Super Rugby live scores, blog 2017: ACT Brumbies v Waikato Chiefs in pre-finals showdown

Thanks for joining us tonight - that's all for the blog. Come back next week for the finals!

The Brumbies now have the daunting task of trying to reverse the Kiwi curse at Canberra Stadium this week. But have to wait until later tonight to find out if they'll play the Chiefs (again) or the Wellington Hurricanes in the first week of the play-offs.

FULL TIME AT A GLANCE

WAIKATO CHIEFS 28 (Damian McKenzie, Solomon Alaimalo, Michael Leitch tries; Damian McKenzie 3 penalties, 2 conversions) bt ACT BRUMBIES 10 (Nigel Ah Wong try; Wharenui Hawera penalty, conversion) at Hamilton on Saturday afternoon. Referee: Ben O'Keefe.

FULL-TIME: And that's it! The Chiefs win easily, but the Brumbies certainly not embarrassed. That's 25 in a row for Kiwi teams against Australians this season. Wow.

CHIEFS 28 bt BRUMBIES 10

77: Chiefs chasing a bonus-point try here! They've got the Brumbies on the back foot but will they get another try?!

71: THERE it is for the Chiefs. Finally - they get reward for the dominance they've had in this half. It's Michael Leitch out wide and some magic again from McKenzie. They deserved that, Brumbies sucking in the big ones. McKenzie slots from sideline.

CHIEFS 28 lead BRUMBIES 10

67: Say what you want about the Brumbies if they lose this one, but they've shown amazing courage in defence. They've been camped inside their own half for 27 minutes. Amazing stuff. They've got the ball back here so we'll see if they can finally break the shackles.

65: Talk about trying things in the last round -- Speight lines up a clearing kicks and sends ... 10 metres down the field. Ryan Lonergan comes on for the Brumbies for his Super Rugby debut.

62: Chiefs banging their heads up against a brick wall - can't break the Brumbies at the moment. Good defence and great breakdown work from Tom Cusack to win a penalty to relieve some pressure.

59: Brumbies have not been in their attacking half in the second half. They haven't even had a look, been defending for 20 minutes so far.

58: PENALTY to the CHIEFS and the Brumbies have been warned - next one will be a yellow card.

54: And ANOTHER PENALTY to the Chiefs. Hawera took out Kerr-Barlow to slow things down, and now the Chiefs are going to take another shot to extend their lead. McKenzie nails it from almost in front.

CHIEFS 21 lead BRUMBIES 10

53: Here come the changes - Ben Alexander and Scott Sio on for Makin and Mayhew. Chiefs with an attacking lineout here about 30m out.

51: Cubelli is back! Just one try the damage in his absence. Big Tommy Cusack coming on for Lolo Fakaosilea.

49: Brumbies turned to the rolling maul and went about 20 metres, but it breaks down out wide and they lose it. Scrum to the Chiefs just inside their half.

47: Chiefs get midfield scrum and Damian McKenzie splits the defence again!! But the Brumbies get a penalty!!! this game has a bit of everything all of a sudden. Cubelli's absence has opened things right up.

43: And there it is - TRY to the Chiefs. Hit it up the middle and swing it out wide for Solomon Alaimalo to go over basically untouched out wide. Is that the game breaker? McKenzie misses conversion.

CHIEFS 18 lead BRUMBIES 10

41: CHIEFS PENALTY for Fardy taking Damian McKenzie in the air. Looked bad, but it wasn't over the top. Fardy penalised, but Tomas Cubelli gets sent to the sin bin for "cynical play" and that's a big blow!

Teams are coming back on for the second half. Gee, I want to say the Brumbies can get this, but I'm not sure. Stephen Donald is on for the Chiefs for his 100th game.

HALF-TIME STATS

Chiefs have missed six tackles and made six errors. Brumbies missed one tackle and made four errors.