Brumbies edge brave Force to reach Super Rugby AU final

THE ACT Brumbies will defend their Super Rugby AU title against the Queensland Reds in Brisbane on Saturday after beating the shorthanded Western Force 21-9 in a tight semi-final playoff in Canberra yesterday.

The Force, playing a first play-off in their 16 years of existence, fought to the bitter end but playing for 20 minutes with only 14 men after Toni Pulu was shown a red card took its toll in such an attritional battle.

The Force's hopes of going into halftime with only a 7-3 deficit suffered a blow, however, when former Brumbies winger

Pulu was sent off after his shoulder made contact with the face of Irae Simone in a tackle.

The Brumbies took quick advantage of the extra man and fullback Banks scored to give them a 12-3 lead at the break.

The Force battled on and it was only when Lonergan kicked two penalties in the last seven minutes that the trip north to Brisbane for the final was secured.

"We were in it right to the end," said the Force's former All Blacks centre Richard Kahui. "The red card really hurt us."