Brumbies eye set-piece masterclass to snap New Zealand hoodoo

The Canberra side is once again shouldering Australian hopes in the southern hemisphere competition after a 35-28 win over the in-form Wellington Hurricanes on Saturday thrust them into the final four. It set up a showdown in Hamilton on Saturday with the Chiefs, who have been the standout club all season but suffered a 20-19 defeat to the defending champion Auckland Blues in their elimination final. The Chiefs nevertheless lived to fight another day as the highest-seeded loser under a revamped play-off system.