VIDEO: Brumbies desperate to get back in winners' circle
Ahead of Sunday’s Super Rugby AU clash with the Melbourne Rebels, the Brumbies are trying to take the positives out of their tight loss to the Reds which cost them a home Grand Final.
The Brumbies will look to bounce back from the 22-24 loss to the Reds – their second two-point loss of the season – when they travel to Melbourne.
The Rebels themselves suffered heartbreak when the Western Force scored a late try to steal the win and remain in the fight for the third play-offs berth, with the Reds and Brumbies locked in.
The ladder leaders move straight through to the Grand Final second and third square off in a semifinal.
The Brumbies have the bye in the last round, and if they had hosted the Final in Canberra, wouldn’t have played for three weeks.
Brumbies assistant Rod Seib felt there was an upside to avoiding such a long break.
“We would have had a few weeks off if that had eventuated and there are pros and cons around that but I think we’re now in a good position, having a week’s rest before we get to the play-offs,” Seib said.
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Looking to move well clear of the Force, who host the winless Waratahs, the Rebels have everything to play for.
Brumbies hooker Lachlan Lonergan, who had his first taste of the Wallabies in their three-day camp in Sydney this week expected another tight tussle.
His brother Ryan kicked a penalty match-winner after full-time the last time the Brumbies and Rebels met.
“They need a win and we also need a win after coming off that loss on the weekend,” Lachlan said.
“It would be good for everyone’s mindset to go into finals with a good win under our belt.”
