Live by the sword, die by the sword.
The ACT Brumbies hoodoo against New Zealand opposition has stretched to nine games after a bold game plan fell six points short against the Auckland Blues at Canberra Stadium on Sunday.
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Brumbies given Blues at home
In their first trip to Canberra in three years, the Blues have defeated the ACT Brumbies 18-12 at GIO Stadium in a bonus point victory for the away side.
The Brumbies have now lost nine straight against Kiwi opposition, with the ACT men losing five consecutive Trans-Tasman clashes in Canberra for the first time since 2000.
It also marks the first time the Brumbies have lost three games on the bounce since 2011 with the 18-12 defeat blowing the Australian conference wide open.
Five of the Brumbies six losses this season have come by six points or less but it's those losing bonus points which keeps the ACT side five points clear at the top of the Australian table.
Coach Stephen Larkham promised to stick with an attacking game plan against the Blues and it wasn't a lack of effort that kept the Brumbies try-less in the regular season for the first time since 2012.
The Auckland men were simply far more dangerous with the ball in hand and while the Brumbies showed flashes of brilliance, they looked stagnant inside the Blues 22m.
One set of statistics listed the Brumbies missing a whopping 54 tackles, while another was more forgiving at 38, either way it's almost impossible to win Super Rugby matches falling off that many players.
The Brumbies struggled to keep their hands on the ball for any extended period throughout the game and skipper Sam Carter said failing to execute in possession cost his side.
"It's particularly frustrating, I haven't been in this position where we've lost this many games in a season, it's new for and I think the execution and composure at times needs to be better," Carter said.
"There was the line-out before half-time and [Tom] Banks had an inside ball where I got in the way and that was another opportunity to score.
"If we can execute those little moments then the game can be completely different. We've lost five games by less than a try and if certain moments in the game go differently then we win all five of those games."
It was a war of attrition early for the Brumbies as they repelled wave after wave of attack from the Blues who had all the territory and possession in the opening 20 minutes.
The visitors thought they had the breakthrough when Matt Duffie did his best Jordan Rapana impersonation with an aerobatic dive for the corner, but fell millimetres short thanks to a clearing tackle from Banks.
Duffie couldn't be denied five minutes later when the crafty winger collected an off load two metres from the line before reaching out to score on 31 minutes.
The Brumbies could have gone into the break trailing by two points but Carter turned down a penalty in front and a knock-on after the ensuing line-out saw the home side hit the sheds empty handed.
Two minutes into the second half and faced with the same proposition Carter changed his mind as Hawera slotted a close range penalty and reduced the margin to 8-6.
The Brumbies took the lead for the first time on 52 minutes when Hawera coolly hit another three-pointer, but the Blues struck back just four minutes later.
The Brumbies have built a reputation for their rolling maul but it was the Blues who executed a textbook set piece move, driving over from 15m out with No. 8 Akira Ioane finishing.
The dagger came from Blues super-sub Melani Nanai who earned his fourth try off the bench this season after the Brumbies stoic defence finally caved in the 68th minute.
England squad member Piers Francis was a late withdrawal which made way for Bryn Gatland, the son of British and Irish Lions coach Warren, who controlled the game well at flyhalf.
Brumbies loosehead prop Nic Mayhew was strong against his former side, while Banks was impressive with some lightning speed in his first start at fullback.
"It was really good to get out there, especially at fullback, it's just tough to lose like that. We had some awesome defensive efforts but a few lapses in concentration and the New Zealand teams punish you," Banks said.
Australian sides have lost all 15 games against New Zealand teams this season and won just three of the past 41 Trans-Tasman clashes.
AUCKLAND BLUES 18 (Matt Duffie, Akira Ioane, Melani Nanai tries Bryn Gatland pen) bt ACT BRUMBIES 12 (Wharenui Hawera 4 pens) at Canberra Stadium. Referee: Nick Briant. Crowd: 12,072.
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