The Western Force produced a spirited second-half comeback to beat the NSW Waratahs 31–25 at HBF Park in horrendous conditions, finishing their season with a seventh win — their best campaign in 12 years.

Key moments

14 mins – TRY WARATAHS: Ioane Moananu scooped the ball from the base of the ruck and went straight through the middle to score under the posts. Jack Bowen converts. (Force 0–7 Waratahs)

16 mins – INJURY: Pete Samu left the field with a knee injury. Clem Halaholo replaced him. Miles Amatosero also departed for an HIA and did not return.

20 mins – PENALTY WARATAHS: Bowen slotted a penalty from 38 metres after the Force were penalised at the breakdown. (Force 0–10 Waratahs)

23 mins – PENALTY WARATAHS: Bowen added another penalty after a powerful Max Jorgensen linebreak left the Force scrambling and offside. (Force 0–13 Waratahs)

25 mins – TRY FORCE: Dylan Pietsch scored a bizarre try after the Waratahs spilled the restart, with Harry Potter unable to regather the loose ball and Pietsch diving back over his body to ground it. Ben Donaldson converts. (Force 7–13 Waratahs)

28 mins – TRY WARATAHS: Sustained phase play with Jorgensen and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii making big metres. Moananu lobbed a pass over the top for Potter to stroll in against his former side. Bowen converts. (Force 7–20 Waratahs)

33 mins – YELLOW CARD WARATAHS: Joey Walton shown a yellow card for direct shoulder-to-head contact on Nathan Hastie after a TMO review.

35 mins – TRY FORCE: Pietsch’s second. Zac Lomax came off his wing to find Pietsch, who stepped back inside and beat four defenders to score. Donaldson hits the post. (Force 12–20 Waratahs)

37 mins – INJURY: Jake Gordon went down clutching his lower leg after taking a quick tap from a free kick. He was carried from the field with a suspected Achilles injury.

Half-time: Force 12–20 Waratahs. The Waratahs were the more clinical side, striking first through Moananu and controlling territory through Bowen’s boot. But Pietsch’s double kept the Force in touch. Gordon’s injury is a major concern. The rain was pouring in Perth.

47 mins – TRY FORCE: The Force won a crucial lineout and marched to the goal line via the maul. Misinale Epenisa powered over from a metre out. Donaldson misses. (Force 17–20 Waratahs)

52–59 mins – FORCE SCRUM DOMINANCE: The Force won four consecutive scrum penalties inside the Waratahs’ 22, repeatedly repacking five metres from the line.

61 mins – TRY FORCE: Carlo Tizzano peeled to the right from the back of the scrum and powered over from close range for his record-setting 31st Force try. Donaldson converts. (Force 24–20 Waratahs)

67 mins – TRY WARATAHS: Suaalii burst through at least three defenders from the lineout to get the Waratahs to the goal line. After sustained pressure, Apolosi Ranawai reached out to ground the ball on the line, confirmed by TMO. Jack Debreczeni misses. (Force 24–25 Waratahs)

71 mins – TRY FORCE: Tizzano scored his second from another rolling maul, peeling away and diving over at the back to retake the lead. Kurtley Beale converts. (Force 31–25 Waratahs)

74 mins – KEY MOMENT: Donaldson landed an inch-perfect 50–22 to swing field position late, pinning the Waratahs deep.

78 mins – MISSED PENALTY FORCE: Beale pushed a long-range penalty attempt to the right. (Force 31–25 Waratahs)

80 mins: The Waratahs had one final lineout on halfway but the throw was ruled not straight. The Force kicked to touch to seal the win.

Full-time: Force 31–25 Waratahs

Full match report to follow.

Teams

Force: 15 Mac Grealy, 14 Zac Lomax, 13 George Bridge, 12 Hamish Stewart, 11 Dylan Pietsch, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Nathan Hastie, 8 Vailoni Ekuasi, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Nick Champion de Crespigny, 5 Darcy Swain, 4 Jeremy Williams (c), 3 Misinale Epenisa, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Harry Johnson-Holmes.
Replacements: 16 Nic Dolly, 17 Marley Pearce, 18 Sef Fa’agase, 19 Franco Molina, 20 Will Harris, 21 Agustin Moyano, 22 Boston Fakafanua, 23 Kurtley Beale.

