Prop Ofa Tuungafasi has emerged as an unlikely hero of the Blues' dramatic Super Rugby Pacific semi-final victory over ACT Brumbies at Auckland's Eden Park.
The 20-19 win confirms a much-anticipated all-NZ championship showdown against archrivals the Crusaders at the same venue next week, but not without a desperate final few minutes.
Ahead 20-7 early in the second half, the Blues seemed to have control of a contest played in testing wet, wintry conditions, but lost that grip, when hooker Kurt Eklund was yellow-carded for a dangerous tackle.
During his absence, the Aussies scored from a close-range lineout maul - a try that, crucially, went unconverted by first-five Noah Lolesio.
The Brumbies continued to pour on pressure, with only heroic defence from the home side keeping them at bay.
Five minutes from fulltime, the Blues were again down to 14 men, when flanker Adrian Choat was dismissed for a high tackle. Almost immediately, ACT hooker Lachlan Lonergan was carried over for another five-pointer, converted this time by Lolesio to close within a point.
As the final seconds counted down and the competition tabletoppers scrambled to keep their opponents out, the Brumbies delivered the ball to Lolesio on the Blues 10 and the young pivot snapped a make-or-break drop goal attempt that could have sent 30,000 fans home brokenhearted.
From nowhere, Tuungafasi raced out of the defensive line and got his mitts to the ball, charging down the kick, as his team held on to win.
"Huge," marvelled acting captain Beauden Barrett. "It's those sort of moments you just live for.
"His edge is exceptional and we needed the big fella to step up in that moment."
Ironically, last time these two teams met, the Blues prevailed at Canberra, with first-five Barrett kicking a last-gasp drop goal to steal victory.
The Brumbies began the stronger this time, with Blues centre Rieko Ioane knocking on from the kickoff and midfield counterpart Ira Simone running hard off the scrum to score.
But as the first half wore on, Barrett began to impose himself on proceedings, with both his kicking and running games.
No.8 Hoskins Sotutu scored the Blues' first try, when lock Tom Robinson charged into the Brumbies half, Ioane carried the move on and Sotutu spun over the tryline from a ruck.
Winger Mark Telea struck next, after Barrett sparked a counterattack from his own half, then handled again near the goal-line, as fullback Stephen Perofeta provided the try assist.
With prop Nepo Laulala in ascendance, the Blues ruled at scrumtime, feasting on a series of set-piece penalties that fed Perofeta's accurate goal-kicking. The Brumbies actually outscored their hosts three tries to two, but Perofeta's perfect night with the boot ultimately saw them home.
While the Blues went scoreless through the second half, their defence - even reduced to 14 for 20 minutes - kept them in the game, with special efforts by Barrett, who cornerflagged fullback Tom Banks into touch, and Perofeta, who held up winger Tom Wright over the tryline.
"I've got a lot of trust in the lads, but you have to give it to [the Brumbies]," said Barrett. "They could easily have run away with that one.
"We knew we had to fight hard and work hard together to close out."
After breaking an 18-year drought in Christchurch earlier this season, the Aucklanders must now repeat that effort against the Crusaders at home to secure their first 'real' Super Rugby crown since 2003.
Blues 20 (Sotutu & Telea tries; Perofeta 2 penalties & 2 conversions) ACT Brumbies 19 (L Lonergan 2 & Simone tries; Lolesio 2 conversions)
