Half-way through the competition, the Brumbies can't help but feel they've under-achieved.
Three wins and three losses had them in the bottom half of ladder and desperate for more wins after their first six games.
But while it will be a tough road to the finals, it's too early to write the team off yet, irrespective of what happened in Bloemfontein overnight.
Best win: The Brumbies are yet to put a complete performance together but their effort against the NSW Waratahs was as close as they've got.
While the 21-11 score line suggests the teams were relatively closely matched, it was only a late Lachie Turner five-pointer that saved the Waratahs from an embarrassing tryless defeat at Canberra Stadium.
The Brumbies forwards outplayed their NSW opponents and the return of Stirling Mortlock to outside centre for the first time all season proved a winner.
Coach Andy Friend admitted after the match his experiment of playing Mortlock at inside centre for the opening three weeks of the competition was a failure.
The Wallabies captain returned to his best for the annual derby and led the Brumbies to a comprehensive victory.
Worst loss: In terms of overall performance, the 25-16 defeat by the Western Force in round two at Canberra Stadium is hard to go past.
Force flyhalf Matt Giteau, who had only days before announced he would rejoin the Brumbies next season, made a mockery of his soon-to-be teammates in a stunning performance.
The home team was flat as it strived to keep its unbeaten start to the season alive.
The attack wasn't working and the defence was leaking.
Best back: Tyrone Smith has picked up from where he left off last season.
In what was his first season of professional rugby, Smith was named the Australian Super 14 rookie of the year in 2008.
And 2009 has been just as good.
The 25-year-old started the first three games on the bench due to Friend's insistence on playing Mortlock at 12 and Adam Ashley-Cooper at 13.
But after shifting Mortlock back to outside centre and bringing Smith to 12, the younger brother of the inspirational George Smith has not disappointed.
Tyrone Smith has an uncanny ability to break defensive lines at will and gives little away in attack.
He has developed into a must-have in the starting XV.
Best forward: Tough to split Stephen Moore and George Smith.
Moore has been a blessing for the Brumbies pack.
The high-profile recruit has transformed the team's set piece into a competitive aspect of its game once again.
His lineout throwing has been on song in every match while his scrummaging has helped the ACT scrum take massive steps forward from where it was languishing in 2008.
Smith was the trigger to the team's three wins from its opening four games of the campaign. His work rate at the breakdown is world class while his ability to poach opposition ball has handed his team vital turnovers on a regular basis.
Summary: The Brumbies should have been five-and-one after their first six outings.
Their lacklustre performance against the Force cost them a vital win while their inability to control possession when it mattered led to the shock loss to the Johannesburg Lions.
If they had won those two matches, the Brumbies would have found themselves in or close to the top four entering the second half of the season.
But dwelling on missed opportunities isn't going to help the two-time champions.
They must instead focus on winning at least six of their final seven matches which won't be easy given some of the opposition they are still to face to remain in finals contention.
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