THE bubble that the ACT Brumbies have been living well inside by the midst of the pandemic finally burst.

Well being the operative word.

It had in some small part to Super Rugby administrators being forced to split the annual tri-nations domestic competition after travel to matches across all sorts of borders were first stopped and then somewhat restricted.

But that bubble only emboldened the team last season through to a first title in 16 years.

The Brumbies won 17 out of 18 appearances dating back to the start of 2019 to settle at home comfortably all the while visitors struggled to pierce the Canberra Stadium fortress.

But the defences of the home territory dropped its guard during a 40-38 loss on Saturday night (March 13) to a fearless Queensland when it mattered most.

The warning signs were there last week against Melbourne Rebels after the Brumbies called for an after-the-whistle penalty goal to break the deadlock and and save their run of form.

Queensland definitely had not feared playing in Canberra.

The one defeat that broke a 15-game winning streak in the new Super Rugby AU campaign was at the hands of the Reds 26-7 regular season victory on the return of crowds to Bruce.

And weeks later Queensland scored another 23 points in the inaugural Australian final to fall just five short of the Brumbies and the Reds’ first piece of silverware in nine years.

So even in the title rematch, confidence still seemed to remain high despite conceding the opening 17 points early in the clash and trailing by eight entering the dying minutes.

But a well-calculated penalty shot and Jordan Petatia’s ability to get to a kick from around the corner of a thick goal pad and evade four Brumbies defenders converging on the ball had all but sealed the miraculous win.

The slumped hosts led for all bar the final 47 seconds of the game before the conversion, but coach Dan McKellar was the last one to suggest his gallant charges were robbed.

“It was a great contest. It’d be nice to be sitting in the stands as a neutral ’cause that’s what rugby needs: 78 points, five tries to four,” McKellar said.

“A really strong rivalry is developing between us and the Reds.

“I know it’s always been there, but between these two teams in particular. They’re playing with a really positive mindset.”