The Brumbies’ attack continues to sputter with the franchise once renowned for their innovative play struggling to score tries during the 2011 Super Rugby season.
The Canberra-based side were held tryless in the 16-3 home loss to the Stormers on Saturday night and have scored just four tries in their past four games.
Australia great Stephen Larkham was appointed attack coach this season, with expectations he could reignite the sparkling backline play the Brumbies’ reputation was built on when he was their five-eighth.
But the magic has yet to transfer to his charges with 25 tries from 13 matches this year.
In the previous two seasons the Brumbies averaged around three tries a game.
Despite several breaks against the Stormers, the Brumbies failed to convert due to poor passing and handling against the competition’s meanest defence.
Brumbies coach Tony Rea was impressed with the side’s effort to push the top-ranked South African team, but he said mediocrity was not an option if they were to win one or all three of their last three matches.
The Brumbies finish the season with the Queensland Reds (away), the Melbourne Rebels (home) and the NSW Waratahs (away).
“We need to play better footy,” Rea said.
“What we have got clearly is a group that has responded emotionally, so now we have to respond technically.”
He said the players could improve their skills so to gain at least one more win before the 2011 season ends.
“Yes, they are capable of that,” he said.
“I have seen enough to say that they can.
“Now it is just polishing off and believing, and they’ll be right.”
Their next opponents, the Reds, have taken the Brumbies’ mantle of the entertainers within the Australian rugby community.
A loss in Brisbane next Saturday would have the Brumbies join the 2007 Reds for most defeats, 11, by a local side in a Super Rugby season.
Hooker Stephen Moore, who left the Reds to play in Canberra from 2009, said positions on the table would mean nothing at Suncorp Stadium.
The Reds sit atop the ladder while the Brumbies are one point from the bottom after week 15.
“We’ve got a good record against the Reds and we’ve got to take our belief into the game,” Moore said.
Injuries have hampered the Brumbies in 2011, but the match-day squad against the Stormers would be available for the Reds.
Captain Matt Giteau is set to return following his match-day withdrawal to illness against the Stormers.
But Dan Palmer’s Super Rugby season is over after the prop has failed to recover from a foot injury against the Cheetahs in late April.
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