The Brumbies kept a firm grip on their Super 14 rugby lifeline with a 31-3 win over the Highlanders in Canberra tonight.
The bonus point victory promoted them to fourth place midway through the penultimate round, leaving their semifinals hopes riding on the outcome of their match against the Crusaders in Christchurch next Friday.
Their intent was clear from the outset in Canberra as they turned down goalkicking opportunities from penalties in pursuit of the four tries they needed to secure a bonus point.
They achieved this but had to wait until the 79th minute for their fourth try as they put the 12th placed Highlanders in their place after the New Zealanders last week upset the Waratahs in Invercargill.
No such surprise result looked likely tonight as the Brumbies played a fluent, ball-in-hand game to score tries to flanker Rocky Elsom and prop Salesi Ma'afu inside the opening 16 minutes.
Elsom's came via a lineout near the line where he won the ball then landed to find himself unopposed, while Ma'afu dived over from close range after the Highlanders defence was peeled open by skipper Stephen Hoiles at a midfield ruck.
The Highlanders were not about to roll over, but after recovering and attacking strongly themselves they were denied by inaccurate play when pressured by Brumbies defenders.
They went close to scoring when lock Josh Bekhuis was driven into touch as he dived for the tryline after Israel Dagg and Alando Soakai combined to give him space down the left-hand touchline.
International Matt Giteau extended his side's advantage to 17-0 when the home side opted for a kick at goal in the 37th minute and fullback Dagg responded in kind just at the halftime hooter sounded.
Both sides continued to attack frantically after the break, and the Brumbies made their field position count in the 47th minute as they skipped out to a 24-3 advantage on the back of a fine try to halfback Josh Valentine, who added the icing to a sharp break by first five-eighth Matt Toomua and link play from Giteau.
The tension built as the Brumbies sought their fourth try, with prop Ben Alexander held up over the line then later penalised for a double movement as they threw everything they had at the tenacious Highlanders.
The New Zealanders' passionate and desperate defence held firm until the final minute when Toomua sneaked through a small gap after the Brumbies attacked via a rolling maul from a lineout.
