In a stunning upset that ended a 12-year drought at Eden Park, the ACT Brumbies snatched a dramatic last-minute victory over the Blues with a 21-20 win in Auckland on Friday night. Ryan Lonergan’s nerveless 79th-minute penalty sealed a famous triumph for the visitors, who had trailed by 10 points at half-time.
Key moments:
10′ – Barrett penalty puts Blues ahead (3-0)
16′ – Barrett solo try extends lead (10-3)
21′ – Alaalatoa barges over to level scores (10-10)
35′ – Ta’avao finishes 80m Blues counter-attack (15-10)
38′ – Ioane scores off Tele’a assist (20-10)
44′ – Meredith penalty narrows gap (20-13)
49′ – Meredith scores in corner after counter-attack (20-18)
79′ – Brumbies win scrum penalty, Lonergan kicks winner (20-21)
The win marked the Brumbies’ first success at the Auckland fortress since 2013, ending years of heartbreak that included two defeats at the venue last season, one of which came in the semi-finals.
A pulsating encounter that swung dramatically in the second half was ultimately decided by a dominant Brumbies scrum that earned a crucial penalty in the dying moments, allowing Lonergan to kick the visitors to victory and silence the Eden Park crowd.
The setting sun provided plenty of natural light as the teams took to the field in beautiful Auckland conditions with not a breath of wind – perfect for running rugby. For Brumbies hooker Lachlan Lonergan, it was a special occasion marking his 50th appearance for the club.
The Blues, who had looked in control after scoring three first-half tries, were left to rue their wayward goal-kicking and missed opportunities, with coach Vern Cotter additionally concerned about a hand injury to star player Beauden Barrett that forced him off at half-time.
“It doesn’t look good,” Cotter said regarding Barrett’s injury, a concern not just for the Auckland franchise but potentially for the All Blacks selectors as well.
The home side started strongly, with Barrett opening the scoring through a 10th-minute penalty after Cameron Suafoa had brilliantly turned defence into attack with a breakdown steal near the Blues’ line. It was an early indication of the influence Suafoa would have throughout the match, repeatedly disrupting Brumbies possession at crucial moments.
Barrett then produced a moment of individual brilliance in the 16th minute, slicing through the Brumbies defence before turning on the afterburners to score the game’s opening try. His opening try was sublime, charging through an opening and leaving the Brumbies flailing – classic Barrett. He converted his own score to give the Blues a 10-3 advantage, with the Brumbies’ only points coming from a Declan Meredith penalty after Nick Frost had charged down a clearing kick.
The Brumbies showed their resilience and ability to capitalise on Blues errors. Captain Allan Alaalatoa led from the front with a powerful close-range try in the 21st minute, as the forwards hammered away at the Blues’ line. Meredith’s conversion levelled the scores at 10-10.
The set-piece battle was intense throughout, with both packs gaining ascendancy at different times. The Blues lineout functioned well early, with Josh Beehre securing several takes, while the Brumbies’ Nick Frost returned the favour with some crucial steals of his own.
The Blues appeared to take control of the contest with two quickfire tries before half-time. First, Angus Ta’avao finished off a sweeping 80-metre counter-attack sparked by fullback Cole Forbes in the 35th minute. The move began with a turnover deep in Blues territory, and Forbes’ line break opened up the field before quick hands found Ta’avao for the finish.
Just three minutes later, Rieko Ioane scored his first try of the season after excellent work from Cameron Suafoa and Mark Tele’a. Suafoa burst through a gap in midfield, galloping upfield before finding support, and Tele’a’s assist gave Ioane a simple finish – a welcome relief for the centre who had gone all of last season without scoring for the Blues.
Barrett’s missed conversions from both tries meant the Blues led 20-10 at the interval, but the All Black’s departure with a hand injury changed the complexion of the match. Harry Plummer replaced him for the second half, but the Blues’ attack lacked the same incisiveness.
The Brumbies sensed an opportunity and steadily clawed their way back into the contest. Meredith narrowed the gap with a 44th-minute penalty before finishing brilliantly in the corner five minutes later. His try came after a counter-attack that featured strong runs from Andy Muirhead and Charlie Cale, with Tom Wright delivering the final pass to send Meredith over. His missed conversion left the Brumbies trailing 20-18.
