The result has blown open the Australian finals race and set the Brumbies on an uncertain and nervous path to a hopeful play-off berth.

Here are the key talking points from a drubbing at the Australian rugby graveyard.

WHERE TO FROM HERE?

The Brumbies' finals hopes now hinge on their biggest enemy – the NSW Waratahs. The Brumbies and Waratahs are locked on 39 points each, but the Brumbies are ahead on the ladder because they've won more games. That will change if the Waratahs beat the Wellington Hurricanes on Saturday night. If the Waratahs win with a bonus point, it would be almost impossible for the Brumbies to make the Super Rugby finals. If the Waratahs lose and don't get a bonus point, it will open up a last-round war. The Brumbies play the Western Force in the final game of the season while the Waratahs travel to Auckland to take on the Blues. It's anyone's guess as to how those games will turn out. Missing the play-offs would be a disaster for the Brumbies, given they farewell Stephen Moore, Matt Toomua, David Pocock and Joseph Tomane at the end of the year.

WHAT WENT WRONG IN BRUMBIES' BLUES?

If you've got to cut the Brumbies' 40-15 loss down to two moments, it would be two errors in the opening seven minutes. First it was Nigel Ah Wong dropping the ball at the kick-off, giving the Blues possession and leading to Jerome Kaino's first try. Then it was a lineout mistake close to the line that opened the door for another Blues try. That's two weeks in a row that the Brumbies have started slowly, and the Blues punished them by scoring four tries in the first 21 minutes. That's not the sort of start you'd expect from a team capable of being a title contender. There was a brief fightback and the Brumbies' scrum and lineout functioned well. But it wasn't enough to match the high-octane attack of the rampant Blues.

THE INJURED CAVALRY

The Brumbies will be wounded warriors when they return to Canberra on Saturday, with Scott Fardy getting stitches under his chin and on the top of his head and Christian Lealiifano being stitched up above an eye. Fardy is also nursing a sore shoulder, but should be fit to play the Force. Winger Joseph Tomane will make his comeback from a knee injury in Canberra's club rugby competition on Saturday, but David Pocock is rated an unlikely chance to return from a fractured eye socket against the Force.

THE TRANS-TASMAN GAP

The Blues' win against the Brumbies will reignite debate about the quality of Australian teams versus New Zealanders. Australian teams have struggled against their Kiwi rivals this season. The Brumbies have beaten only one New Zealand opponent – the Hurricanes in the first game of the season. The fact is four of the New Zealand teams are ahead of the top two Australian teams, the Brumbies and the Waratahs. The restructure of Super Rugby this season is set to be changed again in the coming years but no one knows how that looks. If the SANZAAR lords have any mercy, they'll make Australian teams play fewer games against New Zealand teams after increasing the number of trans-Tasman battles this year.

MAULING IN THE SPIRIT OF THE GAME?

New Zealand teams are successfully employing a tactic of not engaging in rolling maul battles to avoid being marched over close to the line. After the Brumbies were awarded a penalty try early off the back of a rampaging maul, the Blues opted to stand off and let the Brumbies stand still in a pack. The tactic worked at disrupting the Brumbies' set piece and the Blues varied the way they attacked the maul. Some view it as not in the spirit of the game while others think it's open slather until World Rugby officials do something about it. Another loophole that needs fixing is the horrible Television Match Official review system. The Blues were awarded a try in the 67th minute that clearly should not have been given after Matt Duffie stepped into touch. The try stood until Christian Lealiifano raced out to the referee, Ben O'Keefe, while the Blues were about to take their kick. The kick was stopped, and the try was reviewed and the decision was overturned. But are we going to see captains running out to the referee all the time now if something looks dodgy. Someone has to stop the farce.