Hurricanes 16
It's been such a barren season so far for Aaron Cruden - and the Hurricanes generally - that he must have felt a special joy scoring the first try; and a sinking feeling to be replaced at halftime.
A charge down of a tardy Matt Toomua kick allowed Cruden to show his skill to scoop up the ball short of the line and force it; reminding all and sundry why he was originally held up as an All Black hope.
It's been well chronicled that his fall from 'prospect' to 'passed over' extended to finding himself unable to crack the Hurricanes' starting XV in their worst start to a season.
He was restored last night, however, and he began the match taking the ball to the line with some sinuous running and linking - and generally doing so better than his more illustrious opposite, Matt Giteau (although he made his presence felt later).
He's just a little fellow, Cruden, and still has a long way to go before an All Black jersey becomes a consistent presence in his wardrobe - but it must have been comforting for him to re-discover some of what had got everyone interested in the first place; and to show the All Black selectors that he'd been listening.
But, come halftime, Cruden was back on the bench, 100 per cent goalkicking record and all, and Daniel Kirkpatrick was at first five. Maybe it was an enhanced kicking game to claim territory that Hurricanes' coach Mark Hammett was seeking - or maybe to stiffen the defence.
Whatever it was, it was only partially successful. Kirkpatrick guided them to the right places for a time but, as they have done all season, the Canes stalled, strangely.
The questionable wisdom of the first five change was underlined when Kirkpatrick had a run, lost the ball and Giteau cleared the ball long and accurately to pin the Canes in their own territory and run the clock down.
The Brumbies looked more dangerous all night with the ball in hand - and only poor handling and an improved effort by the Canes at the rucks kept them out in the first half. They made several good chances for themselves but either couldn't finish or the Hurricanes outdid them at the breakdown and in turnovers.
Victor Vito, another responding to All Black selectors' advice, gave them some go-forward with the ball and the Canes cut down their error rate from previous weeks. Nonu was providing the same kind of service in the backs - his trademark punch up the guts working better, even if it brought no reward against a conscientious Brumbies defence.
But while the Hurricanes dominated territory and possession in the beginning, it was the Brumbies who found most of the space. Three times they set up try-scoring chances only to lose their way but, fourth time lucky, halfback Josh Valentine made the break that finally rewarded their efforts.
He cut through close to a ruck, sent a fine pass to rampaging lock Mark Chisholm and winger Henry Speight - close to the Brumbies' best player so far this season - stepped left and right and beat three on his way to the line.
That gave the Canberra mob an 11-10 lead at halftime but Kirkpatrick steered them to the right part of the field and his penalties took the score to 16-11 after 55 minutes.
But the Brumbies also stepped up their efficiency levels and performance of the basics and consistent pressure led to two Giteau penalties; making it 17-16 with about 15 minutes to play.
If there was a difference between the two teams, it was in Giteau who struck a good balance between running, distributing and kicking; the hard work of the Brumbies' big men Chisholm and Peter Kimlin (making you wonder why the Hurricanes' locks are not as effective); a superior scrum; and too many penalties (16) given away by the Welingtonians.
Brumbies 17 (H. Speight try; M. Giteau 4 pen), Hurricanes 16 (A. Cruden try, con, pen; D. Kirkpatrick 2 pen). Halftime: 11-10.
