After a poor first half performance, the Blues regained some composure, and showed passion and desire in the second. But too little too late, and the Brumbies depart the victors. The visitors have added some security to their position atop the Aussie conference, and will welcome the Huricanes to Canberra next week. Blues cling on to sixth position and will battle the Highlanders in Dunedin next round. Thanks for joining us here at UR, see you next time.

Ranger collects a kick and attempts to counter, but delivers a poor, forward pass to Braid, and Brumbies win a scrum as the siren sounds. They secure possession and kick the ball out of play, signalling the final whistle.

Blues currently with a scrum on half way. Scrums have taken up an incredible twenty minutes of this game.. 1 minute left..

With 5 minutes left, the Blues are looking to close a seven point gap against one of the best defences in the competition..

Kerr cancels out the Brumbies' previous penalty, when Blues pick up a penalty of their own at scrum-time.

Ranger moves to the left wing..

A Brumbie scrum in Blue territory crashes to ground, and the referee assigns the blame to the home-side. Lealiifano steps up and extends the lead.

Rene Ranger caps a phenomenal attacking effort by the Blues with a much needed try. When White fails to collect a high ball in his own half, the Blues collect and begin to attack down the fringes. Weepu sparks the try, with a show-and-go from a ruck on the Brumbies' twenty-two. Weepu dances over the gain-line before slipping the ball to Ranger who barges through a host of defenders, including White, Mowen and Moore and crosses. Definite shift of momentum here in Auckland, and Blues right back in this.

Sir Graham Henry's stern words during the break look to have spurred this Blues side into action. They barge into the Brumbies' twenty-two, and earn a penalty when Tomane slaps down a pass that may well have lead to a try. Blues opt for the scrum, and send the ball wide off the back, but Toomua shoots out of the line prematurely and concedes a penalty for offside. This time, they choose points, and Noakes obliges. Much more enthusiastic looking Blue side.

First Half Statistics: Brumbies with 53% of territory, and 61% of possession. Blues have made 53 tackles, whilst Brumbies have made 26. 5 handling errors from the Brumbies, and 6 form the Blue. A whopping 572 kicking metres for the visitors, and 324 for the home side.