiefs v Brumbies, Waikato Stadium, Hamilton, 5.35pm AEST

Brumbies win