Super Rugby Pacific: Auckland Blues beat ACT Brumbies in controversial fashion

How Blues inside centre Roger Tuivasa-Sheck stayed on the field - or at least got a yellow card - for a high tackle that prevented a Nic White try is anyone's guess as the Blues won 21-19 at Canberra Stadium on Saturday night.

The Blues also won the penalty count 16-5 in the top-of-the-table clash - 12 -1 in the first half - the loss all-but ending the Brumbies' top-two hopes in the process.

But the main talking point will be how the Brumbies were denied a penalty try or earned a one-man advantage after White was illegally brought down within sniffing distance of the tryline.

Especially after the Brumbies had two players sin-binned in the first half.

Both Folau Fainga'a, who scored a second-half try off the back of White's intercept, and Darcy Swain were shown yellow cards in the first 40 - with the Brumbies momentarily reduced to 13 men.

That didn't stop them producing a gutsy defensive effort to largely keep at bay a Blues side that's won 12 games in a row.

It looked like the Brumbies had won it when hooker Billy Pollard finished off a rolling maul to take the lead with just three minutes remaining, but the Blues were able to go up the other end for Barrett to kick a drop goal after the siren.

Barrett also scored the Blues' opening try, with prop Karl Tu'inukuafe crossing for their other five-pointer.

Brumbies coach Dan McKellar was left scratching his head at the penalty count in front of a parochial home crowd.

The officials were given a security escort off the ground as a chorus of boos rained down.

"We'll have a close look at it. A 16-5 penalty count at home - tough to take," McKellar said.

"What do you do? What do you say? I don't know what I can say there. I'll get myself in trouble.

"I dunno what I can say. It was a high tackle. I'll need to review it and have a look at it closely.

"We'll review our performance thoroughly and see where we can be better. Just 20 seconds away from a pretty special win."

Their defence was massive - they made 219 tackles compared with the Blues' 107 - and they didn't deserve to lose the way they did.

They also held the Blues up over the tryline four times.

While a top-two finish might be unlikely, McKellar will resist making wholesale changes and resting players for the Moana game.

But the effort also showed the Brumbies could test both the Blues and the Canterbury Crusaders.

"Brave, very proud of them, how we just hung in there under pressure," McKellar said

"One hundred per cent [it bodes well for the finals]. The last two weeks, whilst we've lost both games, we know we've got the game to beat both the Crusaders and the Blues.

"It looks like they'll finish top two so plenty to take out of it ... I'm just shattered. I thought our attitude and effort deserved better."

The Brumbies lost openside flanker Luke Reimer, who was forced off after just 26 minutes with a medial knee injury - although they will get Jahrome Brown back for next week's clash against Moana Pasifika in Auckland.

They started well, with Pete Samu crashing over to finish off a Darcy Swain lineout win against the throw in just the third minute.

Blues winger Caleb Clarke looked dangerous every time he got the ball, but his dominance faded and he eventually limped off with a hamstring injury in the second half that could end his season.

AT A GLANCE

AUCKLAND BLUES 21 (Beauden Barrett, Karl Tu'inukuafe tries; Stephen Perofeta conversion, 2 penalties; Barrett drop goal) bt ACT BRUMBIES 19 (Pete Samu, Folau Fainga'a, Billy Pollard tries; Noah Lolesio 2 conversions) bt at Canberra Stadium. Referee: Damon Murphy.

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