Waratahs: 15 Max Jorgensen, 14 Harry Potter, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12 Joey Walton, 11 Andrew Kellaway, 10 Jack Bowen, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Pete Samu, 7 Jamie Adamson, 6 Angus Scott-Young, 5 Miles Amatosero, 4 Matt Philip (c), 3 Dan Botha, 2 Ioane Moananu, 1 Jack Barrett.
Replacements: 16 Oniti Finau, 17 Isaac Kailea, 18 Apolosi Ranawai, 19 Ben Grant, 20 Clem Halaholo, 21 Teddy Wilson, 22 Jack Debreczeni, 23 Triston Reilly.

Match details

Force 31 (Tries: Dylan Pietsch 2, Carlo Tizzano 2, Misinale Epenisa; Conversions: Ben Donaldson 2/4, Kurtley Beale 1/1; Penalties: Beale 0/1)
Waratahs 25 (Tries: Ioane Moananu, Harry Potter, Apolosi Ranawai; Conversions: Jack Bowen 2/2, Jack Debreczeni 0/1; Penalties: Bowen 2/3)
Half-time: 12–20
Cards: Joey Walton (yellow, 33 mins)

Venue: HBF Park, Perth
Referee: Marcus Playle (New Zealand)

The Chiefs produced 40 second-half points to demolish the Blues 59–34 at FMG Stadium Waikato, ending their rivals’ hopes of a home qualifying final and sending them to Christchurch for a play-off against the Crusaders.

Key moments

3 mins – TRY BLUES: Sam Nock snapped back to the blindside and Torian Barnes cut back infield, crashing through the defence to score in the right corner. Zarn Sullivan converts. (Chiefs 0–7 Blues)

25 mins – PENALTY BLUES: Sullivan slotted a penalty from in front after the Chiefs were penalised for offside and warned by referee Angus Gardner for repeated infringements. (Chiefs 0–10 Blues)

27 mins – TRY CHIEFS: Josh Jacomb fired a flat ball to Reon Paul, who burst through a gaping hole and drew Stephen Perofeta before slinging a pass wide to an unmarked Kyren Taumoefolau on the left wing. Jacomb misses from the sideline. (Chiefs 5–10 Blues)

32 mins – TRY CHIEFS: The Chiefs’ lineout maul ground forward with Tyrone Thompson diving over down the right edge. Jacomb converts. (Chiefs 12–10 Blues)

37 mins – TRY CHIEFS: Cortez Ratima darted around the ruck and was dragged down 10 metres out. Jacomb then double-pumped before firing a cut-out ball to an unmarked Daniel Sinkinson, who dived over in the right corner. Jacomb converts from the sideline. (Chiefs 19–10 Blues)

40 mins – TRY BLUES: The Blues hammered away at the line with pick and goes before Perofeta caught and passed sharply, sending AJ Lam crashing over in the corner right on half-time. Sullivan misses. (Chiefs 19–15 Blues)

Half-time: Chiefs 19–15 Blues. An entertaining derby. The Blues started strongly through Barnes and Sullivan’s penalty but the Chiefs surged back with three tries in ten minutes as Jacomb controlled proceedings. Lam’s try on the stroke of half-time kept the Blues in touch. The Chiefs dominated the lineout while the Blues had the upper hand at scrum time.

46 mins – TRY CHIEFS: The Chiefs won a scrum penalty metres from the Blues’ line. Wallace Sititi tapped at pace and muscled through several defenders to score beside the posts. Jacomb converts. (Chiefs 26–15 Blues)

49 mins – KEY MOMENT: Lam was put into space on the right wing and took off for the corner, but Jacomb produced a brilliant try-saving knock of the ball just before Lam could ground it.

