The referee brings a close to a first half dominated by a clinical Brumbies side. Slippery, wet conditions have dictated play, and Brumbies have adapted best. The Blues' scrum, line-out, and kicking-game all misfiring tonight, stifling their efforts. Brumbies have picked up on the Blues' difficulties, pinning the home side in their own half with some excellent out-of-hand-kicking by Mogg in particular. Second half on the way!
Brumbies build their way back into the Blues' twenty-two, before earning a penalty at the scum on the stoke of half time. Lealiifano converts from out wide to stretch the lead to fourteen.
Blues fail to secure line-out ball on their own five-metre, and provide Brumbies with a dangerous attacking platform. The Brumbies begin to batter the defences, feeding the forwards at the ruck fringes.. Eventually a solid Blue defence forces a knock-on, and allows the Blues relieve pressure with a boot down-field.
Minutes later, the Brumbies pick up another penalty 52 metres out and opt for the posts. Mogg steps up, but the kick falls just shy of the cross-bar.
Blues move the ball wide off the back of the scrum, but a wayward pass by Noakes sends the Blues scrambling backward. Under pressure, they concede a penalty for not releasing, and Brumbies clear.
Blues respond quickly, breaking into the Brumbies' territory, and grinding over the whitewash, only to be held up. Scrum five..
Nic White crosses for try number one after twenty-two minutes. Piutau fails to collect a high ball and the ball trickles dangerously into the Blue twenty-two. A hoard of Blue players dive on it, but the ball squirts loose. White is quickest to react, fly-hacking the ball down-field and providing the chase. He collects two metres out and slides over in the greasy condition to score.
It's been all Brumbies in the first quarter. A frantic Blue defence has done well to deny the Brumbies a try, but Brumbies look the dominant side. They've looked dangerous with ball in hand and retained possession for long periods.
Poor start for the Blues. They concede a penalty straight off the kick off when the referee spots an offside infringement. Lealiifano makes no mistakes from right in front, and five minutes later, the Blues gift Lealiifano with another, when O'Connor fails to roll away following the tackle. This time, Lealiifano can't convert to points, and the Blues breathe a sigh of relief..
Welcome along Super Rugby fans. The Blues have travelled to Perth in search of a vital win, after being emphatically dispensed with by Crusaders last week. The Brumbies will also be desperate to end a two game losing streak, and return to their previous form. The Blues are currently seven points off the pace-setting Chiefs, with the Crusaders also chasing the Bulls and Chiefs. Meanwhile, the Brumbies have retained their position atop the Aussie conference thanks to am impressive Cheetah win against the Reds.