The ACT Brumbies hopes of pushing for a home final have been resoundingly ended by an emotional Moana Pasifika, the visitors heading off into the Super Rugby sunset with a stunning 21-19 win in Canberra.
The hosts hit the ground running in perfect conditions in the capital, with tries to Rory Scott and Tom Wright inside the opening 20 minutes.
Watch every second of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season live and on demand via Stan Sport.
However, the visitors, buoyed by an emotional last stand in Super Rugby, forced the hosts to make several changes, with Faletoi Peni breaking the line at well and Patrick Pellegrini scoring two tries to draw level at halftime.
The Brumbies fired back in the second half with a try to Luke Reimer, and looked to have the momentum heading into the final 20 minutes as Peni received a red card.
However, a stunning fightback from the visitors saw Melani Matavao score a third try to draw level, with Patrick Pellegrini's perfect day with the boot enough to secure a famous victory in Pasifika history, and a bittersweet end to Moana Pasifika's time in Super Rugby.
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The clock is red, all Moana has to do is win the scrum and kick it out. They do. That's it! Moana are signing off in Super Rugby Pacific with a famous win over the Brumbies in Canberra!
The Brumbies win another lineout against the grain, this is their chance to win it. They attack, but Toole knocks it on in contact! Into the last minute of play. Scrum to the visitors.
The hosts have work to do, but they concede back to back penalties.
The visitors kick deep, and maul off the lineout, then get another penalty for collapsing the maul. Pellegrini kicks to the corner, looking to kill the game and produce a famous final win for the side… but the Brumbies pinch the lineout!
Moana win the scrum and kick ahead, Brumbies regather and get an advantage, and go wide. They make it up to the visitors 22, before a loose sees Pellegrini swoop on the ball and kick ahead. Just like that, Moana are in a great position to attack.
They go wide, and the hosts have no one out there! Melani Matavao scores! They convert the try and for the first time, the visitors lead
Off a great retake from Toole from the high ball, the hosts attack and look dangerous, and Thorn is going to get over and score! However, we're going to check a forward pass from Valetini to Reimer, and on replay, it looks to be the case.
No try, scrum to Moana.
Moana get another penalty for the Brumbies collapsing the maul, and the visitors have a chance to close the gap. They attack but the hosts knock it on, and we have a scrum.
Brumbies win a scrum penalty and attack from deep, but get all the way up to 10m from Moana's before being penalised for holding on. We've got a thrilling final ten minutes on our hands.
Edmed finds space down the blind side, and the hosts make it into enemy territory. Wright goes wide and links up with Muirhead, but Peni knocks him down again and we're gonna look for head on head contact.
He's gonna see red! Peni is off for the rest of the game, and if it is upgraded he could receive TWO red cards! However, then Brumbies concede a penalty for obstruction, and kill a chance to bury the game.
Just when the hosts look to have regathered, they concede a penalty for not supporting their weight in the ruck.
Moana attack well, and break down the flank through Vaihu, but Schoupp forces a turnover and gets the penalty. The lineout falls apart, but the visitors knock the ball on and we have a scrum.
Moana concede on penalty for going on the ground, and a big cheer comes on as Jarrah McLeod makes his Super Rugby debut.
The Brumbies win the lineout and maul from Moana's 22, and make progress. The Brumbies get an advantage, and look dangerous. They go wide, and Reimer scores. Critical try!
Lonergan pulls it to the side, but the hosts have the lead again.
Moana get an advantage for the Brumbies interfering with the lineout, and we have a break in play after some friendly fire from Feliuai and Lachlan Lonergan.
Play resumes and after a decent attack, the visitors concede a penalty. The Brumbies win the lineout and send it to the air, sending Moana back.
Moana work up to halfway off a penalty, then reclaim a brilliant box kick to look dangerous in enemy territory. The visitors are growing in confidence.
However they loose the ball and the hosts attack from deep. Edmed kicks it long, but Moana reply with a 50/22! Massive moment coming up for the visitors.
Moana start well, but lost the ball, and the Brumbies kick a 50/22.
They attack well and go to the big men, five metres out now as we cross ten phases. Wright passes wide to Muirhead… and it's called forward. Massive opportunity goes begging!
The sides are back out on the park as the sun comes out in Canberra, and we are underway!
Brumbies try to kick long but are penalised for playing off the ball.
Moana kick it out and call it, and we're all locked up at the break.
Moana Pasifika attack, but they knock it on and the Brumbies have a scrum as the siren goes.
The Brumbies earn a penalty for Moana standing up, and a critical win for the hosts. They're not done yet. Meredith kicks it into Moana territory and go on the attack.
The hosts completely botch the lineout, and Moana get a free kick, and clear.
Brumbies try a quick lineout, and then concede another free kick. Suddenly, they're back on their own 22 as we head into the last minute.
Meredith then knocks it on cold, right on the hosts 10m line, last chance for the visitors to attack.
The Brumbies continue to have issues at lineout, being pinged again with a good chance beckoning. However Moana attack from deep and then throw a forward pass in enemy territory.
The Brumbies win the scrum and attack from deep, and it looks like we might have Muirhead tackles off the ball… and it looks bad on the replay for two tackles on Toole and Muirhead.
Peni is going to the bin, a big loss on the edge of halftime. Brums go to the corner.
Moana are pulled up for an incorrect entry, and the Brumbies survive. They clear to near halfway as Slipper returns to the field.
Lonergan sends it to the air, and Moana attack from deep with Peni proving a menace to get them on the front foot!
