RECAP: The ACT Brumbies have survived a nervy finish for a 21-14 win over the NSW Waratahs in Sydney.
It locks the Brumbies into the finals for the 2026 season, whilst all but ending the Waratahs' finals hopes.
Watch every second of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season live and on demand via Stan Sport.
The visitors looked set for a comfortable win after building a 21-0 lead early in the second half.
But the weight of possession for the Waratahs started to show as they ground their way within a converted try.
The Brumbies held their nerve and closed out the win, keeping them in the fight for a home final.
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Brumbies 21-14: The Brumbies will have a chance to scrum it down and kick it out for the win as the Waratahs' final attack comes up short.
Triston Reilly takes the line on and crosses halfway, with the ball spilling out and on the Brumbies side, leading to the knock on.
Brumbies 21-14: Corey Toole nearly comes up with a magic play as he chips and chases for himself.
The speedy winger just can't collect and the Waratahs hang on
Brumbies 21-14: A booming free kick from Jack Debreczeni wins the Waratahs a goal-line dropout and the chance to attack inside the Brumbies half.
They win a further penalty and are starting to give the Brumbies some headaches, dropping the ball five out.
A stolen lineout from the Brumbies further releaves the pressure.
Brumbies 21-14: Max Jorgensen creates something out of nothing to give the Waratahs life.
Matt Philip throws a beauty to his fullback on the edge, torching his man to cross in the corner.
Brumbies 21-7: Harry Potter makes a timely break, slipping at the worst time.
The Waratahs start to build, with the play stopped with Ioane Moananu coming off after a battle with a knee injury.
They try and convert the field position, with the Brumbies again too good.
Brumbies 21-7: The Waratahs are finally over the line as Isaac Kailea dives over. Or is he?
It's taken several attempts but the prop finds the chalk and the Waratahs are on the board.
Both teams have gone back to halfway but the TMO stops the play to have a look at it. It's given and everyone's time has been wasted.
Brumbies 21-0: Again, the Brumbies hold tough and come up with the turnover.
Cult hero Apolosi Ranawai goes for another try but is bundled into touch.
Brumbies 21-0: Lachlan Lonergan goes to the bin after one too many penalties on their line.
It doesn't stop the Brumbies' defensive wall as they force another goal-line dropout.
Brumbies 21-0: The Brumbies continue to stuff the Waratahs as soon as they enter the 22.
Their seventh entry in the Brumbies 22 ends like the other six, with the Brumbies forcing the turnover.
Brumbies 21-0: Allan Alaalatoa celebrates his 150th with a five pointer as the Brumbies further their lead.
It's a trademark Alaalatoa try as the prop powers over from a metre out to silence the crowd.
Brumbies 14-0: An unlucky offside penalty against the Waratahs on the attack has the Brumbies parked inside their 22.
The Waratahs steal their lineout but the pressure remains, with the hosts coming up big with the turnover at the ruck.
Brumbies 14-0: Harry Potter and Triston Reilly combine to give the Waratahs a chance to reduce the lead.
Angus Scott-Young is held up, with the hosts working under penalty advantage as the general warning comes against the visitors.
They launch the lineout, with the Brumbies working hard to force another error.
Brumbies 14-0: Cadeyrn Neville gets a rare try as the visitors instantly make use of the numbers.
The Brumbies build the platform off a dominant scrum, with the lock backing up for his eighth career try.
Brumbies 7-0: The Waratahs are under major threat as Charlie Gamble goes for ten.
Tom Wright sparks the break, and the Brumbies are brought down five metres out, with Gamble playing the ball from an offside position and heading to the bin after a bit of confusion when ref Ben O'Keeffe initially gives the Tahs the penalty.
Brumbies 7-0: The Waratahs almost come up with another try of the year contender as Dan Botha and Miles Amatosero combine for an unlikely line break.
Amatosero collects the offload wonderfully as the Waratahs halves back them up, with a knock-on ten metres out halting the play.