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This set up a tense final 30 minutes where both sides had opportunities to claim victory. The Blues spent periods camped in Brumbies territory but couldn’t find the finishing touch to put the game beyond reach. Finlay Christie made a clean break up the middle in the 48th minute but couldn’t link with his support, which proved to be a crucial missed opportunity.
The Blues halfback was guilty of the wrong option at key moments, allowing the visitors to march forwards and chip their deficit down. Lacking Barrett’s attacking edge, the Blues looked blunt and threw away lineouts from which to launch an onslaught in a nail-biting final quarter.
As the half wore on, the Brumbies’ forwards began to assert their dominance. Tom Hooper and Rory Scott were particularly effective at the breakdown, forcing several turnovers that relieved pressure and gave the visitors valuable field position. Luke Reimer added further impact after coming off the bench, continuing the disruption of Blues’ ball.
The home crowd was sweating when the Brumbies launched their final attacks in the dying moments, the Blues ahead by just two points. Blues captain Patrick Tuipulotu heroically won one turnover penalty with a vital steal, getting over the breakdown as the Brumbies crashed towards the line and winning a holding-on penalty.
However, a lineout error immediately handed possession back to the Brumbies, as Nathaniel Pole threw the ball crooked in the 78th minute. This gave the Brumbies one final chance to attack, and they took it with both hands.
The defining moment came with just over a minute remaining. The Brumbies pack demolished the Blues at a scrum 30 metres out directly in front of the posts. Referee James Doleman had no hesitation in awarding the penalty, and replacement scrum-half Lonergan stepped up to slot the winning kick with a sweet strike straight down the middle.
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The scrum dominance was evident throughout the match, with the Brumbies forcing several penalties at set-piece time. The visitors’ scrum deserves all the praise, turning the Blues inside out to force the referee no option but to award the penalty from right in front.
The Brumbies secured the restart through Charlie Cale and managed to run down the final seconds before kicking the ball to touch to seal their historic victory. The celebrations from the Brumbies players and staff reflected just how significant this win was – ending a decade-long losing streak at New Zealand rugby’s most famous venue.
For the Blues, it was a bitter pill to swallow after they had done so much right in the first half. They created several more opportunities but failed to convert them into points, which kept the Brumbies within striking distance throughout the second half. They paid the price and sank to the turf as the jubilant Brumbies leapt around Eden Park after the final hooter.
The result leaves the Brumbies with a 2-2 record, climbing into the top six and the play-off places to start round four. The Blues have ground to make up after a third defeat from four matches of a bumbling title defence.
“It was pretty nerve-wracking,” said Lonergan after being asked about the opportunity to step up and boot the Brumbies to an important win. “We worked so hard throughout the whole game. The forwards knew we were in for a massive day against this quality Blues pack, and the least I could do was kick it over at the end.”
Coach Stephen Larkham’s tactical changes had paid dividends, with all five of his alterations to the starting lineup making significant contributions to the victory. The Brumbies have long relished the relentless, physical grind, sprinkled with weapons such as Tom Wright, Andy Muirhead and Corey Toole among their outside backs, and that approach served them well against the champions.
The Blues, meanwhile, must regroup quickly and address their goal-kicking concerns, with Barrett’s potential absence adding to their challenges. His kicking had been erratic and unpredictable throughout the match. There were high bombs, one low across field that could have been intercepted, and he even attempted a rare long-range penalty, scuffing his effort wide. His conversions (1/3) were also unconvincing.
The match featured standout performances from both sides. For the Brumbies, Charlie Cale, Rory Scott, Tom Hooper, Nick Frost and Declan Meredith all had strong games. David Feliuai made an impressive debut at second-five, while Billy Pollard and Ryan Lonergan provided crucial impact off the bench – particularly Lonergan’s match-winning kick.
The Blues were led by strong performances from Cameron Suafoa, who twice made huge strides out wide, and rookie loose forward Cam Christie, in only his second appearance, who grabbed a lineout steal that ignited a swift attack. Cole Forbes also burst through the middle impressively. Suafoa and Christie, in particular, impressed in the absence of the suspended Hoskins Sotutu.
Both teams now face crucial fixtures in round five, with the Blues looking to make amends for their opening defeat of the year when travelling down the road to face the Chiefs in Hamilton next Saturday night. The Brumbies are back in Canberra next Friday night and welcome the Fijian Drua. For now, though, the Brumbies can celebrate a historic victory that will be remembered for years to come – the day they finally conquered Eden Park.
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