The Brumbies have kept Australia's Super Rugby Pacific flag flying into the second week of finals.
ACT were pushed to the very limit by a brilliant Hurricanes outfit at GIO Stadium but had just enough to hold on in a thrilling 35-28 sudden-death final headlined by Billy Pollard's double.
Watch the SMARTECH Super Rugby Pacific finals live and on-demand via Stan Sport. Here's what we learned:
Before we get into the meat and three veg of this game, let's soak in what was a brilliant spectacle of attacking, high tempo rugby.
Both sides threw caution to the wind in Canberra, turning down potential threes and cashing those cheques with sensational tries - nine of them - in ice-cold conditions ill-suited to handling.
While Billy Pollard's double came from the maul and a few of the Canes' choice scores came in tight, there were superb passages from host and visitor alike.
The men from Wellington chanced their arm more with eight line breaks to the Brumbies' five but couldn't ice that last chance as Callum Harkin's 79th minute charge came undone.
It's the latest finals chapter in a storied rivalry between the capital cities and one Hurricanes fans won't forget in a hurry - that result plus 2022 and 2023 makes it three SRP knockout losses on the trot in Canberra.
Two hours prior to kick off, this game at GIO Stadium could've been a fizzer.
Had the Chiefs hung onto their six-point lead over the Blues late in Hamilton, Brumbies v Hurricanes would've been a dead rubber with both sides progressing regardless.
Instead, the Canes are now left to rue what might have been after their five-game winning streak came to a cruel end with no second chance.
The entire visiting backline were superb - headlined by inside centre Peter Umaga-Jensen (three LB assists, one try assist) - while backrow trio Devan Flanders, Du'Plessis Kirifi and Peter Lakai were outstanding.
It's almost unfair for viewers to be deprived of seeing this Hurricanes side in action come semi finals. Almost...
One for the purists - five tries were scored by front row forwards in this clash!
Billy Pollard's double led the charge from a powerful Brumbies maul but let's not forget the power of Allan Alaalatoa and Pasilio Tosi in tight.
The big tightheads made their presence felt with bumper carries in tight for their sides while James Slipper's evergreen season continued with another meat pie.
Make no mistake, there was plenty of razzle dazzle as well (more on that Wright try in a minute) but these tries mixed in with a storming carry from Bailyn Sullivan showcased the best of Super Rugby Pacific's power game.
Cometh the hour, cometh the man.
Tom Wright's Wallaby fullback jersey is all but sewn to his back after a star turn in Canberra.
Wright finished up with the most metres carried (82.6m) and taken post-contact (51.3m) to go with five tackle busts, two line breaks and a try.
While he's got Rob Valetini to thank for the latter - see above for that gorgeous inside ball - Wright's ability to leave defenders for dead and exploit the smallest of gaps is second to none.
Throw in an impressive night off the boot (196m gained from just five kicks) and you've got the makings of a man ready to tame some Lions.
Here's the lay of the land for 2025's SMARTECH Super Rugby Pacific semi finals.
The second-placed Crusaders will host the defending champion Blues in a Christchurch blockbuster while the Brumbies travel to Hamilton to tackle Damien McKenzie and the Chiefs.
It's another tall order in store for Stephen Larkham's men, who enjoy the strongest record of Australian teams across the ditch but are yet to shake the finals hoodoo in New Zealand.
The Chiefs and Brumbies have a storied rivalry in Super Rugby with their most recent encounter seeing ACT trail 39-34 with five minutes to play before a late surge took the Chiefs home 49-34.
The Chiefs finished minor premiers and will be well-backed favourites across the ditch - can the Brumbies prove the Kiwi doubters wrong? Find out next week.