Brumbies 7-0: The Brumbies scrum is starting to dictate the contest after another penalty.
They're controlling field position but the hosts are doing enough to hold them out.
Brumbies 7-0: A sharp ball from Ryan Lonergan finds Billy Pollard close to the line and the hooker crashes over.
Lonergan throws the cutout ball and the hooker salutes from close to the line.
The Brumbies work quickly up the field to apply their own pressure to the Waratahs.
The hosts hold out for now but a penalty for offside gives the visitors another chance to attack.
A great offload from Max Jorgensen unleashes Triston Reilly and Harry Potter to launch inside the 22.
Unfortunately, the offload back inside to Sid Harvey hits the deck and the Brumbies clear their line for now.
The Waratahs get themselves back on the attack via Triston Reilly, only to be undone for playing the ball on the ground
The Waratahs pile on the pressure, winning back-to-back penalties on the Brumbies line.
Charlie Gamble dives for the line himself, but it's Pritchard's turn to stop the try
Great back-to-back chips from Jack Bowen and Max Jorgensen has the Waratahs inside the Brumbies 22 for the first time this game.
The move fizzles out after a Jack Barrett knock-on 15 metres out, but they're back on the attack as Sid Harvey puts a perfect kick in to force the lineout 10 out.
Allan Alaalatoa charges through the line to open the game up as the Brumbies' attack comes to a halt.
So does this game, with Ben O'Keeffe taking his time to get his comms sorted after the mic pack falters.
Jack Bowen has produced a wonder try-stopper to prevent Kadin Pritchard from the opener.
Tom Wright puts the perfect grubber in for the centre, who collects and dives for the line, flipped onto his back by the flyhalf as Harry Potter and Max Jorgensen come over the top for support.
Declan Meredith has the ball in hand and this game is underway!
Allan Alaalatoa leads the Brumbies out in his 150th game for the club, who launch it deep into the Waratahs 22.
Tries: Kailea, Jorgensen
Cons: Harvey 2/2
Pens:
Tries: Pollard, Neville, Alaalatoa
Cons: R. Lonergan 3/3
Pens:
Ollie Sapsford limps off during the warm-up and has been ruled out.
Andy Muirhead comes into the starting side, with Hudson Creighton added to the bench.
Welcome to Rugby.com.au's coverage of the NSW Waratahs-ACT Brumbies clash at Allianz Stadium.
Both teams are fighting for their finals futures, with the Crusaders now locked in after their last minute winner over the Chiefs.
The rain is trickling down. Expect greasy conditions and the rain to be a consistent thread of this game.
WARATAHS (1-15): Jack Barrett, Ioane Moananu, Dan Botha, Matt Philip (c), Miles Amatosero, Clem Halaholo, Charlie Gamble, Angus Scott-Young, Teddy Wilson, Jack Bowen, Sid Harvey, Lawson Creighton, Triston Reilly, Harry Potter, Max Jorgensen
Replacements: Oniti Finau, Isaac Kailea, Apolosi Ranawai, Ben Grant, Jamie Adamson, Michael McDonald, Jack Debreczeni, Joey Walton
BRUMBIES (1-15): James Slipper, Billy Pollard, Allan Alaalatoa, Cadeyrn Neville, Lachlan Shaw, Rob Valetini, Rory Scott, Toby Macpherson, Ryan Lonergan (c), Declan Meredith, Corey Toole, David Feliuai, Kadin Pritchard, Andy Muirhead, Tom Wright
Replacements: Lachlan Lonergan, Blake Schoupp, Rhys van Nek, Nick Frost, Luke Reimer, Klayton Thorn, Tane Edmed, Hudson Creighton
Referee: Ben O'Keeffe
Assistant Referees: Todd Petrie, Warwick Lahmert
TMO: Richard Kelly
The Waratahs' clash with the Brumbies will be shown LIVE on Stan Sport.
Coverage will be live and ad-free on Stan Sport, slated to start at 7:00 pm with kickoff expected at 7:35 pm.
