ACT Brumbies back-rower Tayla Stanford has launched herself on to the Wallaroos radar with a powerful performance but it wasn't enough to help her side win on Saturday night.
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Stanford was the Brumbies' best in an arm-wrestle against the Queensland women, keeping the ACT side in the contest to give them a chance of an upset victory.
In the end it wasn't enough with Queensland holding on for a 12-0 triumph at Ballymore, which leaves the Brumbies' finals hopes hinging on a clash against Rugby WA in Perth next week.
Stanford is making Wallaroos coaches take notice as the No. 8 makes her mark on the short competition.
She has scored three tires this year as well as making 27 runs for 238 metres, also leading the way in defence and at the breakdown.
The Brumbies will need her to fire again if they want to play in the finals for the first time, with the top three teams advancing to the play-offs.
The Brumbies are currently third, but they will fall behind Rugby WA if they beat NSW on Sunday, or secure a losing bonus point.
Regardless, the Brumbies' finals chances will go on the line in the match in Perth and captain Shellie Milward is confident they can rise to the challenge.
"I've always known we're contenders. We've got the heart and I think that shows in our defence," Milward said.
"We're happy to put in an 80-minute defensive effort to protect our line if we have to and that shows a lot of heart.
"To me, that shows we are contenders. Defence does win games sometimes, unfortunately we couldn't get across the line tonight. We fell away from our structures ... we just fell short.
"We knew [the game against Queensland] was like our grand final. We wanted to win it to secure a home semi-final, but we've got to regroup and get ready for WA next week."
Wet and muggy conditions turned the game into a war of attrition, with the forwards locked in constant scrum battles and both teams sending players into the breakdown.
Queensland opened the scoring via Cecelia Smith, but the home side never really had complete momentum as the Brumbies sent wave after wave of attack at the try line.
The visitors should have hit back after half-time when they dominated field position, but sloppy passes and missed opportunities let Queensland off the hook.
Smith looked certain to score her second before she was denied by a brilliant try-saving tackle by Rachel Crothers.
But the Brumbies couldn't stop the rampaging Queensland outside centre when she found some open space and scored the match sealer with 13 minutes left.
Queensland's win all but secures a top-two finish while the Brumbies and Rugby WA jostle for the last finals spot.
AT A GLANCE
QUEENSLAND REDS 12 (Cecelia Smith 2 tries; Lavinia Gould conversion) bt ACT BRUMBIES 0 at Ballymore Stadium.