53 mins – TRY BLUES: After sustained pick-and-go pressure near the line, debutant Eli Oudenryn reached out and dotted it down. Sullivan misses. (Chiefs 26–20 Blues)

56 mins – TRY CHIEFS: Kaylum Boshier burst into space down the blindside and offloaded to Sinkinson on the right wing, who had a free run to score his second. Jacomb converts. (Chiefs 33–20 Blues)

59 mins – TRY CHIEFS: Sinkinson intercepted a loose Finlay Christie pass. Liam Coombes-Fabling slammed a deep kick downfield that took a rude bounce over Perofeta’s head and fell straight into his own arms on the chase. He slipped out of Perofeta’s clutches and streaked away from 30 metres to score. Jacomb converts. (Chiefs 40–20 Blues)

63 mins – TRY CHIEFS: Jacomb threaded a grubber into the left corner for Samipeni Finau to gather on the bounce. Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi then picked and drove at pace, powering through to score in the corner. Jacomb misses. (Chiefs 45–20 Blues)

68 mins – TRY CHIEFS: Strong scrum from the Chiefs, with Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi firing it to Paul in midfield. Paul stepped outside his defender with ease and dived over to the left of the posts. Jacomb converts and the Chiefs bring up 50. (Chiefs 52–20 Blues)

70 mins – TRY BLUES: Hoskins Sotutu fired an offload out the back for Corey Evans, who found Caleb Clarke crashing over down the left. Sullivan converts. (Chiefs 52–27 Blues)

74 mins – TRY CHIEFS: Taumoefolau burst into space on the left wing after a brilliant ball from Brodie McAlister and popped it back inside to Finau, who strolled over untouched. Tepaea Cook-Savage converts. (Chiefs 59–27 Blues)

80+3 mins – TRY BLUES: Perofeta floated a pass over the top and the ricocheting ball landed in Xavi Taele’s lap to claim a consolation try in the final play. Sullivan converts. (Chiefs 59–34 Blues)

Full-time: Chiefs 59–34 Blues

Match report

The Blues arrived in Hamilton knowing what was required. A win would reclaim third place and a home qualifying final at Eden Park. A loss would send them to Christchurch to face the Crusaders — a ground where they have lost 14 of their last 15. They got neither a win nor a contest, capitulating in the second half as the Chiefs ran in six tries after the break to turn a competitive derby into a 25-point rout in front of 19,950 at FMG Stadium Waikato.

It was all the more damaging because Jono Gibbes’ side were missing a stack of frontliners. Captain Luke Jacobson, fellow All Blacks Samisoni Taukei’aho, Tupou Vaa’i, Quinn Tupaea and Simon Parker were all rested, while Damian McKenzie remained sidelined with concussion. The Blues, too, were without Beauden Barrett (quad), Patrick Tuipulotu (neck) and Dalton Papali’i (broken jaw), but this was a match they should have been desperate enough to win regardless. Instead, they suffered a third straight defeat — their longest New Zealand derby losing streak since 2019–2020.

The visitors started sharply. Barnes crashed over in the third minute after Nock identified space on the short side, and Sullivan added a penalty on 25 minutes after Gardner warned Sititi for repeated team infringements. At 10–0, the Blues were dominant. They had territory, intensity and the better of the scrum. But they could not convert pressure into points. Clarke lost the ball reaching for the line after a trademark charge, Renata spilled it inside the 22, and the lineout — with hooker Mullan’s throws repeatedly missing target — was a recurring problem.

The Chiefs needed just one opportunity, and Paul provided it. Jacomb’s flat pass sent the midfielder through a gaping hole and he drew Perofeta before slinging it wide to Taumoefolau, who strolled over in the corner untouched. Jacomb missed the conversion but the dam had broken. Five minutes later, Thompson’s lineout maul try put the Chiefs in front for the first time, and Sinkinson’s first — off a slick cut-out ball from Jacomb — extended the lead to 19–10. Three tries in ten minutes, 19 unanswered points, and the momentum had swung completely.

