Hurricanes 16
Having mastered the art of losing ugly, the Brumbies finally succeeded in providing something aesthetically pleasing for their under siege coach Tony Rea at Canberra Stadium tonight.
But sadly for his counterpart Mark Hammett the pressure intensifies ahead of a tough Super rugby road trip to South Africa after the
two-time champions closed out a 17-16 victory which all but ends the Hurricanes play-off ambitions.
The Brumbies ended a four-match losing streak against their opponents and inflicted even more pain when All Black centre Conrad Smith struggled from the field after being bloodied in an accidental head clash six minutes from time.
In a spectacle befitting two sides currently living off past glories, the Brumbies were marginally more composed - and especially savvy - when halfback Josh Valentine milked a penalty in the 62nd minute that poked the home side in front.
After labouring 12 phases deep into Hurricanes territory Valentine deliberately threw the ball into replacement Hurricanes lock James Broadhurst to instigate Matt Giteau's fourth successful penalty.
South African referee Craig Joubert, who had no option but to award the penalty, warned Valentine against more gamesmanship but the ruse had already reaped its reward.
Ironically the competition's most impotent attacking force opened the scoring in the fourth minute of a low quality eighth round clash, though it did take a charge down when restored pivot Aaron Cruden profited from one of his marker's expense.
The Brumbies three-pronged playmaker strategy was flawed early when Matt Toomua's second charged down clearance rebounded off the former All Blacks pivot who did well to scoop the ball up short of the line before momentum carried him over.
Cruden, making his first start in a month, added the extras but crucially he was unable to provide the spark for a star-studded though under-performing back division for the remainder of the half and was replaced by Daniel Kirkpatrick at the break.
The Brumbies had their issues as well - an attempt to be enterprising when they received their first kickable penalty backfired when they failed to secure a close range lineout, the first of several glitches at that set piece.
They were also hamstrung at the breakdown but were dominant at the scrummage where Neemia Tialata and his replacement Michael Bent both struggled against Wallabies loose head Ben Alexander.
Henry Speight, the Brumbies Fijian-born import via the Waikato, almost put the Brumbies on the board in the 22nd minute but in keeping with the error prone nature of the contest the wing, after handling three times in the movement, lost the ball on the line when tackled by Tyson Keats.
Keats turned villain when the Brumbies finally got on the board in the 26th minute after the halfback caught Giteau marginally high close to the goal line.
Despite boasting a superior scrum Giteau opted for the easy three and he did so again two minutes later after the Hurricanes were offside while scrambling in defence.
Although the Hurricanes continued to create havoc in the tackle zone it was the Brumbies who snatched the dead late in the half when Henry Speight - now on the left flank after Adam Ashley-Cooper succumbed to a hip injury - jinked past three defenders after a break from Valentine was carried on by mobile lock Mark Chisholm.
The Hurricanes monopolised field position during the third quarter but only had two Kirkpatrick penalties to show for their efforts before the Brumbies regained the ascendancy through Valentine's sneaky pass and Giteau's boot.
Matt Toomua's skewed penalty attempt while Giteau was injured with 14 minutes to play gave the Hurricanes hope but they were unable to get out of their territory for long enough to threaten.
The Hurricanes fifth loss of the season ensures they stay bottom of the New Zealand conference - and give up a four point-advantage after the inactive Chiefs profited from the bye.
They next face the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein before an ominous trip to the coast, and the Sharks in Durban.
Brumbies 17 (Henry Speight try; Matt Giteau 4 pen)
Hurricanes 16 (Aaron Cruden try; Cruden pen con, Daniel Kirkpatrick 2 pen) Halftime: 11-10
- NZPA
