Brumbies snatch semi-final berth after Savea denied winning try

:The ACT Brumbies prevented a New Zealand shut-out in the semi-finals of Super Rugby Pacific by defending to the death in a 37-33 cliff-hanger against the Wellington Hurricanes in Canberra on Saturday.

Camped on their try-line, the Brumbies held off wave after wave of attacks for nearly five minutes after the siren before Hurricanes skipper Ardie Savea made a dive under the posts, only to be denied a try by the desperate hand of replacement loose forward Luke Reimer.

With the home crowd holding their breath, the television match official reviewed Nic Berry's on-field decision then confirmed it, leaving the Brumbies celebrating victory and Savea crushed.

The Hurricanes skipper argued that he had grounded the ball.

"As much as I disagree, that's just the way it goes," said the emotional flanker. "I scored it, brother. Initially, I scored it anyway.

"It is what is it is. I'm gutted. At the end of the day you can't change it."

The Brumbies' reward will be a tough trip to Hamilton to meet the table-topping Waikato Chiefs, who earlier battled to a 29-20 win over a spirited Queensland Reds team.

In Saturday's other quarter-final, an injury-depleted Canterbury Crusaders thumped Fijian Drua 49-8 in Christchurch to set up a rematch of last year's title-decider against the Auckland Blues.

As dominant as the win was, Scott Robertson's champion Crusaders were left counting the cost.

Already decimated by injuries through the regular season, the Crusaders were down to 13 men in the last 10 minutes when flyhalf Richie Mo'unga limped off, joining lock Zach Gallagher and flanker Ethan Blackadder off field.

By that stage, the Crusaders were cruising with a 42-8 lead.

Yet they still managed to conjure up a seventh try in the final minutes to Willi