2 days ago
‘Why not us?': Underdog Brumbies motivated by history ahead of Super Rugby semi-final against Chiefs
The underdog Brumbies have been urged to think back 12 years to one of the side's best ever away wins as Stephen Larkham's outfit attempts to break an 0-20 finals record for Australian teams across the ditch.
The Brumbies take on the Chiefs in Hamilton on Saturday with a spot in next weekend's final on the line.
But the sheer weight of history, to the tune of 20 straight knockout final defeats by Aussie teams in New Zealand – including three consecutive semi-final losses for the Brumbies – mean the ACT team is a $5.20 outsider.
But assistant coach Ben Mowen reminded the current side of the heroics of his 2013 Brumbies team, who upset similarly big odds with a last gasp win over the Bulls in Pretoria to make that year's decider.
'We didn't speak about (the 0-20 finals run) at all, but Ben Mowen spoke about it briefly,' Brumbies second-rower Nick Frost said.
'In 2013, they were one of the few teams to win in South Africa, and no team had done that.
'They were the first Aussie side to win there, and he challenged us, 'Why can't it be us? The record's going to be broken one day'.'
On that day on the Highveld, it was a 78th minute Tevita Kuridrani try that secured a spot in the final, ironically in Hamilton against the Chiefs.
But it's the more recent finals history against Kiwi opposition that is a cause for concern, with the Brumbies losing three consecutive semi-finals to New Zealand sides, including the Blues twice and the Chiefs once.
Knowing that all records – 0-20 finals records – must be broken, Frost says the team has taken lessons out of each of those more recent semi-final defeats.
'It's a bit upstairs, a bit mental,' he said. 'We haven't won here in a while, but why not? Why can't we be the first to break a record? Why can't we do that?
'Over the past couple of years of failing, and of getting very close, those are the big learnings.
'We came this close for this many minutes, but we lapsed off. Well, why can't we do that for the full 80 minutes and see how we go?
'We've had a bit of experience from the previous failures we've had. We've taken a few learnings out of that. We weren't in it at all last year to be honest.
'But the previous two, we were. We were close and had tight games right to the end.
'For a lot of the players who've been here for the last two or three years, they've had the experience of losing and we need to take the next step.'
Larkham has named an unchanged side from the one that beat the Hurricanes last week, including Noah Lolesio at fly half and an in-form Rob Valetini in the back row.
Meanwhile the Chiefs – who lost a last-minute heartbreaker to the Blues last weekend – have received a huge boost with the return of All Black star Quinn Tupaea in the midfield and captain Luke Jacobson in the back row.
If the Blues – who play the Crusaders – and the Brumbies can each score boilover semi-final wins, next week's decider will be held in Canberra, breaking an 11-year drought.
'It'll be crazy to be honest,' Frost said of the prospect of a home final. 'It's something we didn't really consider.
'To have a potential home final is massive, and not just for the Brumbies, but Australian rugby in general.
'The Waratahs were the last to have that home final and won it in 2014. It's been a long time between drinks there.
'At the end of the day, we're all Australian rugby supporters. I hope they support us whether they're from the Waratahs or Reds. I think they'll get behind us. It'll be a great day for Australian rugby in general.'
