For the third time in four years the ACT Brumbies have slipped up in an important final-round clash. They needed a bonus-point win against the Canterbury Crusaders to have any chance of finishing second and earning a home semi-final, but they lost to the Crusaders for the fifth time in a row. It was a similar story in 2013, when they lost to the lowly Western Force to also miss out on a top-two finish. That proved particularly costly, with the hefty travel as a result taking its toll in the final 20 minutes of the final against the Waikato Chiefs. In 2012 it was the lowly Auckland Blues who beat them - a loss that meant they missed out on the finals altogether. Do they have a final-round hoodoo?
McCaw goes one better than Bradman
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Has Richie McCaw managed what Australian cricket legend Donald Bradman couldn't do? The All Blacks captain is considering retiring after this year's World Cup and if he does he'll finish with exactly 100 Super Rugby wins. It was a mark not even Bradman could match, with the world's greatest ever batsman scoring a duck in his final innings to finish with an average of 99.94 - agonisingly close to 100. McCaw almost capped his probable final game for the Crusaders with a try, but the rolling maul he was on the back of was pulled down by the Brumbies and a penalty try was awarded instead.
Pocock-McCaw show gets knocked on the head
It was the battle of the breakdown that had rugby fans salivating and was meant to give an idea of who would wear the Wallabies No.7 at this year's World Cup. But Brumbies flanker David Pocock was forced from the field after a head knock in the final minutes of the first half and he didn't return to the field due to concussion protocols. The Crusaders won the battle at the breakdown, but it was No.6 Matt Todd who probably was their most effective player there, stealing the limelight from McCaw and Pocock.
Brumbies off to Singapore for 2016 trials
The Brumbies want to become an international brand and they'll start to make that push next season with potentially two trials in Singapore - one against the Crusaders and the other against French club Racing Metro 92. They hope to have one in the pre-season and the other during the international break. The Brumbies have already played at Singapore's National Stadium as part of the World Club 10s tournament and the Singapore government is keen to get more content there. The ACT government has also made trips there to get ideas for a proposed covered, rectangular stadium to be built in Civic.
We want you, Saturday afternoon!
Listen up Fox Sports, I mean SANZAR, Canberra wants Saturday arvo footy! The Brumbies got their biggest crowd of the year in their only afternoon game. The fans voted with their feet, stamping out the rhythm of "We want more". The crowd of 18,398 was more than 800 more than the crowd for archrivals NSW Waratahs. It sends a clear message that at this time of year, night football is a no-no. The trouble is the broadcasters pay the bills and they prefer night games - it actually helps them if people stay at home and watch it on the idiot box. Brumbies chief executive Michael Jones has said the key to the Brumbies' financial future is getting crowds back to the Canberra Stadium. So the ball is now in SANZAR's court - they need to decide whether they want to help the clubs or kowtow to the broadcasters and continue to program night games in the nation's capital.