Lam’s try on the stroke of half-time, finishing off quick hands from Perofeta, narrowed the gap to 19–15 and gave the Blues hope. Sullivan missed the conversion from the touchline but the visitors had at least stopped the bleeding heading into the break.

That hope lasted six minutes. The Chiefs won a scrum penalty metres from the Blues’ line and Sititi — captaining the side for the first time — took a quick tap and charged through several defenders to score beside the posts. It was a statement from the All Blacks No. 8 and set the tone for what was to come. Jacomb converted for 26–15.

The Blues had one golden chance to stay in the contest. Lam was put into space on the right wing and took off for the corner, but Jacomb produced a try-saving intervention, knocking the ball free just before Lam could ground it. It was a turning point. Six minutes later, Oudenryn — the 20-year-old debutant and son of former Warriors winger Lee Oudenryn — powered over after sustained pick-and-go pressure to make it 26–20. The Blues were still alive.

Then the Chiefs cut loose. Boshier burst down the blindside and offloaded to Sinkinson for his second in the 56th minute. Three minutes later, Coombes-Fabling produced the try of the night — intercepting after Sinkinson had pinched a loose Christie pass, then launching a deep kick downfield that bounced over Perofeta’s head, regathering on the chase, slipping out of the fullback’s clutches and racing away to score. Jacomb converted both and the scoreboard read 40–20.

From there, it was one-way traffic. Ah Kuoi powered over in the corner after Jacomb’s grubber was gathered by Finau. Paul stepped outside a weak tackle attempt from Codemeru Vai after another dominant scrum to bring up the half-century. Finau added a ninth try after Taumoefolau burst away down the left following a brilliant McAlister pass. Cook-Savage converted for 59–27. Clarke and Taele grabbed consolation tries for the Blues in the final ten minutes, with Taele’s score in the 83rd minute preventing the margin from becoming the largest ever between the two sides.

Jacomb was outstanding throughout, converting six of eight and controlling proceedings with boot and hand. Paul filled the void left by Tupaea with a complete performance in midfield. And Sititi led from the front in every sense, his physicality and work rate setting the standard. For the Blues, Segner never stopped working and Barnes was strong early, but the second-half collapse was damning. Their lineout was poor, their defence leaked badly after the break, and their attack lacked the precision to punish a side missing so many first-choice players.

The result confirms the qualifying final draw. The Chiefs, 11–3 and locked in second, host the Reds in Hamilton next Saturday night. The Blues finish 8–6 in fourth and face the Crusaders at One New Zealand Stadium — a ground where the defending champions remain unbeaten — next Saturday afternoon. Given the Blues’ spiralling form and the Crusaders’ 32-from-32 home play-off record, Vern Cotter’s men face an enormous task to keep their season alive.

Match details

Chiefs 59 (Tries: Daniel Sinkinson 2, Kyren Taumoefolau, Tyrone Thompson, Wallace Sititi, Liam Coombes-Fabling, Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Reon Paul, Samipeni Finau; Conversions: Josh Jacomb 6/8, Tepaea Cook-Savage 1/1)
Blues 34 (Tries: Torian Barnes, AJ Lam, Eli Oudenryn, Caleb Clarke, Xavi Taele; Conversions: Zarn Sullivan 3/5; Penalties: Sullivan 1)
Half-time: 19–15

Venue: FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
Attendance: 19,950
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)

Teams

Chiefs: 15 Liam Coombes-Fabling, 14 Daniel Sinkinson, 13 Daniel Rona, 12 Reon Paul, 11 Kyren Taumoefolau, 10 Josh Jacomb, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Wallace Sititi (c), 7 Jahrome Brown, 6 Samipeni Finau, 5 Josh Lord, 4 Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 3 George Dyer, 2 Tyrone Thompson, 1 Jared Proffit.
Replacements: 16 Brodie McAlister, 17 Benet Kumeroa, 18 Keran van Staden, 19 Fiti Sa, 20 Kaylum Boshier, 21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22 Tepaea Cook-Savage, 23 Lalakai Foketi.

