Thirteen down, one to go. The Brumbies say there’s no way anyone can argue they’re not worthy Super Rugby champions if they win Saturday’s final in Hamilton against the Chiefs – the only team they haven’t met this season.
It will be the first time since the conference system was introduced in 2011 that a Super Rugby side has played every other team in the competition.
The Brumbies didn’t play the Cheetahs and the Chiefs in the regular season.
But they eliminated South Africa’s Cheetahs in a home quarter-final and Brumbies coach Jake White welcomes the fact the final is against the ladder-topping Chiefs.
“That’s exactly what I think the organisers wanted to have, and even though it’s a conference system, you can genuinely call yourself champions,” White said.
As opposed to the old round robin system where every team played each other once before the finals, the three conference system means double the local derbies and just eight international games each in the regular season.
When the Queensland Reds won the title in 2011 some New Zealand and South African fans argued that a weaker Australian conference gifted them the minor premiership and an advantageous home finals run.
But the Brumbies put paid to that by slipping to finish third overall while topping the Australian conference this year.
It meant they faced back to back away finals matches against the best sides both South Africa and New Zealand had to offer, beating the odds to down the Bulls in their Pretoria fortress in the semi-finals last weekend.
The enormity of the task and travel factor is not lost on assistant Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham.
“Last week was a massive challenge as it doesn’t get any bigger than (the Bulls) at Loftus Versfeld,” he said.
“And now we are in New Zealand to play the Chiefs who just knocked out the Crusaders – arguably the form team coming into the finals.”
To make matters more difficult, the Chiefs were able to name an unchanged team on Thursday as they aim to send departing players Craig Clarke, Lelia Masaga, Toby Smith, Richard Kahui and Brendon Leonard all off back-to-back title wins.
But White believes his side is up to the task.
“This Brumbies team has exceeded all expectations,” he said.
“It never ceases to amaze me that when they get a challenge, they present themselves perfectly.”
Jerry
Guest
The system where you don't play every other team kind of sucks. Firstly cause it does create an inequality and secondly cause the natural reaction of fans is to magnify the significance of that inequality. It's kind of like the non neutral ref system. There are genuine reasons why they should have neutral refs, but more importantly the reaction and perception of the public is a huge factor in what is an entertainment business ultimately. I agree that the Reds were deserved winners in 2011.
PeterK
Roar Guru
Jerry - OK I was having fun. It is a parody of all the kiwi whinging re the reds winning in 2011. It isn't nice being on the receiving end re Chiefs and Brumbies game. It is really annoying isn't it? Honestly the Reds were deserved winners and whoever wins Saturday Chiefs or Brumbies deserved winners. Biltongbek - I actually like the conference system, allows for growth better, addition of other countries etc. The old system was just as flawed in that you only played teams once, as has been seen home games are a serious advantage. Getting to play at least teams in your own conference home and away is an improvement. You could easily trawl through previous super winners and work out if they had easy draws that year ie who they got to play at home, luck when key players of other teams in injured, or lucky ref decisions their way, when other teams were robbed etc. All teams can do is beat is who is in front of them and in any system some teams get better draws unless everyone plays each other twice home and away.
Kuruki
Roar Guru
Back to back!!!! The third NZ side to do so. 2 more years.
Jerry
Guest
Oh for fck's sake. You're a parody.
Jerry
Guest
"Chiefs will only get there (if they do) due to travel by the brumbies." Yeah, typical Kiwi arrogance. Oh wait....
PeterK
Roar Guru
Kuruki - typical kiwi arrogance. Chiefs are the lucky ones in terms of draw not Bulls or Brumbies. Crusaders would of been smashed by the Bulls in SA so the Brumbies have done it tougher. Chiefs will only get there (if they do) due to travel by the brumbies.
Kuruki
Roar Guru
Like i said the Chiefs are the champions and the Bulls and Brumbies were only conference leaders because they dodged playing the best team in the competition in the past 2 seasons. The Chiefs have already beaten the form team of the finals last weekend. This week is just a formality before we officially go back to back, something no Australian team has ever done. Your conference champions are about to get a reality check.
All these arguments are futile. That is why the current conference system has little credibility in my view. ;)
PeterK
Roar Guru
Jerry Chiefs did not have to face EITHER of the other conference leaders, the brumbies and bulls played each other. Sheer Kiwi arrogance to think the fortunate ones were the Brumbies or Bulls. Also the Chiefs performed very well against the Kwi sides. The reds though had more losses to other oz sides in 2001 and did very well across conference, so getting to play the aussie teams twice was actually a hindrance to the reds whilst it is a boom to Cheifs getting to play kiwi sides twice!
Jerry
Guest
You can argue the favourable draw, sure (though it also shows that both the Bulls & Brumbies didn't have to face the best NZ team). But you jumping at every opportunity to mention the 'weak NZ conference' just shows your bias. There was no meaningful difference between the NZ & Aus conferences on your chosen criteria. And the performance of the NZ conference (bottom 3 teams winning 15 games total, positions 10, 11 & 14) doesn't really compare to the Aus conference in 2011 (bottom 3 teams winning 10 games total, positions 12, 13 and 15). Unless....y'know....say.....you were...I dunno....perhaps....t....rolling.
PeterK
Roar Guru
Chiefs clearly had it easy against NZ sides. Lost 1/8. Lost 1/4 against SA sides and lost 2/4 against Aust sides. Lucky they got to play the NZ teams twice, AND miss the SA and Aust conference leaders.
PeterK
Roar Guru
Chiefs winning would not prove a thing just like the reds winning. Just like the crusaders were unjustly beaten due to the enormous travel they had back and forth to SA the same debilitating circumstance has occurred to the brumbies. Chiefs had the dream draw it missed playing BOTH other conference leaders. Brumbies and Bulls played each other.
Kuruki
Roar Guru
We can look at it from many angles. The Bulls and Brumbies were lucky they did not face the Chiefs or maybe they would not have finished top of their conferences. I look forward to your comments after the Brumbies are sent packing tomorrow night.
Jerry
Guest
The NZ conference was 'weaker' than the Aus conference by a margin of one game. If the Highlanders hadn't blown that lead against the Rebels, the NZ conference would be 'stronger'. They didn't so it isn't, but if you think that made one iota of difference to the top teams, you're dreaming. Or something less charitable.
PeterK
Roar Guru
If you look at results Chiefs had an easy run getting to play NZ sides twice. The Chiefs had 4 losses in the season. 1 to a NZ side, 1 to a SA side and 2 to Aus sides. The wins against Aus sides 6 points against Rebels and 1 point win against Force. They missed out on playing top oz side. They also missed out on playing top SA side Bulls. So Chiefs had a dream draw and played in weakest conference.
DilzfromHtown
Guest
Actually thought the brumbies were going to finish at the top but my chiefs managed to finish on top again. I think the chiefs will play some of the best rugby we have seen them play all season. They will be possessed like last year against the sharks, they have the whole region behind them and their culture is far too strong
Waikato07
Guest
Reds were the only team to beat the chiefs at home. If you don't win your games you're not the best team.
GWS
Guest
The reds deserved their title as did the chiefs last year as will this weekends winner. The teams don't make the rules ffs. If you haven't got anything nice to say then shut up and stop bitching cause your team didn't win.
Jerry
Guest
Oh please, there was so little difference between the NZ & Aus conferences as to be irrelevant, and it's certainly not comparable to the Aus conference in 2011.
PeterK
Roar Guru
Chiefs have benefited by being in the weakest conference this year, like the reds they were gifted the minor premiership and advantageous home finals run.