'Absolute madness': Penalty try gifts Brumbies first win over Crusaders since 2009 in chaotic close
The Crusaders gifted the Brumbies victory in Canberra in an unbelievable finish that left Quiten Strange and his visiting teammates reeling.
With the scores level at 24 points apiece, the Crusaders gave away a penalty at the death with two minutes to go after failing to roll away at the breakdown.
Goal kicker Noah Lolesio had been rusty all game long and ended his afternoon by hitting the upright post.
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Strange won the race to the ball and batted it into touch, which was deemed to be foul play by referee Ben O'Keeffe.
For the infringement, Strange was dealt a penalty. However, the killer blow came when O'Keeffe awarded a penalty try.
Crusaders player Quinten Strange purposely knocks the ball into touch, copping a yellow card and causing the visitors to concede a penalty try. Stan Sport
Referee Ben O'Keeffe explained the situation on the field.
"Quinten, before there's been any contact, your eyes are on the ball, you've used this action to hit it dead," he said.
"You can't do that in rugby union so it's a penalty try and a yellow card."
Brumbies captain Allan Alaalatoa was visibly stunned while Crusaders players agonised over the call.
Stan Sport commentators Sean Maloney and Justin Harrison could;t quite believe what they witnessed.
Crusaders player Quinten Strange reacts to conceding a penalty try on full-time against the Brumbies. Stan Sport
"Poor Quinten Strange," said Harrison.
"The surprise on his face, knowing that he knocked it out. Penalty card, sure, then 'What?' — Penalty try. Foul play. That is the law. Wow.
"Everything and some, this game delivered."
Maloney continued.
"Do you want to see a game decided like that? Argh! My heart goes out to Strange and the Crusaders," he said.
"I would have loved to have seen it decided a different way. It will matter not. Rob Penney (Crusaders head coach) cannot believe what has transpired late.
"Absolute madness at the death."
Brumbies players Tom Wright; Ollie Sapsford and Len Ikitau celebrate victory during the round 13 of Super Rugby Pacific match against the Crusaders. Mark Metcalfe via Getty Images
That capped off a frenetic 80 minutes, dominated initially by the Brumbies who led 17-7 at halftime.
Andy Muirhead opened the scoring in Canberra after some superb vision by Noah Lolesio to kick across the field to the corner where the winger was waiting.
His 12th-minute try was converted and the Brumbies led 7-0 initially.
They backed that up almost immediately in the 15th minute when Johnny McNicholl fumbled the ball from a Brumbies box kick.
His knock-on gave the Brumbies possession and it was quickly swung across the field to Ollie Sapsford who drew in the Crusaders defender before offloading to Tom Wright.
Wright dummied before fending off the sole Crusaders defender in his way before scoring in the corner. Lolesio missed the conversion, keeping Brumbies lead at 12-0.
The Crusaders finally made the most of some possession in the 29th minute. The Brumbies were caught short on the wing, giving Johnny McNicholl clear air to score their first try of the match.
That drew the gap back to 12-7 with the conversion, but it widened once more short of half-time.
Against the run of play, the Brumbies were gifted possession when the ball was knocked on and landed in the hands of Ollie Sapsford.
He lobbed the ball up for Lolesio who split the Crusaders' defence. He put a grubber kick in before being tackled, giving Tom Wright a chance to chase after the ball without any defenders on his tail.
A favourable bounce allowed him to scoop the ball up and score again in the corner in the 38th minute. Lolesio missed the conversion, much to his dismay as he let out a groan.
The Crusaders brought the gap back shortly after the restart when Brumbies captain Allan Alaalatoa was caught napping.
Alaalatoa was too busy looking at the Crusaders' defence when Sevu Reece ran straight past him.
"The Brumbies there, just no energy around that ball," Harris said on Stan Sport.
"Sevu Reece seemingly goes unnoticed that he's all over the ball, Allan Alaalatoa caught looking at the defensive options in front of him - who he needed to take. Well, I tell you what, he's right next to you."
With a three-point advantage, the Brumbies responded and extended their lead through Rob Valetini.
The back-and-forth nature of the contest continued when an unmarked Noah Hotham ran straight through the Brumbies' defence with a little more than 10 minutes to go.
Then the Brumbies gifted a penalty with five minutes remaining, giving Chay Fihaki a chance to kick for the sticks. Despite being beyond halfway, he cleared the crossbar and levelled the score at 24 points apiece.
Finally, the catastrophic conclusion came for the Crusaders, which ended a 15-year drought for the Brumbies. That came at the same stadium in round two of the 2009 season in the Super 14 era.
The Brumbies will host the Rebels in the penultimate round of Super Rugby Pacific at home next weekend, while the Crusaders will head home to Christchurch to face the table-topping Blues.
