It looked as though the wobbly boot of Chiefs goal-kicker Aaron Cruden could prove costly for the defending champions. He missed two penalties and then a relatively easy conversion when the Chiefs were trailing 22-17. But it was the failure of Brumbies scrumhalf Nic White to find touch from a penalty in the 61st minute that proved most costly. The Brumbies had been leading by 10 points, but the Chiefs scored 15 poionts in the next 10 minutes to seal the result.

There may be suggestions that the Brumbies’ big travel load caught up with them in the closing minutes of the grand final and that the Brumbies were playing on tired legs. But, truth be told, the young Brumbies lost their composure. The Brumbies silenced the ringing cowbells of the Chiefs crowd with an impressive start, jumping out of the blocks to lead 9-0 and then 19-12 at half-time. But the Brumbies made too many nervous minstakes when the game was there to be won.

Only one away team has ever won a Super Rugby grand final, and that was when seven-time champions the Canterbury Crusaders beat the Brumbies 20-19 in Canberra in 2000. The defending champion Chiefs had also won 16 of their previous 18 matches at home. Despite travelling more than 30,000km in the past monthto make the final, the Brumbies looked like they could conquer those travel demons. They have been impressive on the road this season, including setting the Super Rugby record for the longest winning streak away from home - seven. Not this time.

The Brumbies will have the luxury of bringing back one of the world’s best flankers, David Pocock, when he returns from a knee injury next season. But can anyone really replace George Smith? He leaves the Brumbies having equalled the records of legends Stephen Larkham and George Gregan, who also contested five Super Rugby finals. He was a leader of the pack again last night. Lock Peter Kimlin will also be missed next season, having played himself back into the Australian Wallabies squad.

The Chiefs are known for their blistering attack. In eight games this season they had earned a bonus point for scoring four tries or more. But they made the mistake in the first half of going too wide too early and trying to go around the Brumbies. Midway through the second half they began to play more direct from offloads up the middle. They did it to great effect. As the Brumbies tired, the Chiefs lifted their intensity.

The Brumbies’ defence held firm for most of the night, but they would like to erase 10 minutes from each half. The Chiefs scored all their nine points in the first half in a 10-minute period, from the 23rd to 32nd minutes, with Aaron Cruden penalty goals. The Chiefs repeated that onslaught in the second-half, scoring 15 points in a six minute period from the 65th to the 71st minute.