Battered Brumbies stumble in play-off race

Cape Town - The Brumbies' Super Rugby playoff aspirations received a major blow when they were thrashed 40-15 by the Blues on Friday.

The hosts secured a bonus point win, scoring six tries while the Brumbies could only cross the whitewash twice.

The Blues started like a house on fire, playing a brand of rugby suggesting that they should have been far more competitive this season. 

They had two tries within the opening 10 minutes through Jerome Kaino and James Parson to race to a 14-0 lead before the Brumbies got on the board through a penalty try after they dominated a 5m scrum.

Sam Prattley and Matt Duffie then scored for the Aucklanders, ensuring they had four tries inside the opening 20 minutes as they stretched their lead to 28-7.

The Brumbies hit back with a try from Matt Toomua and a penalty from Christian Lealiifano to go into the break 28-15 down. 

The Australians needed a strong start in the second half, but again it was the Blues to strike first when Kaino grabbed his second of the night. 

The rout was complete when Duffie scored his second.

The Brumbies' loss has opened the door for the Waratahs to take top spot in the Australian Conference with a win over the Hurricanes on Saturday.

The Blues, meanwhile, stay bottom in the New Zealand Conference. 

Scorers

Blues 40 (28)

Tries: Jerome Kaino (2), James Parsons, Sam Prattley, Matt Duffie (2)

Conversions: Piers Francis (5)

Brumbies 15 (15)

Tries: Penalty try, Matt Toomua

Conversions: Christian Lealiifano

Penalties: Lealiifano

Teams:

Blues

15 Melani Nanai, 14 Matt Duffie, 13 Male Sa'u/Matt Vaega, 12 Piers Francis, 11 Tevita Li, 10 Ihaia West, 9 Bryn Hall, 8 Steven Luatua, 7 Kara Pryor, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Josh Bekhuis/Scott Scrafton, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu, 3 Ofa Tu'ungafasi, 2 James Parsons (captain), 1 Sam Prattley

Substitutes: 16 Quentin MacDonald, 17 Nic Mayhew, 18 Sione Mafileo, 19 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 20 Blake Gibson, 21 Billy Guyton, 22 Matt Vaega/Michael Little, 23 Lolagi Visinia

Brumbies

15 Aidan Toua, 14 Nigel Ah Wong, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Matt Toomua, 11 James Dargaville, 10 Christian Leali'ifano (co-captain), 9 Tomás Cubelli, 8 Michael Wells, 7 Jarrad Butler, 6 Scott Fardy, 5 Sam Carter, 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore (co-captain), 1 Scott Sio.

Substitutes: 16 Josh Mann-Rea, 17 Allan Alaalatoa, 18 Ruan Smith, 19 Blake Enever, 20 Tam Staniforth, 21 Joe Powell, 22 Andrew Smith, 23 Lausii Taliauli