View photosKEY POINTS:
Lock Mark Chisholm's bonus-point try in the dying seconds for a 29-10 victory over the Highlanders in Dunedin today has kept the Brumbies' hopes of a Super 14 rugby semifinal alive.
The result gave the Brumbies 40 points and allowed them to overtake the Chiefs for fourth position
on points difference in their final match of the round.
Their fate now depends on the Reds beating the Bulls overnight in Pretoria.
The Chiefs will feel a little more than aggrieved with the Highlanders, who squandered three chances to put the ball into touch after the hooter sounded.
That gave the Brumbies more than an even chance to score and they did as playmaking maestro Stephen Larkham set up the final play that saw Chisholm score.
Fittingly, it was Larkham who kicked the conversion.
The Highlanders were farewelling long-time stalwarts Carl Hayman, Clarke Dermody, Anton Oliver, Josh Blackie and Filipo Levi but never really raised the passion and intensity necessary to give them a fitting farewell.
For Oliver, it was a disappointing day overall -- he was sinbinned for a ruck infringement as the Highlanders desperately tried to keep the Brumbies out on their line in the 60th minute.
The Brumbies were also running on emotion -- if they had lost or failed to score a bonus-point win, they too would see the Super 14 careers of halfback George Gregan, Larkham and hooker Jeremy Paul come to an end.
Larkham said it had been a frustrating night and perhaps the desperation of the moment had got to the team.
"We knew we needed a bonus-point win by more than 10 points . . . it was very frustrating for us.
"I don't know how many opportunities there were for us to score but certainly there were a lot.
" I think we tried too hard -- if it was our normal game, we would have kicked a few penalties, consolidate down our end and coming back up again -- tonight, we were making break but maybe there was some miscommunication or we were simply trying too hard," Larkham said.
"We just got to wait and hope the rugby gods be kind to us tonight," Gregan said.
". . . all we can do is put ouserlves in the position (for a semifinal spot) and see how it pans out."
Gregan did not last the match -- he was replaced after halftime by Brett Sheehan after rolling an ankle.
The Brumbies have never won at Carisbrook since the inception of Super rugby in 1996 but after a gingery start, were halfway to their goal of four tries after just 13 minutes.
The Highlanders lacked firepower in the backs to trouble the Brumbies as they struggled to break the most miserly defence of the competition and more often than not, lost more ground than they gained as they were driven back.
The Brumbies quickly found their groove with the old firm of Gregan and Larkham rolling back the years as they concocted some slick play which cracked the Highlanders' defence like an eggshell twice in quick succession.
Brumbies fullback Julian Huxley dived across on the left after a set play from a lineout on the right for Stirling Mortlock to convert in the 11th minute.
And from the kickoff, the Brumbies scored again in a slick breakout from inside their 22 that ended with left wing Ashley Cooper scoring after breaking four tackles from halfway.
Highlanders first five-eighth Nick Evans and Mortlock exchanged penalties before the big Brumbies centre juggled with the ball to score his side's third try after another slick backline move sparked by Larkham.
In Gregan's absence, the Brumbies lost direction and the game meandered without either side establishing dominance.
The Highlanders' try came in the 75th minute after they won a lineout against the throw and moved the ball wide slickly for centre Jason Kawau to score as the Brumbies defence were caught on the hop.
The Brubies, however seemed unable to summon the enterprise to break the Highlanders defence as easily as they did in the first half and it was only after the Highlanders gave them three bites at the cherry did Chisholm crash over for the all important final score.
- NZPA
