In a season where four of their losses have been decided in the last play of the game, it's probably fitting that the Melbourne Rebels' Super Rugby AU finals hopes will come down to the last round.
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The Rebels' season remains on a knife edge after they fell to the Brumbies in a 26-20 thriller at AAMI Park on Sunday.
The home side threw everything at the Brumbies in the second half but a knock-on stopped their attempt for a match-winning try three minutes after the fulltime siren.
"It's been a frustrating one, where we're in almost every contest right until the whistle goes and we just can't get ourselves over the line," said Melbourne coach Dave Wessels.
"But overwhelmingly I'm really proud of the fight that the guys showed.
"We're still in it so hopefully we will be seeing these guys (Brumbies) again in two weeks time."
Melbourne at least secured a bonus point, which may prove crucial with the last spot in the three-team play-offs to be decided next weekend.
That will go to either the Rebels or Western Force, with the Brumbies and unbeaten Queensland Reds already secure.
The Force scrambled to a 31-30 win over the NSW Waratahs on Saturday night to remain in the hunt, currently two points ahead of Melbourne.
The final round will see the Force host the Reds on the Friday night, and the Rebels play NSW in Sydney the following day and bonus points and points differential could end up deciding third spot.
That team will play the Brumbies in Canberra in the semi-final, with the Reds hosting the grand final a week later.
Poor discipline proved costly in the first half, with the Rebels losing Wallabies winger Marika Koroibete and then lock Trevor Hosea to yellow cards during a run of seven straight penalties.
They started well, with a try to hooker James Hanson, before the wheels started to fall off, hurt by two Brumbies tries within the final five minutes of the half.
The home side got that in check in the second half and started to get on top, with halfback Joe Powell bouncing off the defence to touch down two minutes after the break.
But their 19-7 halftime deficit proved tough to run down.
Rebels skipper Matt Toomua was involved in a crucial error when he failed to clear a kick, instead sending into head of a teammate, and the Brumbies scooped up the loose ball with Bayley Kuenzle crossing.
The Brumbies have the bye next round, which suits skipper Allan Alaalatoa who suffered a wrist injury while flanker James Tucker has rib damage.
Brumbies coach Dan McKellar praised his team's first half effort to earn their first win in Melbourne since 2016.
"There are areas of our second half that we need to get better but we've had a tough week - we put plenty into that Queensland game, had 14 boys go to a Wallabies camp.
"We've come to show a fair amount of grit and resilience to grind out a win."
Australian Associated Press
