Super Rugby Pacific semi-finals RECAP: SBW consoles Brumbies star as NZ playoff curse strikes again

That wraps up our live coverage of the second Super Rugby Pacific semi-final between the Chiefs and the Brumbies.

Sadly for Canberra fans, the Hamilton club were too strong on home soil and will play the Crusaders in the grand final after a dominant 37-17 win.

Stay tuned to Wide World of Sports and Stan Sport for all the fallout.

The Chiefs will travel to Christchurch to play the Crusaders in next weekend's Super Rugby final after beating the ACT Brumbies 37-17 to reach the title match for the third-straight year.

Winger Emoni Narawa scored two tries for the Chiefs and Corey Toole scored a double for the Brumbies as each side scored three tries.

Chiefs flyhalf Damian McKenzie separated the teams, kicking six penalties and two conversions for 22 points to surpass 200 points for the season.

Fullback Josh Jacomb scored the Chiefs' third try in the 64th minute to establish a 20-point margin and McKenzie's try-saving tackle on Tom Wright two minutes later snuffed out a potential Brumbies rally.

"The Brumbies came out of the blocks fast as we knew they would and I just love the way we were really composed and stuck to our game," McKenzie said.

"We put the ball in front of our forwards and our set piece was great tonight."

The Brumbies were Australia's last hope in the playoffs as they attempted to win the Super Rugby title for the first time since 2004. Their defeat means Australian teams are now 0-21 in Super Rugby matches in New Zealand.

The Brumbies suffered a major blow when Wallabies flyhalf Noah Lolesio failed a head injury assessment in the 11th minute. The kicking game was integral to the Brumbies' plan and while they used it to keep pressure on the Chiefs and to gain field position, Lolesio's early departure was a turning point.

The Brumbies had the Chiefs under defensive pressure for long periods in both halves but while hooker Billy Pollard opened the scoring with a try from a lineout drive in the 15th minute the Chiefs were later able to neutralise that threat.

Pollard's early try followed his double in the Brumbies' quarterfinal win over the Hurricanes. He finishes with 11 tries for the season as does Toole, who scored his tries on either side of halftime.

Narawa scored his first try in the 20th minute, picking the ball up from the base of an attacking ruck and scything through the Brumbies' defence.

Toole scored off a precise cross-kick from replacement flyhalf Jack Debreczeni, who previously played for the Chiefs. But penalties to McKenzie gave the Chiefs a 19-12 lead at halftime.

Toole scored three minutes after the restart after a lone dash down the left-wing touch. The Brumbies were right in the match at that point, trailing 19-17.

But Narawa scored his second four minutes later to begin a run of 18 unanswered points by the Chiefs.

The Chiefs will now attempt to go one step further after losing in the final to the Crusaders and the Blues in each of the last two years. They will attempt in Christchurch next Saturday to win their third Super Rugby title and first since 2013 which the Crusaders are seeking their 13th championship.

This article originally appeared on Stuff and is reproduced with permission

Clayton McMillan will get his swansong in Christchurch after the Chiefs dispatched the Brumbies in Saturday night's semifinal in Hamilton.

The Chiefs coach would have loved the power and purpose his forwards inflicted on the top Australian side to win 37-17, advancing to next weekend's Super Rugby Pacific final with the Crusaders.

They will need every ounce of physical resolve to give their departing coach a trophy in his final match before taking the Munster job.

No side, of course, have beaten the Crusaders in a playoff match on their patch after 31 attempts in 29 years.

The Chiefs will believe after a strong response to last Saturday's qualifying final defeat to the Blues. It will be their fourth final in five years and another opportunity to win their first title since going back-to-back with Dave Rennie in 2012 and 2013.

Any chance the Brumbies had of making history disappeared. That everlasting record of no Australian side winning a playoff fixture in New Zealand endures and extended to 21 matches at Waikato Stadium.

Stephen Larkham's men will return to Canberra after falling short in a semifinal in New Zealand for the fourth consecutive season. That next step remains elusive and another all-Kiwi final will decide the 2025 champions.

The 14,536 knew the Chiefs were safe when Josh Jacomb crossed in the final quarter from an attack ignited by Damian McKenzie's brilliance. His defence was also superb and denied Tom Wright with a sensational diving tackle.

The Chiefs' playmaker was complemented by another excellent midfield display from Quinn Tupaea. Emoni Narawa, too, was in terrific form and popped up in the right place after coming off his right wing for a brace of tries.

