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Blues 20 Brumbies 19
Blues - Sotutu & Telea tries; Perofeta 2 penalties & 2 conversions
Brumbies - Simone & L Lonergan 2 tries; Lolesio 2 conversions
Fulltime
40th minute - Lolesio goes for a drop goal, but it's charged down by Tuungafasi. BLues turn the ball over and have an advantage.
The siren goes and they kick into touch to end the game. Phew!
BLues face Crusaders in Super Rugby Pacific final at Eden Park next week.
39th minute - BLues lose the ball backwards, Brumbies turn the ball over and build phases in the Blues half. A penalty would win it for them.
38th minute - Barrett's kickoff is deep into the 22 and Lonergan kicks back beyond halfway.
37th minute - TRY to L Lonergan
Brumbies win another lineout and maul over the line to score. Big conversion coming from Lolesio...
He slots it, BLU 20-19
36th minute - Brumbies win another lineout, but are mauled back initially. The Blues maul disintegrates and they are penalised for entering from the side.
O'Keeffe warns Barrett about infringing and next one goes to the bin too.
35th minute - Choat inflicts a couple of big tackles, but the second one attracts a double blast from O'Keeffe. Replays show head on head, so Choat will leave the game on a yellow card.
Blues will have to hold one with only 14 men and Banks kicks to the corner again.
34th minute - Barrett finds touch near the Blues 10, but Brumbies steal the lineout throw.
33rd minute - Robinson disrupts the throw and steals the Brumbies lineout. Christie clears, but Blues have a penalty for offside - massive defence.
32nd minute - Samu bursts towards the line and Christie brings him down. Brumbies shift left, but spill the ball in midfield, so O'Keeffe brings them back for the penalty and another lineout.
31st minute - Brumbies win the lineout inside Blues 22, but the maul is held and then collapsed, so Brumbies have penalty advantage. They shift left and Muirhead goes close.
30th minute - Robinson wins the lineout, but Brumbies win a penalty at the breakdown. Banks kicks to the corner...
29th minute - Creighton kicks to touch, but BLues throw on their 22.
28th minute - Blues win a lineout in Brumbies territory and Barrett puts up a high kick, well taken by Banks.
27th minute - Choat meets Brown in midfield and Wright has a second bite, as he nears the 22, but Lam is over the breakdown for a turnover and penalty.
26th minute - Another Brumbies scrum and they earn a penalty from outside their 22. Banks finds touch near the Blues 10.
24th minute - Brumbies scrum outside their 22 and Lolesio hacks downfield, but Barrett is underneath. His high kick is bobbled around and eventually knocked on by Tuungafasi.
23rd minute - BLues are trying to find a way back into the 22, but RTS spills a pass. Eklund returns to the game.
22nd minute - BLues pour into the 22 and Barret slides over the tryline, but he's held up by Wright and admits to a knock on. Brumbies goal-line dropout is taken by Sotutu.
21st minute - Swain claims the kickoff and Lonergan puts up a high kick that goes nowhere. Muirhead recovers the ball, Banks kicks long to Barrett and Lam bullocks upfield.
19th minute - TRY to L Lonergan
Brumbies win the lineout and maul towards the line. Blues can't infringe again or they may lose someone, so the Brumbies simply drive over for a hooker's try. Lolesio's conversion drifts left, BLU 20-12
18th minute - Banks kicks to the corner again and the BLues are on thin ice. Romano replaces Goodhue and Tuungafasi replaces Laulala in the front row.
17th minute - Brumbies win the lineout and maul towards the line. O'Keeffe plays more advantage, but when the ball shifts left, Wright slices through and is held up over the line by Telea.
16th minute - Brumbies win the lineout and Simone charges towards the line, but the Blues are penalised. Banks kicks to the corner for another lineout.
15th minute - Sotutu throws to the lineout near his own line and Barrett clears from in goal, but can't clear the 22.
