KEY POINTS:
Blues 17 Brumbies 15
What's not to like about playing rugby in the persistent rain in Canberra? Nothing if you were the Blues - but everything for the hometown Brumbies, after they suffered because of rare late moments of indiscipline.
Until the final minute, the Brumbies were clinging tenaciously to the lead in conditions which were a relief for the drought-stricken region but no help for either side and their summer training programmes.
Referee Jonathan Kaplan deservedly belted the Blues on the penalty count for a mix of indiscretions such as playing the ball off their feet, dropping the scrum and not throwing the ball 5m into the lineouts.
Julian Huxley kicked five penalties but missed three, including a shot five minutes from time which would have killed off the Blues.
Then Kaplan made one of his infrequent calls against the Brumbies. Al Campbell was sent to the sinbin for playing the ball on the ground in his 22, the Blues kicked for a lineout and, from the drive, prop Saimone Taumoepeau rumbled over to tie the scores.
Isa Nacewa kicked the conversion from near the sideline and the Blues emptied their bench in the sort of crazy excess you associate with baseball stoushes. A cheerless trip home quickly became a jaunty evening for the Blues as the co-leaders of the Super 14. For the Brumbies, it was a defeat to put alongside the title loss to the Crusaders in 2000 when they dominated a match played in the snow and sleet and lost to a late Andrew Mehrtens penalty.
For the Blues, it was a continuation of the hang-tough attitude they showed in the opening round. Captain Troy Flavell, Taumoepeau, Derren Witcombe and Daniel Braid banged about Canberra Stadium in a forward slog which was two steps forward, and three back.
The Blues were beaten in many areas but showed more ability with the ball in the treacherous conditions. Luke McAlister was at the head of that queue, his booming sidestep creating massive worries for the Brumbies, including the early break and layoff for Nacewa's try. There was another scything run late in the half and several others to admire.
Stirling Mortlock's absence through injury removed the sting from the Brumbies' midfield, and Stephen Larkham looked rusty after his late return from paternity leave.
The Blues unhinged their determined approach with too many soft penalty concessions.
Their exercise in persistence looked as though it was going to come up short until the Brumbies made their fateful error.
Victory, especially overseas against such a drilled side as the Brumbies, should be a huge lift for the Blues. They wanted to play more expansive rugby than their hosts and, until the last act, looked as though that objective was going to be denied by the weather and their own failings.
A year ago, the Blues started the Super 14 with two defeats and never recovered. Victories against two of the competition heavyweights this season have given them a platform of hope.
