The Brumbies are confident they won’t become cannon fodder in the Super Rugby finals despite the fact they haven’t beaten a team ranked in the top seven on the table.
They are all but certain to finish first in the Australian Conference but the Brumbies are yet to get the better of any of the other sides that will feature in the playoffs.
Jake White’s men have twice lost to seventh-placed Queensland this year and also fell to top-six teams the Chiefs, Bulls and Sharks.
The draw ensured the Brumbies didn’t have to face South African leaders the Stormers or New Zealand powerhouse the Crusaders in the regular rounds.
However, the Brumbies have managed to secure a bonus point from all five of their losses this season and chief executive Andrew Fagan believes the players have all the confidence they need against the big sides.
“The guys back themselves against whoever they play,” Fagan told AAP.
“In every single game we’ve either won or finished within seven points, so there hasn’t been a single game that we haven’t taken a point from.”
Excitement is brewing in the nation’s capital and Fagan said it’s beginning to feel a little like 2004 when the Brumbies last won the title.
The difference this time around is the fans aren’t taking the team’s resurgence for granted, after seven years out of the playoffs.
Canberra Stadium hasn’t had a sold out a match since the `04 finals series when temporary seating was added to deal with the demand for tickets.
Fagan is hoping for a similar surge in support for this year’s anticipated home final. The Brumbies simply need a point from their last-round clash with the Blues this Saturday in Canberra to secure a home final in either week one or two of the playoffs.
“If we’re fortunate enough to get through to the finals … I think we’d go pretty close to selling it out,” he said.
Saturday will be hooker Stephen Moore’s 100th Super Rugby match, but there’s no time for reminiscing.
“There’s been 99 games that have been said and done now, and the next one is the most important,” Moore said.
“Everyone thinks about it that’s for sure and I think that’s a good thing.
“We’re excited to be in a position where we can make the finals but everyone’s well aware of the importance of Saturday and I don’t think it’s too good to talk about just getting one point. We want to win the game so that’s the most important thing.”
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