14th minute - Muirhead slices through the midfield defence and Banks races for the corner, but Barrett is there to tackle him into touch, before he can release to Wright.
13th minute - Lonergan brothers enter the game for the Brumbies, replacing Faingaa at hooker and White at halfback. Banks' kick finds touch on the BLues 10.
12th minute - Akira Ioane has his knees pumping over halfway and brother Rieko carries up midfield, but loses the ball.
White throws a long pass to Muirhead and Eklund is penalised for a high tackle - this could develop rapidly. It's a tipping tackle, with Laulala involved as well.
O'Keeffe shows Eklund a yellow card, so the Blues are a man short for 10 minutes.
11th minute - Tu'inukuafe replaces Hodgman in the Blues front row, but Eklund's throw to the lineout isn't straight. Brumbies win the ball and White kicks high to Barrett.
10th minute - Blues win a scrum penalty and Barrett kicks for touch, finding it near the Brumbies 10.
Eighth minute - Brumbies shift right, but Lolesio angles a kick back towards the corner and Barrett covers it brilliantly. He finds touch near the 10, but the Brumbies make a mess of the lineout.
Seventh minute - Sio replaces Slipper in the Brumbies front row. Brumbies win a lineout and maul towards the Blues 22.
Sixth minute - White drops out and Perofeta claims the catch near halfway. Barret goes on a run, but Reimer is over the breakdown for a Brumbies penalty.
Fifth minute - Goodhue wins the lineout and RTS makes a midfield run towards the 22. Barrett kicks to the goal-line and Wright has to fall on it for a goal-line dropout.
Fourth minute - Blues win a penalty at a ruck on the Brumbies 10 and Barrett kicks to the corner.
Third minute - After an exchange of kicks, Perofeta angles one towards the Brumbies 22 and bounces it into touch.
Brumbies win the lineout and maul a few metres, Barrett is safe under another high kick. He returns a kick and chases and recovers.
Second minute - Brumbies win a scrum free-kick and Muirhead enters the Blues half. Lolesio puts a high kick towards the 22 and Barrett is safe underneath.
First minute - Brumbies have subbed off Valetini, replaced by Jahrome Brown.
Blues kick off, White pumps up a huge box kick and Perofeta knocks on, as he leaps to claim the ball.
Halftime
40th minute - Christie kicks to the goal-line, but Muirhead has it covered. Advantage is over, so Brumbies have a goal-line dropout.
Barrett snaps a long-range dropkick and hits the crossbar, as the half comes to an end.
39th minute - Blues building phases outside the 22 and Barrett straightens. Robinson charges into the 22 and Blues have a knock-on advantage.
38th minute - Barrett finds a long touch on the Brumbies 10 and Robinson wins the lineout.
37th minute - Brumbies reclaim the kickoff and Valetini bumps off a couple of tacklers, but accidentally runs into a teammate, who's offside.
Blues win another scrum penalty...
34th minute - TRY to Telea
Lam bursts into the 22, Brumbies are offside, but Blues have momentum. Barrett offloads to Perofeta, who bobbles a pass for Telea to spin over handy to the posts.
Perofeta slots the converstion, BLU 20-7
33rd minute - White kicks high and Barret leaps for the catch. A kicking duel ensues, but Barrett sparks a counter-attack, carried on by Lam and then Ioane.
32nd minute - From the scrum, BLues shift left and RTS take on the defence. Barrett kicks high and Muirhead takes the catch under pressure from Telea.
31st minute - Blues have a scrum feed on their own 22...
30th minute - Brumbies scrum on the Blues 10 and White finds Lolesio stepping, but when the first-five pops up again, he loses the ball.
28th minute - Robinson wins a lineout in the BLues 22 and Sotutu charges outside the red zone. Christie puts up a high kick, but the Blues knock on.
27th minute - Banks kicks to the corner and Brumbies will have another attacking lineout, but Faingaa's throw isn't straight.