They make it back into the hosts' 22, and then a brilliant piece of work from Tupou Ta'eiloa sees Pellegrini get his second next to the posts. He converts and we're locked up.
The Brumbies are penalised for not releasing the tackled player, and the discipline is costing them. Moana kick to the corner but botch the lineout, and the Brumbies recoup and send it to the air but knock it on of the regather. Scrum to the visitors.
They kick it long off the restart, but it falls short of the 22. The Brumbies however botch the lineout not being straight, and Moana tap and go.
Moana attack, and then suddenly we stop. It looks like the knock on wasn't a knock on. It might be a try!
It is a try, and Pellegrini is the recipient. Better late than never, as Pellegrini adds his own extras and the hosts are back in the game!
Moana win the ball off the restart, the hosts strip up but knock it on. Scrum to the visitors in a good position.
They win the scrum and earn an advantage… and Slipper is sent to the bin for playing off his feet! There wasn't even a warning, and the prop looks filthy at himself. Rhys Van Nek comes on to manage the scrum, with Scott going off.
The visitors attack, it breaks down, but the hosts are pinged for offside. The pressure is building. Moana tap and go, but they knock it on over the line! Brumbies clear.
Moana break the line but knock it on, Brumbies nearly force a 50/22 but the visitors kick back. Brumbies attack but Moana are penalised for a knock down as the play gets messy.
Brumbies go to the corner, go quickly, and get close to the line! They have an advantage now, and they go to the forwards, we cross ten phases, and they go wide and Wright scores!
We're checking for a knock on by Slipper, but it looks like it might be back. Try confirmed! Lonergan converts, and the hosts have a healthy lead.
Moana hit back through a brilliant chip kick and no look pass that sees Solomon Alaimalo score… but is it forward? We're going upstairs… and it's a no try! Great passage from the visitors regardless.
The Brumbies win a free kick off the scrum, as Israel Leota is forced from the field. The hosts send it up into the air, but lose it in the contest, giving Moana a scrum.
The Brumbies run it and break the line, looking dangerous! A high hit catches Muirhead, and the Brumbies earn a penalty.
The hosts kick into enemy territory, but botch the lineout and Moana go on the attack. They kick ahead, but Tom Wright clears, good opportunity for the visitors to attack.
Brumbies clear off the restart, then knock the ball on trying to pinch Moana's lineout. First scrum of the day.
Moana win the scrum, go on the attack and earn a penalty for offside. They go to the corner and look to give the hosts a taste of their own medicine.
They maul it, but the Brumbies defend it well and bring it to ground. Scrum to the hosts.
Moana Pasifika are penalised for not rolling away, and the Brumbies kick to the corner. They attack well off the lineout, and go to the forwards.
Closer, closer and we hit ten phases and Rory Scott scores their first under the sticks! Great first try. Lonergan coverts and the hosts lead early.
The sides come out together, and after a moving welcome to country for Indigenous Round, Moana Pasifika deliver a special war cry, in what could be their final match ever in Super Rugby.
The Brumbies receive it, then exchange a gift with captain Miracle Faiilagi before the teams get ready.
The ref blows his whistle, and we are underway!
Tries: Scott, Wright, Reimer
Cons: R. Lonergan 2/3
Cards: Slipper (Yellow - 18')
Tries: Pellegrini 2, Matavao
Cons: Pellegrini 3/3
Cards: Peni (Red - 37', 63')
Welcome to Rugby.com.au's coverage of the ACT Brumbies' clash with Moana Pasifika in Canberra, to kick off Saturday's action in the final round of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season.
Both sides are going through their warm-up, with confirmation of no changes for either side. Conditions are perfect in Canberra, with plenty of sun serving as a tonic to a chilly afternoon in the Capital, with the temperature likely hovering around 12 degrees Celcius.
It looms as a historic afternoon, with the ACT side celebrating indigenous round, while Moana Pasifika are set to play their final match ever in their history.
It's been a busy afternoon already, with the ACT Brumbies Women going down in their final trial 42-18 to the NSW Waratahs ahead of Super Rugby Women's starting next week.
The Brumbies will kick off.
BRUMBIES (1-15): James Slipper, Billy Pollard, Allan Alaalatoa, Lachlan Shaw, Cadeyrn Neville, Rob Valetini, Rory Scott, Charlie Cale, Ryan Lonergan (c), Declan Meredith, Corey Toole, David Feliuai, Hudson Creighton, Andy Muirhead, Tom Wright
Replacements: Lachlan Lonergan, Blake Schoupp, Rhys van Nek, Nick Frost, Luke Reimer, Klayton Thorn, Tane Edmed, Jarrah McLeod
MOANA (1-15): Malakai Hala-Ngatai, Millennium Sanerivi, Atu Moli, Allan Craig, Veikoso Poloniati, Miracle Faiilagi (c), Semisi Paea, Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa, Augustine Pulu, Patrick Pellegrini, Glen Vaihu, Faletoi Peni, Solomon Alaimalo, Israel Leota, William Havili
Replacements: Mamoru Harada, Abraham Pole, Paula Latu, Alefosio Aho, Sam Tuitupou Ah-Hing, Melani Matavao, Tevita Latu, Tuna Tuitama
Referee: Jordan Way
Assistant Referees: Damon Murphy, Jeremy Markey
TMO: James Leckie
The Brumbies' clash with the Moana Pasifika will be shown LIVE on Stan Sport.
Coverage will be live and ad-free on Stan Sport, slated to start at 2:00 pm with kickoff expected at 2:35 pm.
