All fairy-tales in Canberra

Julian Huxley's return and Matt Hooper's first pro rugby try helped the Brumbies to a 30-23 win over the Chiefs in Canberra on Friday.

Julian Huxley's return and Matt Hooper's first pro rugby try helped the Brumbies to a 30-23 win over the Chiefs in Canberra on Friday.

Huxley's comeback from two years out after surgery to remove a brain tumour was completed just eleven minutes in when Francis Fainifo limped out with a leg injury. The former Wallaby looked as though he had not spent a minute away from the game with as assured a game as could be on the wing, linking superbly with Adam Ashley-Cooper at full-back and making several telling bursts.

It took Hooper just 14 minutes to leave his mark, taking the ball from Josh Valentine to plunge over from about four metres out. He'll score better tries, but the look of excitement on his face was one of someone who had just waltzed through an entire opposition team.

It took the Brumbies 79 minutes to win the game, with Matt Toomua taking an offload from Patrick Phibbs to get through a gap that the Chiefs will insist was created by an illegal clearout of Junior Polu.

Up until then, it seemed as though the Chiefs had done enough to hold onto the draw, but on a day of fairy-tale comebacks and debuts, it was always likely that fate had other plans.

Stephen Donald gave the Chiefs the lead with an early penalty as the Brumbies took their time about waking up, but once fully switched on the hosts were electric.

A simple passing movement out to the impressive Pat McCabe was straightened by the winger, who stepped inside and popped the ball to Valentine, who also stepped inside Brendon Leonard to race away for the score. A fine try, but there was not much to be seen from the Chiefs' defence. There was even less to be seen when Hooper and Valentine combined for the second.

Giteau converted both to give his side a 14-3 lead, which Donald reduced on 20 minutes with his second penalty.

The Chiefs had started expansively, as is their wont, but showed plenty of mental toughness in opting to change the game up and run it a little harder up front. The move paid dividends, first with Donald's third penalty and then with a try to Brendon Leonard, who showed exceptional leg strength to stand under the weight of several defenders and power to the line.

Giteau missed a kick at goal, but landed an easier one on the stroke of half-time to edge the Brumbies back in front.

An early second-half try for the Chiefs was crucial for their momentum and it arrived courtesy of a poor kick from Stirling Mortlock and deft piece of handling by Sitiveni Sivivatu, which set the backs away and allowed Richard Kahui to finish. Donald, faultless from the tee all day, added the extras for a 23-17 lead.

Thereafter, the game belonged to the hosts, who took the forward set pieces by the scruff of the neck and began a siege of the Chiefs territory. Giteau reduced the arrears with a penalty and then, with eight minutes to go, landed his third to tie the game up.

A magnificent kick to the corner by Giteau once again gave the Brumbies good field position and the Chiefs' defensive frailties again were exposed. Lelia Masaga panicked when he should have cleared and was caught in possession and Polu was cleaned out when reaching for the ball, leaving the exposed ball there for Pat Phibbs to snap up and send Toomua away under the posts with for the clinching try with a minute remaining.

On a day of heart-warming stories in Canberra, it was the perfect ending.

Man of the match: We'll contribute to the good mood of it all. Matt Giteau was excellent as a back-up to Toomua from inside centre and the two controlled the game between them, but considering it's two years since he played at this level, Julian Huxley's performance was superb. Sentimental? Us?

The scorers:

For the Brumbies:
Tries: Valentine, Hooper, Toomua
Cons: Giteau 3
Pens: Giteau 2

For the Chiefs:
Try: Leonard, Kahui
Cons: Donald 2
Pens: Donald 3

Brumbies: 15 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14 Pat McCabe, 13 Stirling Mortlock, 12 Matt Giteau, 11 Francis Fainifo, 10 Matt Toomua, 9 Josh Valentine, 8 Stephen Hoiles (c), 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 Mitchell Chapman, 4 Ben Hand, 3 Salesi Ma'afu, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Ben Alexander.
Replacements: 16 Huia Edmonds, 17 Guy Shepherdson, 18 Mark Chisholm, 19 Colby Faingaa, 20 Patrick Phibbs, 21 Tyrone Smith, 22 Julian Huxley.

Chiefs: 15 Mils Muliaina (c), 14 Lelia Masaga, 13 Richard Kahui, 12 Jackson Willison, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Stephen Donald, 9 Brendon Leonard, 8 Sione Lauaki, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Culum Retallick, 4 Craig Clarke, 3 Ben Afeaki, 2 Aled de Malmanche, 1 Sona Taumalolo.
Replacements: 16 Hika Elliot, 17 Nathan White, 18 Jarrad Hoeata, 19 Luke Braid, 20 Junior Poluleuligaga, 21 Mike Delany, 22 Tim Nanai-Williams.

Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Paul Marks (Australia), Lourens van der Merwe (South Africa)
Television match official: Matthew Goddard (Australia)