26th minute - Valetini charges into the Blues 22, but Hodgman counter-rucks and wins theturnover. Barrett kicks long downfield, but a return kick bounce wildly and Brumbies have a penalty in Blues half.
25th minute - Perofeta catches the kickoff and Barret kicks up the right touchline.
23rd minute - TRY to Sotutu
Rieko Ioane carries the movement into the 22 and Sotutu spins over from a ruck near the Brumbies line to put the BLues ahead for the first time. Perofeta converts, BLU 13-7
22nd minute - Blues win the lineout and Christie grubbers along the ground. Wright kicks back and Robinson charges back into Brumbies half.
21st minute - Goodhue claims the kickoff and Blues have an advantage at the breakdown. Discipline is hurting the Brumbies, as Barrett finds touch on the Brumbies 10.
20th minute - Perofeta slots the penalty, BRU 7-6
19th minute - Goodhue wins the lineout and Blues have penalty advantage. Barrett kicks high towards the posts and White catches, but collides with a teammate and lands in goal.
O'Keeffe could have awarded a five-metre scrum to the Blues, but brings them back for the lineout penalty, which Perofeta will kick for goal.
18th minute - Hooper is reluctantly leaving the field, replaced early by Reimer.
Blues win a scrum penalty against Slipper and Barrett kicks to touch outside the Brumbies 22.
17th minute - Barrett's dropout picks out Hooper expertly and he drops the ball cold near halfway. There's still concern over his shoulder.
16th minute - After eight phases, Hooper has another dig, but is held up over the line and Blues have salvaged a goal-line dropout.
15th minute - Banks kicks to the corner and an attacking lineout. Brumbies win the lineout and maul to the goal-line.
Hooper is just short and reels away injured.
13th minute - Brumbies win a lineout in Blues half and gain penalty advantage, as they pour towards the 22.
12th minute - Perofeta kicks from deep inside his own half and bounces it centimetres from touch, just outside the Brumbies 22.
From the lineout, Valetini runs hard, but Blues are penalised at the breakdown.
11th minute - Whites' kickoff goes deeper into the 22 and the Blues clear to halfway. Eklund drives Swain back in a tackle and the Blues win a turnover.
Ninth minute - Perofeta slots the penalty to put the Blues on the board, BRU 7-3
Eighth minute - Big Blues scrum wins penalty advantage, but Barrett tries to stab a kick along the ground and Blues have the ball back.
Backs have ball in hand and Barrett finds RTS with floating pass behind the advancing defence. O'Keeffe brings them back for a midfield penalty and Barrett points to the posts.
Sixth minute - Lam and Barrett hold Lolesio up in a tackle, and win a maul turnover. Christie to feed a scrum just outside Brumbies 22.
Fifth minute - From the kickoff, White puts a box kick up, Perofeta catches and Barrett dashes upfield.
Third minute - TRY to Simone
White clears the scrum and Simone simply carves through the midfield defence to score under the posts. Worrying signs already for the Blues, as Lolesio nudges the conversion in off the right upright, BRU 7-0
Second minute - Brumbies have a scrum on the Blues 10...
First minute - Ben O'Keeffe will referee this contest, as Nic White prepares to kick off for the Brumbies.
White's kick goes high and Goodhue claims it just outside the Blues 22. Barrett kick upfield finds grass, but Ioane can't control the bounce and knocks on.
7:03pm - Wintery day in Auckland today, with rain and wind, but the rain has abated, as kickoff approaches.
*****
Kia ora, good evening and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of the Super Rugby Pacific semi-final between the Blues and ACT Brumbies at Auckland's Eden Park.
With the Crusaders already through to next week's final, these two sides will hope to nail down the other spot and if the Blues prevail, they will host the season climax at their fortress.
Last time these two teams met, Beauden Barrett slotted a last-gasp drop goal to snatch victory for the Aucklanders at Canberra, part of a three-game slide for the top Australian side to end their season.
The result was also part of a franchise-record 14-game winning streak, which can reach 15 tonight with another victory.