Blues: 15 Zarn Sullivan, 14 AJ Lam, 13 Xavi Taele, 12 Pita Ahki, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Stephen Perofeta, 9 Sam Nock, 8 Malachi Wrampling, 7 Anton Segner (c), 6 Torian Barnes, 5 Sam Darry, 4 Josh Beehre, 3 Marcel Renata, 2 James Mullan, 1 Mason Tupaea.
Replacements: 16 Eli Oudenryn, 17 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 18 Flyn Yates, 19 Laghlan McWhannell, 20 Hoskins Sotutu, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Corey Evans, 23 Codemeru Vai.

What’s next

Qualifying finals:
Friday 5 June, 7:05pm NZST: Hurricanes (1st) v Brumbies (6th) at Sky Stadium, Wellington
Saturday 6 June, 4:35pm NZST: Crusaders (3rd) v Blues (4th) at One New Zealand Stadium, Christchurch
Saturday 6 June, 7:05pm NZST: Chiefs (2nd) v Reds (5th) at FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton

Patrick Pellegrini scored twice and sparked the match-winning try as 14-man Moana Pasifika stunned the Brumbies 21–19 at GIO Stadium in a fitting farewell to what may be the franchise’s final Super Rugby Pacific match.

Key moments

3 mins – TRY BRUMBIES: The Brumbies’ forward pack battered the line through Charlie Cale and Rob Valetini before Rory Scott picked and drove over under the posts. Ryan Lonergan converts. (Brumbies 7–0 Moana Pasifika)

11 mins – TRY DISALLOWED (MOANA): Solomon Alaimalo finished a brilliant passage featuring a chip kick and no-look pass, but the TMO ruled Faletoi Peni’s pass to Alaimalo had drifted forward.

16 mins – TRY BRUMBIES: After sustained forward pressure near the line, the Brumbies shifted it wide and Tom Wright dummied and dived over. Lonergan converts. (Brumbies 14–0 Moana Pasifika)

18 mins – YELLOW CARD BRUMBIES: James Slipper sent to the sin bin for cynical play at the ruck. Rhys van Nek came on to manage the scrum.

21 mins – TRY MOANA PASIFIKA: Initially ruled no try on the field, the TMO reviewed and confirmed Patrick Pellegrini had grounded the ball cleanly after sustained pressure near the line. Pellegrini converts. (Brumbies 14–7 Moana Pasifika)

32 mins – TRY MOANA PASIFIKA: Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa made a powerful carry to break into the 22 before Pellegrini cut through the defensive line and barged over near the posts for his second. Pellegrini converts. (Brumbies 14–14 Moana Pasifika)

37 mins – YELLOW CARD MOANA PASIFIKA: Faletoi Peni sent to the bin for a no-arms challenge on Andy Muirhead. First yellow card.

Half-time: Brumbies 14–14 Moana Pasifika. The Brumbies dominated early through their forward pack but errors and set-piece issues let Moana back in. Pellegrini was outstanding, scoring twice and controlling proceedings. Both sides had a player sin-binned. The Brumbies’ lineout was a mess, with several crooked throws and communication breakdowns.

55 mins – TRY BRUMBIES: After a lineout and sustained forward carries, Wright found Luke Reimer on the edge and the flanker dived over in the corner. Lonergan misses the conversion. (Brumbies 19–14 Moana Pasifika)

57 mins – DEBUT: Jarrah McLeod came on for his Super Rugby debut.

63 mins – RED CARD MOANA PASIFIKA: Peni was shown a second yellow card for direct head-on-head contact on Muirhead, automatically upgraded to a 20-minute red card. Moana Pasifika reduced to 14 men for the remainder.

70 mins – TRY DISALLOWED (BRUMBIES): Klayton Thorn dived over after a Reimer break, but the TMO found Valetini’s pass to Reimer on halfway had travelled forward. Moana scrum.

