The Brumbies have set up a repeat of the 2000 Super 12 final against the Crusaders in Christchurch after a breakthrough 51-10 win against the Waratahs in Sydney.

Earlier in the night, the three-time champion Crusaders defeated the Highlanders 34-23 in Christchurch. In 2000, the Crusaders were victorious at a bitterly cold Bruce Stadium in Canberra.

The Brumbies led 10-3 at half-time and scored six tries to one.

The Brumbies' win was their first in Sydney while for the Waratahs it was a disappointing finish despite making the semi-finals for the first time. The Waratahs were one of the tournament's front-runners all season, but their season came to a crashing end following last week's embarrassing loss to the Crusaders and this particularly disappointing effort against the Brumbies.

The Waratahs lineout in the first half was extraordinarily poor and they were always going to struggle to build any momentum by losing five on their own throws ... one in an ideal scoring position just 5m from the Brumbies line. It will be a night that Waratahs hooker Brendan Cannon will want to quickly forget after a letting in opposite Jeremy Paul for a crucial try in the second-half after a poor attempt at tackle.

The Brumbies always seemed in control of the game after leading by seven points at the break after an opening 40 minutes full of intensity. The scores were level at three-all for the opening 25 minutes until Brumbies winger Graeme Bond charged through a huge hole 40m out for the game's first try.

The Waratahs had an ideal chance to reply four minutes later with a lineout just short of the opposition line, but the Brumbies gleefully snatched the wayward throw.

Things got worse for the Waratahs when they failed to make the 10m to kick-off the second-half. The Waratahs were then penalised at the scrum and Brumbies replacement Julian Huxley, on for Mark Bartholomeusz, landed a 50m penalty to extend the lead to 13-3.

Waratahs winger Scott Staniforth gave the sell-out Aussie Stadium crowd some hope when he scored a 70m intercept try, but there was to be no dream final for the Waratahs with the Brumbies storming home with five tries.

Paul and flanker Owen Finegan scored quickfire tries to push the Brumbies lead out to 27-10 with 20 minutes remaining. And the Waratahs finally had the stuffing knocked out them in the 65th minute following an amazing try to Brumbies lock Justin Harrison in the 65th minute.

The Waratahs were applying a huge amount of pressure deep in Brumbies territory when they turned the ball over at the breakdown. Brumbies winger Andrew Walker cleared downfield and in an outstanding chase intercepted the ball on the Waratahs 22 as Waratahs flyhalf Duncan McRae tried to clean-up. Walker was caught, but he threw the ball back for Harrison to complete the 80m movement.

Bond scored a second try with eight minutes remaining and inside-centre Pat Howard scored on full-time to ensure his side heads to Christchurch full of confidence.

Scoreboard

ACT Brumbies 51
Tries: Graeme Bond 2 Pat Howard Dan Vickerman Justin Harrison Jeremy Paul.
Conversions: Andrew Walker pen goal, goal Julian Huxley 2 pen goals, 5 goals.

NSW Waratahs 10
Tries: Scott Staniforth.
Conversions: Matthew Burke pen goal, goal.

At Aussie Stadium.
Referee: Paddy O'Brien.
Crowd: 36,146.