ACT Brumbies fight back against Queensland Reds for crucial bonus-point win

The bonus point could prove vital later in the season with the top four team in the Australian conference all within a game and a half of each other.

The Reds now face New Zealand opposition for the first time this season when they take on the Highlanders in Dunedin.

They'll look to snap the Kiwi curse and become the first Australian team to beat New Zealand opposition in 33 attempts.

Rules must favour attacking team

On the stroke of half-time and the Brumbies thought they'd completed the fightback to take the lead into the sheds.

Brumbies hooker Folau Faingaa threw the ball into the lineout then received it back immediately before dashing down the blindside and doing his best Jordan Rapana impersonation.

Fainga thought he had his second try after grounding the ball with his left hand but was ruled to have simultaneously touched the in-goal with his right hand.

It was mighty close and could have gone either way and would have given the Brumbies a 19-18 half-time lead with a successful conversion.

By the letter of the law referee Ben O'Keeffe correctly denied the try but why would the benefit of the doubt go with the defending team?

Rugby union is a sport desperately trying to bring back crowds by playing entertaining rugby, but the lawmakers are giving 50-50 calls to the defending team.

Considering the two worst attacking teams in Super Rugby were squaring off you'd think the referees could have given this one to the Brumbies.

Yellow card invites Brumbies back into contest

Reds outside centre Chris Feauai-Sautia has been binned for a deliberate knock down in the 39th minute.

The Brumbies were denied Faingaa's try with Feauai-Sautia off the field but they piled on two tries after the break before it went back to 15 on 15.

It proved a turning point in the contest as the Brumbies piled on 12 points and took the lead for the first time with the Reds down to 14 men.

The Reds had all the ball early with 75 per cent possession and 90 per cent territory in the opening 25 minutes.

The yellow card proved all the invitation the Brumbies needed to get themselves back in the game and they made the Reds pay.

Brotherly love on display in historic game

In what was believed to be an Australian rugby first, Lucas brothers Matt and Ben squared off as opposing Super Rugby scrumhalves.

Matt was promoted to the Brumbies' No. 9 jersey for the first time since moving to Canberra and came up against older brother Ben.

At the first scrum the pair exchanged a subtle handshake but the Super Rugby backyard battle lasted just 10 minutes.

Ben made a break down the blindside but was tackled and accidently collected the knee of Brumbies winger James Dargaville..

The 30-year-old was knocked out cold before he hit the ground and the first player to check on him was his little brother.

Matt stayed by Ben's side until the medics arrived and stayed until his brother eventually sat upright.

With their parents and brother in the crowd, it was a horror way to see the family fairytale end.

Brumbies flanker Lachie McCaffrey was also in the injury ward after dislocating his elbow in a nasty collison.