73 mins – TRY MOANA PASIFIKA: Pellegrini sparked a stunning counter-attack with a chip-and-chase, regathering his own kick before putting another ahead and collecting again. The visitors shifted right and Tuna Tuitama sliced through before passing to Melani Matavao, who dived over near the posts. Pellegrini converts to put Moana in front. (Brumbies 19–21 Moana Pasifika)

77–80 mins: The Brumbies threw everything at Moana in the closing stages but could not break through. Corey Toole knocked on in contact in the final minute, handing Moana a scrum. Tupou Ta’eiloa carried from the back, the Brumbies were penalised, and Pellegrini kicked to touch to seal victory.

Full-time: Brumbies 19–21 Moana Pasifika

Match report

The week began with Moana Pasifika’s shareholders voting to appoint liquidators to the franchise’s holding company. It ended with their players performing a war dance before kick-off, producing 80 minutes of courage, and celebrating wildly on the turf at GIO Stadium after one of the most remarkable results in the franchise’s short history. With nothing but pride to play for and uncertainty about their future beyond this afternoon, Tana Umaga’s side delivered a performance that matched the occasion.

“With all that had happened during the week, in terms of Moana going into liquidation, we knew we wouldn’t see a lot of our group that we left behind,” Umaga said. “We talked a lot about our strong purpose of who we represent. We’re representing our culture, our people, and we saw that come through in the end. I’m very proud of it. This one stands out.”

It did not look like standing out at all in the opening quarter. The Brumbies came out firing and scored twice inside 16 minutes. Scott finished off sustained forward pressure under the posts in the third minute, with Cale, Valetini and the pack doing the heavy lifting. Wright added a second after more forward dominance near the line, dummying and diving over. Lonergan converted both and at 14–0 the Brumbies appeared to be building towards the bonus-point win they needed to climb the standings.

Moana showed their intent early, however. Alaimalo crossed in the 11th minute after a brilliant passage featuring a chip kick and no-look pass, but the TMO ruled Peni’s pass had drifted forward. It was the first of several interventions from the officials that shaped the contest.

The turning point arrived in the 18th minute when veteran prop Slipper was sin-binned for cynical play at the ruck. With the extra man, Moana threw everything at the Brumbies’ line. What followed was one of the match’s strangest moments: Pellegrini lunged for the line and referee Jordan Way initially ruled no try, with play continuing for 40 seconds. The TMO then intervened, and replays confirmed Pellegrini had grounded the ball cleanly. Play was dragged all the way back and the try awarded. Pellegrini converted his own score and the deficit was halved.

The visitors grew in confidence. Peni was a handful with his surging carries through midfield, Tupou Ta’eiloa was immense at No. 8, and skipper Miracle Faiilagi led from the front. On 32 minutes, Tupou Ta’eiloa made a powerful carry to break into the 22 before Augustine Pulu — the evergreen halfback, nearing the end of his career — produced a magic offload for Pellegrini to cut through and barge over near the posts for his second. He converted again and the scores were level at 14–14.

Peni then blotted his copybook. In the 37th minute he was sin-binned for a no-arms challenge on Muirhead as the wing chased Corey Toole’s kick. It was harsh, but Moana held on to take the contest to half-time level.

The Brumbies’ set piece, particularly the lineout, was a mess throughout. Several crooked throws, communication breakdowns and free kicks conceded undermined their forward advantage. Coach Stephen Larkham will have been tearing his hair out. “There’s a whole lot of frustration in the change room at the moment,” he said afterwards. “There’s lots of guys thinking about what they could have done differently or better.”

The second half was a dour, scrappy affair. Wright threw an obvious forward pass to an unmarked Muirhead on the Moana line early on, squandering a golden opportunity. But on 55 minutes, after sustained carries from the pack, Wright found Reimer on the left edge and the flanker dived over in the corner. Lonergan missed the conversion but the Brumbies led 19–14 and appeared to have the momentum.

