Brumbies blow chance to pull clear on table

As it happened / Match stats

Instead of putting a nine-point gap on the Queensland Reds, the Brumbies hit a hurdle when they locked horns with the most successful team in Super Rugby history - the Crusaders.

In a strangling performance, the Crusaders secured victory at Canberra Stadium. It keeps the race for Australia's guaranteed finals berth wide open with five games remaining. Importantly, the Brumbies secured a bonus point for losing by seven points or less.

They are two points clear of the Reds after Queensland drew with the Western Force on Saturday but, with a bye this week, they effectively move six points ahead. The Reds still have a bye to use as well, but also have to tour South Africa.

Trailing the Crusaders by 17 points with five minutes remaining, the Brumbies launched a spirited comeback in the dying stages.

Captain Ben Mowen scored a try and Christian Lealiifano booted a penalty goal to give the Brumbies hope of snatching an unlikely draw despite playing well below their best.

But when Pat McCabe ran out in the last second, the Crusaders held on for their sixth win of the season.

It was the Brumbies' second loss of the season, and the Crusaders' first win in Canberra since 2003.

''The Crusaders showed up today, we had to apply pressure throughout the match and we made crucial errors,'' Brumbies great George Smith said. ''We didn't want to play in our territory, but we couldn't capitalise, we couldn't control the breakdown, and it's disappointing to lose.''

A drab contest burst into life when All Blacks five-eighth Dan Carter threw an intercept pass to his Brumbies counterpart Matt Toomua, who raced 70 metres to score the first try. But it only sparked the Crusaders into action.

CRUSADERS 30 (Israel Dagg, Andrew Ellis, Zac Guildford tries Daniel Carter 3 cons 3 pens) bt BRUMBIES 23 (Ben Mowen, Matt Toomua tries Christian Lealiifano, Toomua cons Lealiifano 3 pens) at Canberra Stadium. Referee: Craig Joubert. Crowd: 16,544.