Super Rugby 2015: ACT Brumbies suffer heartbreaking last-minute loss to Chiefs

THE ACT Brumbies have suffered a heartbreaking last-minute 19-17 loss to the Chiefs at Yarrow Stadium courtesy of an Aaron Cruden penalty goal.

Super Rugby Rd 2 - Chiefs v Brumbies

AARON Cruden’s coolness under pressure saw the Chiefs home to a 19-17 win over the Brumbies in Friday’s Super Rugby clash at Yarrow Stadium in New Plymouth.

The All Blacks five-eighth kicked five from five, including the 80th minute penalty which gave the Chiefs their second win from two starts.

They had suffered an early blow after just seven minutes, when flanker Tevita Koloamatangi - a late replacement for Sam Cane - was forced from the field with an ankle injury.

But after an early exchange of penalties gave the Brumbies a 6-3 lead after 13 minutes, the Chiefs struck from inside their own half.

With the Brumbies’ kick and chase a little sluggish, the Chiefs shifted the ball wide and quick hands allowed second five-eighth Charlie Ngatai the space to punch through and touch down.

Cruden nailed the extras to give the Chiefs a 10-6 lead only for the Brumbies to hit back almost immediately, prop Scott Sio in the middle of a maul which bulldozed across for the try.

The Chiefs had a gold-plated chance to regain the lead barely a minute later, but No.8 Maama Vaipulu spilled the ball over the line, and it took a Cruden penalty at 31 minutes to give the home team a 13-11 lead at the break.

The Chiefs brought on their heavy hitters for the restart, All Blacks lock Brodie Retallick joining props Ben Tameifuna and Pauliasi Manu on the park.

Aaron Cruden had his kicking boots on when it mattered.

Their presence boosted the solid defence and bruising work at the breakdown which had kept the Chiefs in front for the first 40. But the Chiefs’ tendency to concede too many penalties proved costly, and Christian Leali’ifano grabbed the lead back with a penalty three minutes into the second half.

He extended the margin with another penalty to give the Brumbies a 17-13 lead as the hour mark neared, the Chiefs’ handling under pressure still proving erratic.

A 68th minute Cruden penalty cut the deficit to one with 13 minutes remaining, and although the Brumbies defence held right until the closing minute, a scrum penalty gave Cruden an unmissable chance to win the match.

Charlie Ngatai streaks away to score a brilliant try

CHIEFS 19 (Charlie Ngatai try Aaron Cruden con 4 pens) bt BRUMBIES 17 (Ita Vaea try Christian Leali’ifano 3, Nic White pens) at Yarrow Stadium. Referee: Steve R. Walsh.

Re-live the match including play-by-play analysis, stats and video in our match centre.

Originally published as Super Rugby 2015: ACT Brumbies suffer heartbreaking last-minute loss to Chiefs