Then came Peni’s second card. In the 63rd minute, Wright made a break down the right and found Muirhead inside the 22. Play was brought back for a TMO review of Peni’s tackle, which found direct head-on-head contact. Because it was his second yellow of the match, it was automatically upgraded to a 20-minute red card. Moana would play the rest of the contest with 14 men.

The adversity seemed to bolster rather than deflate the visitors. The Brumbies could not capitalise. On 70 minutes, Thorn dived over after a Reimer break and appeared to have sealed it, but the TMO found Valetini’s pass to Reimer on halfway had travelled forward. The try was chalked off and Moana had a lifeline.

Three minutes later, they took it. Pellegrini sparked a stunning counter-attack from inside his own half, chipping over the top and regathering before putting another kick ahead and somehow collecting that too. The visitors shifted right, Tuitama sliced through the defensive line and found Matavao, who dived over near the posts. Pellegrini calmly converted to put Moana in front for the first time at 21–19.

The final seven minutes were tense. The Brumbies threw everything at Moana but could not break through. The visitors won penalties for the Brumbies collapsing the maul and stole a lineout. When Toole knocked on in contact in the final minute, Moana had the scrum. Tupou Ta’eiloa carried from the back, the Brumbies infringed, and Pellegrini tapped and kicked to touch to spark scenes of celebration.

It was Moana Pasifika’s first win since the opening round against the Fijian Drua in February, snapping a 12-game losing streak. Their record of 2–12 and last-place finish does not tell the story of a franchise that has fought against the odds since its introduction in 2022. Whether this was their final chapter remains uncertain — NZ Rugby said the tender process for their licence is continuing, and a private consortium or government intervention could yet provide a rescue — but if it was, they could hardly have written a better ending.

The Brumbies finish 7–7 and sixth on the ladder. They face a daunting trip to Wellington next Friday night to take on the Hurricanes in a qualifying final, where they must win to advance. On this evidence, Larkham has plenty to fix.

Match details

Brumbies 19 (Tries: Rory Scott, Tom Wright, Luke Reimer; Conversions: Ryan Lonergan 2/3)
Moana Pasifika 21 (Tries: Patrick Pellegrini 2, Melani Matavao; Conversions: Patrick Pellegrini 3/3)
Half-time: 14–14
Cards: James Slipper (yellow, 18 mins); Faletoi Peni (yellow, 37 mins; red, 63 mins)

Venue: GIO Stadium, Canberra
Referee: Jordan Way (Australia)

Teams

Brumbies: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Andy Muirhead, 13 Hudson Creighton, 12 David Feliuai, 11 Corey Toole, 10 Declan Meredith, 9 Ryan Lonergan (c), 8 Charlie Cale, 7 Rory Scott, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Cadeyrn Neville, 4 Lachlan Shaw, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Billy Pollard, 1 James Slipper.
Replacements: 16 Lachlan Lonergan, 17 Blake Schoupp, 18 Rhys van Nek, 19 Nick Frost, 20 Luke Reimer, 21 Klayton Thorn, 22 Tane Edmed, 23 Jarrah McLeod.

Moana Pasifika: 15 William Havili, 14 Israel Leota, 13 Solomon Alaimalo, 12 Faletoi Peni, 11 Glen Vaihu, 10 Patrick Pellegrini, 9 Augustine Pulu, 8 Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa, 7 Semisi Paea, 6 Miracle Faiilagi (c), 5 Veikoso Poloniati, 4 Allan Craig, 3 Atu Moli, 2 Millennium Sanerivi, 1 Malakai Hala-Ngatai.
Replacements: 16 Mamoru Harada, 17 Abraham Pole, 18 Paula Latu, 19 Alefosio Aho, 20 Sam Tuitupou Ah-Hing, 21 Melani Matavao, 22 Tevita Latu, 23 Tuna Tuitama.

What’s next

The Brumbies finish sixth and travel to Wellington to face the Hurricanes in a qualifying final next Friday. The Reds finish fifth and face the Chiefs in Hamilton next Saturday. Moana Pasifika’s future remains uncertain, with the franchise in liquidation but NZ Rugby’s licence tender process continuing.