The Sharks win their first road game of the season while the Brumbies lose their first home match of 2012. The Brumbies showed again that they will always fight until the very end, earning a bonus point with a late rally. But the Sharks won this game with composure and a stinging counter-attack. The Sharks scored two long-distance tries from Brumbies turnovers. The Brumbies may have to deal with some injury issues, with flyhalf Matt Toomua and winger Henry Speight both leaving the field with suspected knee injuries. But there were positive signs. First-choice scrumhalf Nic White looked nippy on his return from a virus and his return to the starting team should provide more spark to the Brumbies attack. We'll have to wait and see when the Brumbies play the Queensland Reds next Friday.
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FULLTIME: Sharks win 29-26.
83min: Brumbies go 14 phases and the length of the field, but their hopes are over as perpetual prop Ben Alexander coughs up possession. Brave effort in the end, but too many errors from the Brumbies early on.
82min: Brumbies with possession. Can they pull off a miracle?
79min: Brumbies scrumhalf Nic White cuts through for a try, but it may be all too late. Conversion successful. Sharks lead 29-26.
78min: Joseph Tomane has been a highlight for the Brumbies since he came on. Unlucky to be dropped to the bench after two tries last week. Must be in the starting team next game.
76min: Stephen Moore drops a ball when he should have been in the clear. Doesn't take long for Brumbies coach Jake White to hook his tired hooker.
74min: The Brumbies give away a penalty in possession and in attack. They're gifting this one to the Sharks.
70min: The Brumbies have put so many replacements on the field, there's hardly a bloke with a single digit on his back. They need the energy, just 10 minutes to go.
68min: I thought Sharks were meant to attack - their defence aint bad. Another 12 phases by the Brumbies on the Sharks line and the visitors hold on again.
65min: Ita Vaea has been steamrolloing the Sharks since he came on, but he drops the ball over the try-line. It a big blunder for the Brumbies.
62min: Did the Brumbies just throw the game away? They had 17 phases on the Sharks line, but somehow Sharks lock Steven Sykes runs away and sets up winger Lwazi Mvovo for a 95m try. The conversion extends the Sharks' lead to 29-19.
56min: Penalty to the Brumbies who decide to take the easy three points through Lealiifano. Sharks lead 22-19.
55min: The Brumbies are looking for fresh legs. Forwards Michael Hooper and Peter Kimlin off too.
53min:
50min: Oh no, Matt Toomua is down clutching his knee now too. It's the knee that's strapped. He's gone down in agony after he tried to step off his left foot. He's being helped off the field. Backline re-shuffle required.
48min: Speight is down again. He's limping off, looks to be a knee injury. Two-try hero from last week, Joseph Tomane on for the Brumbies.
44min: Henry Speight refuses to dive on a loose ball, so Sharks flanker Willem Alberts does so instead. Bad try to concede by the Brumbies. Sharks lead 22-16.
43min: Earth Hour begins. I hope the lights stay on at Canberra Stadium or it won't be much of a spectacle.
Everytime I hear that whinny to start the half at Canberra Stadium I expect to see a headless horseman riding on to the arena. Let's home the young Brumbies keep their heads in the second half and keep their home record intact.
Brumbies forwards coach Laurie Fisher looks a litte like a poodle with his long white hair tied up in a pony tail. But gee he looks like he's got a mean bark as he delivers a half-time spray to his pack.
HALFTIME: The Brumbies lead 16-15. It's been a scrappy game so far, more handling errors than you'd expect from an airport baggage terminal. Both teams are showing enough in attack, but patience and ball control is going to decide the result of this one.
38min: Brumbies winger Henry Speight receieving some attention on his leg from the trainer. But the Brumbies will be happy to lead at half-time, another Lealiifano penalty goal putting the Brumbies in the lead again. Brumbies lead 16-15.
33min: Sharks' dreadlocked winger Odwa Ndungane snaps an intercept from Matt Toomua, then throws a long pass for Riaan Viljoen to score his second try. Michalak converts. Sharks lead 15-13.
32min: Brumbies halt the Sharks after 14 phases and No.8 Ben Mowen heaves it downtown. Big sigh of relief for the Brumbies.
28min: The chewy is off Jesse Mogg's boot. What a sensational try. Lealiifano throws a long cut-out pass on his own 22m line to Mogg, who chips ahead and gets a miracle bounce to score under the posts. Yee-hah! Lealiifano throws it over. Brumbies lead 13-8.
26min: What about Lealiifan's hot pink kicking tee! Still, it's ok if it works. Another penalty goal to him. Sharks lead 8-6.
21min: Try to Sharks fullback Riaan Viljoen out wide. The referee missed a blatant offside and knock-on in the lead-up but the points are on the board. Sharks lead 8-3.
16min: The Brumbies are punching plenty of holes in the Sharks' defence but haven't capitalised. Christian Lealiifano kicks a penalty goal from almost in front. Scored locked 3-3.
14min: penalty against Brumbies lock Peter Kimlin for incorrect entry at the breakdown. Frederic Michalak converts a penalty. Sharks 3-0.
10min: No more fearsome sight in world rugby than Brumbies hooker Stephen Moore charging into open space. Actually his pass over the sideline to finish the play was more frightening!
9min: Chewy on Jesse Mogg's left boot. That's two kicks out on the full in the past two minutes for the Brumbies fullback.
5min: Someone tell winger Henry Speight he's playing for the Brumbies, not the Globetrotters. Miracle pass wasn't on and another Brumbies turnover.
3rd min: Promising start by the Brumbies, but Ian Prior drops his bundle at the back of the breakdown. Turnover in attacking position.
A belly-full of pizza and an appetite for rugby. That wailing siren means it's time for kick-off!
Preamble: Join Chris Wilson as he brings you the season's surprise packet, the ACT Brumbies, up against the Sharks. All the action kicks off at 7.40pm from Canberra Stadium.
