Brumbies fly Oz flag

A GUTSY Brumbies ensured Australia’s presence in the Super Rugby semi-finals with a 35-28 takedown of the in-form Hurricanes, joining New Zealand heavyweights Blues, Chiefs and Crusaders.

The Canes arrived in frigid Canberra unbeaten in six games, but after a fast start they were bossed by the Brumbies' front-rowers who bagged four of their five tries.

Their reward is a semi-final next week in Hamilton against the Chiefs, who suffered a last-gasp 20-19 defeat to the defending champion Blues.

Despite losing, the Chiefs still advanced to the semis, and kept home advantage, as the highest-seeded loser under a revamped play-off system.

The Blues travel to Christchurch to face the Crusaders, who opened the elimination round with a 32-12 win over the Reds on Friday.

Brumbies skipper Allan Alaalatoa, who crossed for a try, says: “It felt good to earn ourselves another week.

“We knew it was probably going to take everything we had. I thought it was a much-improved effort from last time we played them.”