Blues coach Leon MacDonald has tweaked his team from last week's quarter-final romp over the Highlanders, bringing AJ Lam onto the wing, promoting prop Nepo Laulala into the starting front row and lock Josh Goodhue into the second row.
The Brumbies have lost centre Len Ikitau to suspension, but have blockbuster No.8 Rob Valetini back on the back of the scrum.
TAB Odds: Blues $1.18, Brumbies $4.50
Blues: 1-Alex Hodgman, 2-Kurt Eklund, 3-Nepo Laulala, 4-Josh Goodhue, 5-Tom Robinson, 6-Akira Ioane, 7-Adrian Choat, 8-Hoskins Sotutu, 9-Finlay Christie, 10-Beauden Barrett, 11-AJ Lam, 12-Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 13-Rieko Ioane, 14-Mark Telea, 15-Stephen Perofeta
Reserves: 16-Soane Vikena, 17-Karl Tu'inukuafe, 18-Ofa Tuungafasi, 19-Luke Romano, 20-James Tucker, 21-Sam Nock, 22-Tamati Tua, 23-Zarn Sullivan
Brumbies: 1-James Slipper, 2-Folau Fainga'a, 3-Allan Alaalatoa, 4-Darcy Swain, 5-Cadeyrn Neville, 6-Tom Hooper, 7-Pete Samu, 8-Rob Valetini, 9-Nic White, 10-Noah Lolesio, 11-Andy Muirhead, 12-Irae Simone, 13-Ollie Sapsford, 14-Tom Wright, 15-Tom Banks
Reserves: 16-Lachlan Lonergan, 17-Scott Sio, 18-Sefo Kautai, 19-Nick Frost, 20-Luke Reimer, 21-Jahrome Brown, 22-Ryan Lonergan, 23-Hudson Creighton
Blues wary of backlash against 'benchmark' Brumbies in semi-final
By Reece Labsuchagne
The tabletopping Blues won't take the Brumbies lightly in their Super Rugby Pacific semi-final at Eden Park.
The visitors were on the wrong side of a narrow loss in the last meeting between the two sides just a few weeks ago in Canberra.
Beauden Barrett slotted a drop goal after the hooter to give the Blues the win and clinch top spot on the Super Rugby ladder for the playoffs.
Blues forwards coach Tom Coventry is wary of a Brumbies backlash and believes the challenge is even greater this time around.
"It's pretty formidable," he said. "They were bloody good the last time we played them.
"It came down to a drop goal and I thought they actually had the upper edge on us at times. I know they're pretty confident with the way they played against us and the upper hand they had at stages - it's a big challenge for us.
"We respect them deeply. They're a great side, they've been the benchmark for Australian Super Rugby teams for a while now.
"We're going to have to be at our very, very best. We weren't last time, but we managed to get through with a drop goal.
"They'll be confident. I've heard they're confident and they have no reason not to be, and for a team that's in the semi-finals, that's the way you need to approach it."
The Blues won't have to look far for inspiration for the occasion, with former greats of the team being regular visitors at the club recently.
Coventry said both past and present players have been reflecting on their season, and how important a positive result would be for the Auckland region.
"We had a neat team meeting, and some of the boys got up there and spoke about their love of the game, growing up with a ball, and just reminding ourselves how important this game is to us and our families," he said.
"We try to draw on some of the old boys from the club - they've been invited into breakfast over the course of the last month.
"They're all pretty proud of what the club has achieved so far. We're just trying to draw from the strength they bring to our young group."
Blues captain Dalton Papalii may return for the final, should they beat the Brumbies on Saturday. The star flanker is in a race against time to prove his fitness, after he having his appendix removed last week.
"It will be touch-and-go to get him ready to go next week, but there's always a little bit of hope," Coventry said.
"I think young Fin [Finlay Christie] had his taken out and did it in 10 days, so Dalton's under a bit of pressure, but we'll take it day-by-day."
