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After taking a 24-6 lead into the main break, the Sharks dominated the second half and reduced the deficit to 11-points to leave the crowd of 11, 116 shaking in their boots and on the edge of their frosty seats as temperatures dropped below zero on a freezing night in the nation’s capital.
But there will be no complaints from coach Dan McKellar, whose side defended for their lives and hardly saw opposition territory in the second half.
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Indeed, the Sharks had 83 per cent of possession in the first 31 minutes of the second half.
A breakdown penalty win to back-rower Locky McCaffrey proved to be the decisive moment of the second half, as he got on the ball and won his side a vital penalty which finally allowed the Brumbies to get their hands on the ball.
They didn’t let the opportunity go to waste.
Like they did in the first half, where they scored three tries to “bamboozle” the Sharks, the Brumbies’ attack clicked and halfback Joe Powell raced in for his side’s fourth try to reduce the heart-rates across Australia and open up a 18-point lead with seven minutes left in the game.
A late try to replacement halfback Matt Lucas sealed a memorable night for Australian rugby.
“I’m really proud,” captain Christian Lealiifano said.
“The Sharks threw a lot at us at various times there and the way the boys just connect for each other and dug deep, it was really, really special to see tonight in front of a packed house, in front of our home fans, a really special night, I’ll remember that for a long time.
“I think that’s a sign (the defensive effort) of a quality side and the work that the boys have (done) for each other is something that they can be really proud of, and it’s good to see that tonight because we were really tested there and the connection that the boys showed and kept turning up and kept turning up, it will hold us in good stead for the weeks to come.”
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By the time the players finally warm themselves up they will be on a plane to Argentina, with the two-time Super Rugby champions to play the Jaguares in Buenos Aires next Saturday morning AEST.
To get there in time though, they will have to be up at dawn and be on the road up the Hume Highway to catch a plane from Sydney to Auckland, before continuing on to South America.
The victory was likely the perfect send off for Lealiifano, one of the Brumbies’ favourite sons, who earlier in the week announced that after 12 seasons 2019 would be his final year at the two-time champions.
Only if the Brumbies beat the Jaguares and the back-to-back champion Crusaders fall to the Hurricanes in Christchurch will the Australian franchise host the final on July 6.
The Jaguares, who are on their own six-match winning run, handed the Brumbies their last defeat back in April when they held on to win at the same Estadio Jose Amalfitani venue 20-15.
The 25-point win was also their seventh straight win – their longest winning streak in the proud club’s history.
Their five tries also saw the Brumbies of 2019 overtake their last championship side in 2004 (67) for the most tries scored in a season.
But ultimately the side’s success came down to the incredible efforts of the side’s forwards, in particular towering lock Rory Arnold and two-try hero Pete Samu.
Whether Samu travels with the Brumbies is not yet known, with the former two-time Super Rugby champions – who left the Crusaders after helping them win their ninth title last year – limping off with a hamstring injury.
Fortunately the Brumbies’ back-row depth is well stocked with McCaffrey and rookie Jahrome Brown both in great form.
Samu gave the home side the perfect start, bursting onto an inside pass from Test teammate Arnold and running 40 metres to score inside the opening minute of the game.
It wasn’t long after that fullback Tom Banks split the Sharks defence and unleashed Arnold and finished with Henry Speight scoring an excellent team try.
Sharks fullback Curwin Bosch kept the visitors in the match with two penalties, including one from halfway.
A Lealiifano penalty from straight in front gave the home side an 11-point lead.
But Samu’s second in the 24th minute from a rolling maul and Lealiifano’s third straight conversion gave the Brumbies a 24-6 lead.
The Sharks, however, came out firing in the second half and the Brumbies could hardly get their hands on the ball. Eventually the defensive line broke as Springbok centre Andre Esterhuizen crashed over and Bosch knocked over the penalty to bring them back into the contest.
With all the momentum, the Sharks looked like they would get another soon after, but the Brumbies defence held on.
McCaffrey’s breakdown penalty win though swung the game.
The Brumbies going bang, bang as Powell and then Lucas scored to warm the hearts of the Canberra faithful and Australian rugby fans across the country.