RECAP: The ACT Brumbies have capitalised on a late yellow card for a 14-10 win over the Highlanders in Dunedin.
Stephen Larkham's side were trailing late after Jona Nareki scored to give the hosts the lead in an arm-wrestle of a match.
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But a crucial yellow card to Highlanders replacement hooker Henry Bell shifted momentum back to the visitors.
It allowed Luke Reimer to break the hearts of the hosts, scoring with six minutes remaining in the game.
The win sees the Brumbies keep in touch with the top two after last week's bye.
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Brumbies 14-10: The Brumbies have hung tough for a crucial win over the Highlanders.
The hosts break clear from their own line through Andy Muirhead as they control the final seconds for the win.
Brumbies 14-10: The Highlanders start to truck down the field as the Brumbies come up with a desperate turnover.
They just enter the Brumbies 22 but find a way to dislodge the ball for the feed to the scrum.
Brumbies 14-10: Luke Reimer gets his try as the Brumbies take the lead.
They nab the lineout throw from replacement halfback Adam Lennox and march down the field, with Reimer the man to find the line.
Highlanders 10-7: Huge change of fortunes as Highlanders replacement Henry Bell goes to the bin for ten.
The hooker is binned for head-on-head contact on Nick Frost, and instead of a five metre scrum to the hosts, the Brumbies get the penalty just inside the Highlanders half.
The Highlanders steal the resuling lineout, with Luke Reimer almost creating a try for himself after charging down the resulting clearing kick.
Highlanders 10-7: The Highlanders have all the running as they look to seal this game.
Caleb Tangitau delivers a dagger in behind, forcing the error from Corey Toole five metres out.
Highlanders 10-7: The Brumbies are starting to run out of time as they chase the game.
They cough up the ball after winning back the restart, followed by kicking the ball out on the full.
Highlanders 10-7: A Jona Nareki special delivers the Highlanders the lead as they catch the Brumbies off guard.
Cameron Millar kicks for his winger, with Nareki putting his own chip in to beat Declan Meredith and score the hosts' first.
Brumbies 7-3: Caleb Tangitau almost produces an epic try as he slices through the Brumbies defence.
He breaks clear in the 22 and hunts for the try-line but can't find his support man, who drops it five metres out.
Brumbies 7-3: It's the Highlanders turn to hold their line as they come up with another breakdown steal.
Timoci Tavatavanawai delivers his brand of magic as they win another penalty to kick inside the Brumbies 22.
Brumbies 7-3: The Brumbies are hanging on for dear life as the Highlanders pour on the pressure.
They keep winning scrum penalties and working under advantage, leading to some desperate defence and they eventually win a big short arm that ends up in a long arm for back chat.
Brumbies 7-3: Concern for the Brumbies as flyhalf Declan Meredith holds his knee on the ground.
He'll continue on for now as the Highlanders build pressure inside the 22.
Brumbies 7-3: Corey Toole delivers some solo magic to put the Brumbies on the attack.
He breaks the line and nails a 50-22 to flip the field position, only for the hosts to muscle up and force the turnover.
Brumbies 7-3: The Highlanders are their worse enemy as they keep coughing up the ball.
They finally get a lineout right but they drop it as they try to transfer.
Brumbies 7-3: The Brumbies have the Highlanders in lineout hell and it's keeping them out of their danger zones.
They force another not straight through from hooker Jack Taylor, making it four lost for the half, shortly followed by their fifth.
Brumbies 7-3: Big risk from the Brumbies pays off as Ryan Lonergan dives over for the opener.
They turn down the easiest of threes to kick for the line and the captain delivers the goods, finding just enough space to dive over.
Highlanders 3-0: The Brumbies are starting to apply pressure inside the Highlanders 22 as they look for the first try.
Rory Scott is held up over the line and again the Highlanders catch the Brumbies napping with the goal line drop out, with Andy Muirhead not making life much better after putting his kick out on the full after retrieving it.
Highlanders 3-0: Ollie Sapsford slices through a hole after a great scrum set plauy from their own 22.
However, the next pass is intercepted and the hosts survive for now.
Big news for the Brumbies, with Charlie Cale coming from the field, replaced by Toby Macpherson, what is being called a 'tactical' decision, not injury related.
Highlanders 3-0: Cameron Millar takes the chance to add first points in this tense encounter.
The Brumbies are caught out on the back foot, giving away the penalty for not rolling right in front for the flyhalf to nail.
A great kick for touch has the Brumbies on the back foot as they steal a lineout on their goal-line.
The Highlanders quickly enter their 22 once again as they work under penalty advantage.
The Brumbies finally enter the 22 but as soon as they do, the ball is coughed up.
A brilliant clearing kick has the Highlanders back inside the Brumbies half, with Ethan de Groot delivering the hit that dislodges the ball.
Neither side are yet to enter the opposition's 22 as this game is evenly balanced.
The hosts are just in control but the Brumbies look solid in defence.
A real midfield battle so far as neither team can find a way despite their expansive style of play earlier.
The Highlanders are enjoying the territory early as they lay a platform with their scrum, already winning two penalties.
The Brumbies have stepped up early in defence as they repel the Highlanders from just outside the 22.
The hosts create a couple of promising chances but the visitors remain rock solid to force the error.
Cameron Millar starts this game and Ollie Sapsford takes the long-kick and we're underway.
Ryan Lonergan leads the Brumbies out as always but it's a special night for the scrumhalf, bringing up 100 games for his local side.
Tries: Nareki
Cons: Millar 1/1
Pens: Millar 1/1
Tries: R. Lonergan, Reimer
Cons: R. Lonergan 2/2
Pens:
Welcome to Rugby.com.au's coverage of the ACT Brumbies-Highlanders clash under the roof in Dunedin.
It's a big game for the visitors as they look to re-gain their mojo after the bye, with a host of players either returning or celebrating milestones.
As for the Highlanders, it feels like the type of game they must win if they are to be playing finals in 2026.
HIGHLANDERS (1-15): Ethan de Groot (co-c), Jack Taylor, Angus Ta'avao, Oliver Haig, Mitch Dunshea, Te Kemaka Howden, Veveni Lasaqa, Nikora Broughton, Nic Shearer, Cameron Millar, Jona Nareki, Timoci Tavatavanawai (co-c), Jonah Lowe, Caleb Tangitau, Taine Robinson
Replacements: Henry Bell, Josh Bartlett, Saula Ma'u, Hugh Renton, Sean Withy, Adam Lennox, Reesjan Pasitoa, Taniela Tele'a
BRUMBIES (1-15): James Slipper, Billy Pollard, Allan Alaalatoa, Nick Frost, Lachlan Shaw, Rob Valetini, Rory Scott, Charlie Cale, Ryan Lonergan (c), Declan Meredith, Corey Toole, David Feliuai, Kadin Pritchard, Ollie Sapsford, Andy Muirhead
Replacements: Lachlan Lonergan, Blake Schoupp, Darcy Breen, Toby Macpherson, Luke Reimer, Klayton Thorn, Tane Edmed, Hudson Creighton
Referee: Ben O'Keeffe
Assistant Referees: Todd Petrie, Warwick Lahmert
TMO: Richard Kelly
The Brumbies' clash with the Highlanders will be shown LIVE on Stan Sport.
Coverage will be live and ad-free on Stan Sport, slated to start at 4:30 pm with kickoff expected at 5:05 pm.
