Brumbies charge: S14 Review
Brumbies shocked leaders Crusaders 15-6 to keep their semi-final hopes alive.
Centre Stirling Mortlock kicked three penalties in a try-less game as ACT Brumbies shocked Super 14 leaders Crusaders 15-6 to keep their semi-final hopes alive.
Julian Huxley also slotted over a penalty and Wallabies fly-half Stephen Larkham - playing in his last home match for the Brumbies - knocked over a late drop-goal to secure the points.
The defending champions could only reply with two penalties from All Blacks number 10 Daniel Carter, as the Australian side climbed to fifth in the table.
With wet conditions in Canberra hampering running rugby, Carter gave the visitors an early lead, quickly cancelled out by Mortlock.
On 28 minutes All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw was sin-binnd for deliberately knocking down a pass and then on his return he was pinged almost immediately at a breakdown.
Mortlock kicked the first penalty but handed the tee over to Huxley for the second, who boomed it over from 53 metres to stretch the half-time lead to 9-3.
Carter and Mortlock exchanged further penalties to set up a furious finale, before Larkham settled any late nerves three minutes from time. However, the Brumbies face a nail-biting final weekend, needing to win in Dunedin against the Highlanders and hoping results elsewhere go their way.
The coastal Sharks moved second in the Super 14 table thanks to a 33-3 victory over the Lions at Absa Stadium on Saturday.
The Durban side now trail the Crusaders by just one point in the league after scoring four tries to earn a crucial bonus point.
Winger JP Pietersen scored two first-half tries as the Sharks went in 19-3 up at half-time. And Flanker Jacques Botes burst over the line twice to first extend the home side's lead, and then secure the vital extra point.
The Stormers heaped more misery on bottom side Queensland Reds with a 37-24 victory on Saturday.
In a relatively meaningless contest, the Stormers outscored their opponents five tries to two, showing superior experience and class in a one-sided encounter.
The South Africans scored both of the game's first-half touchdowns, Luke Watson crashing over for a brace as the Reds lost David Te Moana to the bin.
Then came the try of the match as Brent Russell exchanged four passes with De Wet Barry in a length-of-the-field move that made it 27-12.
Moments later Russell was at it again, closing down Andrew Walker's kick to speed over for 32-19.
Joe van Niekerk then added the fitth as the Reds' youngsters wilted, offering only tries from Ben Tune and Sean Hardman in response.