The Brumbies were jolted by losing Wallabies No.10 Noah Lolesio to a head knock after 11 minutes, but they were beaten at their own game.

The Chiefs did something the Hurricanes couldn't: steal possession off the Brumbies to win penalties.

McKenzie punished the visitors with his accuracy off the tee (8/9) and landed six penalty goals.

Loose forwards Samipeni Finau and Luke Jacobson were at the heart of the Chiefs' breakdown battle and had their work cut out. The Brumbies are a tough beast.

Test flanker Rob Valetini led their pack's challenge and ignited some bruising contests for the ball.

As well as their maul prowess, strike wingers such as Corey Toole stretched the Chiefs. Toole's second try was a terrific finish after trampling over McKenzie.

However, the hosts powered into another final after keeping the Brumbies scoreless for the final 36 minutes. The Chiefs' bench, including halfback Xavier Roe, made a huge impact.

The Chiefs were rattled in the opening quarter. The Brumbies kept the Hamilton crowd quiet by applying fierce defensive pressure inside the home side's half.

When Vaa'i was sinbinned for a high shoulder on opposing hooker Billy Pollard, nerves were jangling. It was Pollard who emerged with the first try after Wright's excellent 50/22.

The Chiefs withstood the visitors' first rolling maul, but it was a weapon they struggled to contain. Toole touched down for their second score when the Chiefs' defence was scattered.

Former Chief Jack Debreczeni was standing in for Lolesio and found Toole with a sweet kick. The tall No.10 is an elegant alternative but lacked the directness Lolesio gives their attack.

The Chiefs had charged into the contest when Narawa and Tupaea were unleashed with breaks that stirred an anxious home crowd.

They were more animated when a skirmish almost spilled into the stands. Referee Nic Berry waved the game on. Tupaea was lucky to remain on the field after marching into the shoving action.

The Chiefs nonetheless got an emotional rise and nudged ahead with McKenzie's boot after Narawa's sharp finish.

The second half was more one-way traffic and the Chiefs can dream again.

There would be no more fitting tribute to McMillan's legacy than toppling the Crusaders in Christchurch.

Well played Chiefs, who showed their class in a 37-17 victory over the Brumbies to set up an all-New Zealand grand final against the Crusaders in Christchurch next Saturday.

The Brumbies have now bowed out of the competition in the semi-finals for four years running - each time on NZ soil.

Each team scored three tries but Chiefs star Damian McKenzie's unerring boot was the difference as he nailed six penalties.

The Brumbies will get a crack at the British and Irish Lions on July 9 while Joe Schmidt will likely name his Wallabies squad next week.

Stay tuned for all the fallout.

That is incredible.

Damian McKenzie has denied Tom Wright with a miraculous try-saver, somehow getting his hand and arm under the ball as the Brumbies fullback crossed the chalk.

The Stan Sport commentary team are stunned.

The Chiefs lead 37-17 after 66 minutes.

"I'm still in disbelief. How? Crazy," Sean Maloney says.

That is good night nurse for the Brumbies.

Josh Jacomb strikes to score a sweet try as Damian McKenzie continues his superb match and the Chiefs near a grand final against the Chiefs in Christchurch.

The Chiefs lead 37-17 after 64 minutes as McKenzie finally misses a shot at goal.

Damian McKenzie can't miss in a kicking masterclass tonight.

The Chiefs No.10 slots yet another penalty and the Brumbies trail 32-17 after 58 minutes.

The Brumbies are in trouble as Damian McKenzie adds three more.

The Chiefs got in enemy territory after Tom Wright spilled a tricky high ball.

The Chiefs lead 29-17 after 55 minutes.

What an electric start to the second half in Hamilton!

Corey Toole and Emoni Narawa have just scored their second tries of the night and the Chiefs now lead 26-17.

Both tries were crackers, with Brumbies winger Toole finding space on the left flank and then running over the top of Damian McKenzie.

Commentator Sean Maloney called it one of the tries of the year but Chiefs winger Narawa replied straight away with a classy effort of his own.

Phew. We've had 48 minutes of play.

The Chiefs lead the Brumbies 19-12 at halftime as Damian McKenzie boots his fourth penalty of the night.

Discipline is becoming a problem for Stephen Larkham's well drilled side.

That penalty came from a scrum as the Chiefs front row appeared to back off and leave the Brumbies to fold first.