A little over two years ago Brumbies captain Ben Mowen was calling his new teammates by the wrong name.
The re-structured Brumbies playing group didn’t have training kits, and the club had just finished a miserable 13th in the 2011 Super Rugby competition.
Today Mowen’s side will be vying with defending champions the Chiefs in Hamilton for the Super Rugby title.
“When we got together, back in June 2011, we were a bit of a motley crew,” Mowen said.
“Right from the start we’ve been underdogs and it’s a tag that has sat well with us.”
Mowen was all but forced out of the Waratahs at the end of 2011 season to make way for Rocky Elsom.
Upon arriving at his new club he never would have dreamed he’d have a crack at the Super Rugby title before his old teammates.
“We were calling each other the wrong names there for two or three weeks and getting to know each other,” he said.
“You definitely can’t imagine at that stage that you’d be in a final two years later.”
A large chunk of the Brumbies’ success can be attributed to the appointment of South African World Cup winning coach Jake White in late 2011.
He gutted the club of its egos, and built up a group of nobodies around a gameplan that oppositions find extremely frustrating and hard to combat.
“The Brumbies, since the inception of the club, have been the younger brother, the one that no one wanted,” White said.
“I brought in converts from rugby league, a couple of boys from Brisbane, a couple from Sydney and I think that was also the basis of how the club started.
“No one gives you a chance, no one thinks the Brumbies can win this weekend, but it’s not important what anyone outside thinks.”
White prides himself on his preparation.
When asked on Friday how he prepares such an inexperienced side for a Super Rugby final in just four days, White replied: “I haven’t done it in four days, I’ve been talking to them about this since June 2011.”
Wardad
Guest
A little over 2 years ago the back to back winning CHIEFS were bottom of the ladder ,and thats no bloody fairytale either !
Mike
Guest
sportym, how does O'Connor not play for the other 14 guys on the field? You have written this a few times on the Roar, but its no use just parroting phrases if you don't know what they mean.
Mike
Guest
You don't think the Reds have already done that, Dave?
Chivas
Guest
How does he play for himself. I don't think he has ever come out and demanded the team play around his style? Quade does and he's ok. Isn't this just rhetoric based on hearsay and opinions off the field?
Internal Fixation
Guest
2 hardworking teams in the final who take nothing for granted. Should be a great match.
DilzfromHtown
Guest
Brumbies have won titles before 2011 though. The chiefs have always been NZ's worst team definitely out of the super 12 teams. I'd say it's more amazing how the chiefs have done. You talk about jake white being so great yet Dave Rennie won the chiefs first title in history in his first season coaching them. Brumbies have a history of being successful but not the chiefs.
atlas
Guest
some similarities for 2011 Chiefs finished that Super season last in the NZ conference, and 10th position overall Not a 'glamour' franchise.
siddeeky
Roar Rookie
Wait.... Brand O'Connor is in it just for himself?? He is a massive tool. Hope he enjoys France. He'll fit right in.
sportym
Guest
Thats the main reason I respect the Brumbies, their culture, and the fact these boys play for each other. The same reason I would prefer not to see JOC in the Wallabies again, not until he plays for the other 14 guys on the field. The wallabies have huge potential, they just need to fix the culture within. The Brumbies have always prided themselves on their culture, though post their Golden era, it became about the individual players, egos and attitude, come 2011, they went back to their roots of 1996, a bunch of nobodies, two years on, they are back in the final. Where they are now, I also believe its the right team for Pocock, he strikes me like its the culture he wants to play rugby in.
Dave H
Guest
But again - Tke Kiwi blood in me still says Chiefs by 14. Should be a cracker either way. Haven't been this excited about a cross Tasman match in a long time.
Dave H
Guest
You've nailed it. As I posted in an earlier article - JW has created a strong culture amongst these players. No BS, just disciplined hard working team spirit. He has done more for Oz long term success internationally in 2 years than the ARU or Deans have done in the last five with I believe his young proteges deserving of the majority of Wallaby spots. Hopefully this sort of culture wil go with them to Wallaby camp and stop the rot of the ego maniac, self promoting, late night drinking bigger than the game attitudes that appear to be all too prevalent in Oz rugby culture. Its been a long time but as a Kiwi in Oz (26 years) I finally have a team I can get behind with pride. Only question now is how do we get that team to relocate to Brisbane so I can get to the games?
Mr Red
Guest
Good on ya Jake and the Brums - kudos. Be rooting for yez. Show those Quiwis there's rugby ticker this side of the dutch.