Brumbies coach Jake White is still tossing up whether to back Queensland for the Super Rugby title, but his gut tells him no. It would feel too much like a kick in the guts.
As the defending champion Reds prepare for Saturday’s qualifying final against the Sharks, the Brumbies are licking their wounds after last week’s heartbreaking tumble from the playoffs race.
White’s “no-name” Brumbies, having exceeded all expectations week after week, fell when the critics least expected it by losing 30-16 to the Blues at home for their heaviest defeat of the year.
A loss by just seven or less would have cemented their place on top of the Australian conference, a spot they’d mostly held for five months.
Instead, Queensland snatched it with an epic four-try bonus-point victory over NSW.
The disappointment is still tangible for White, who believes that even though his side made giant strides, 2012 still feels steeped in failure.
“We leave a bit disappointed but, if we take a step back and really reflect, it’s not a bad effort,” he told AAP on Thursday.
“Considering where we started, considering what we had, considering what the expectations were from outside … we surprised a lot of people.
“It might not feel like we passed but we got 80 per cent (of points on offer) – that’s a distinction.
“It’s not very often you get a distinction and still feel like you failed.”
Achievements were aplenty this season with World Cup-winning coach White at the helm.
They made away with hoodoos, defeating the Hurricanes in week 13 in Wellington for the first time since 2003 and pipping the Waratahs at ANZ Stadium for the first time.
While they finished second overall on the Australian table, they won 10 matches, more than double their 2011 effort and buoyed their Wallabies representation from three to eight by season’s close.
It would have been nine if not for Christian Lealiifano’s broken ankle.
“The aura of the Brumbies is so much more evident,” White said.
“Ex-Brumbies say that it’s reminiscent of the old days and they’re very thankful for that.”
Pre-season planning is already underway, with White headed to South Africa to fill new gaps in his playing roster.
A key priority will be filling Michael Hooper’s absence at No.7, with Western Force skipper David Pocock yet to give White an answer about whether he will make the journey east to Canberra.
White is confident his squad can continue their improvement into 2013 but, for the meantime, he’ll be ruing what could have been this weekend watching the Reds, who pipped his side 13-12 in week 14 after Brumbies five-eighth Zack Holmes missed a penalty attempt in the dying moments.
“I’m really not sure if them winning back-to-backs is going to make it easier or more difficult,” said White.
“My gut feeling tells me it will probably make things feel worse for us.
“We should have beaten them in that game.”
Bakkies
Guest
Rebels need to recruit big time. They are well short in several positions.
Rob from Brumby Country
Guest
Maybe he thinks they should have won the game in other places? There were a couple.
formeropenside
Guest
Colby has been out injured with a foot injury most of the season.
Gary Russell-Sharam
Guest
They've done well but lets not get carried away. While I think that White is a great coach and the Brumbies deserve all the accolades I will look to the results next season to see the true improvement in the team. Like B-Rock says they did have a favourable draw. But I take nothing away from their performance as opposed to the season before. I hope they will improve and build on this season so that they are a force within the Aust conference. Their failure at the last hurdle is proof that they just lacked that little extra this early in their development, they will be stronger for it next year. I hope for their sake that Tamua and Lealiifano are fit and play without injury next season I will be excited to see them play to their full potential. In a way I don't want to see Pocock there next season, I can see the Brumbies doing very well without him, on that subject where is the other Faingaa brother this season I thought he was pretty good last year but no sign of him this year ???? I think he was in the under twenty side.
Dr Bob
Roar Rookie
There are lots of wht-ifs around the Brumbies this season. But when you compare them to the dreadful im[posters of the season before they now seem like the real deal. Every team had better watch them next season. Also the Rebels will surprise everyone too. Go the Reds
formeropenside
Guest
Nice to see he thinks the Brumbies should have beaten the Reds off a penalty - when it should have been a penalty or two up the other end of the field from the plays before.
B-Rock
Roar Guru
Congrats to the Brumbies on a great season. Jake White proved he is a fantastic coach. He got every last bit of production out of the talent available. To be honest though, they were helped by playing 6 games vs. the woeful Tahs/Force/Rebels, not having to play the Saders and Stormers. This makes a massive difference when just one or two competition points decides the finalists. While Brumbies fans would be hopeful of beating these teams, the reality is the Brumbies only beat one (arguably the weakest) of the six finalists all season - the Hurricanes. An unbiased observer would give them little chance against a fit Saders and Stormers, even in Canberra. Saying all that, as a Tahs fan it is good to see a team overahieve for a change. Now only if the Tahs can learn something from the Brumbies - the importance of a quality coach is a good start.