Incoming ACT Brumbies coach Dan McKellar will lean on Stephen Larkham when required next year, but the rookie Super Rugby mentor is set to bolster his back-room staff with a point-scoring ace.
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Former NSW Waratah Peter Hewat is on the Brumbies' radar as the man to replace Larkham's back-line coaching duties as McKellar builds his support network and playing roster.
Hewat could be appointed in the coming weeks, while there are two back-line full-time contracts up for grabs after the Brumbies were knocked out of the championship race last weekend.
Larkham will officially hand the reins to McKellar on Monday when he ends his Brumbies tenure and moves into a full-time assistant coaching job for the Wallabies.
Larkham, McKellar and captain Sam Carter spoke to Fairfax Media about what went wrong this year, a coaching changing of the guard and how David Pocock's return will impact the team.
MCKELLAR TAKES CHARGE
Larkham has spent the past week in exit interviews wrapping up his time in charge, urging the players to learn from their mistakes this year to chase a breakthrough title.
He is confident McKellar can step up after spending the past four years as an assistant coach.
McKellar has been recruiting an impressive support staff, with Hewat close to a deal to join assistants Laurie Fisher, Peter Ryan and Dan Palmer.
Larkham will also play an occasional hands-on role as part of an ARU national coaching strategy, which will allow him to be based in Canberra.
"He's a massive coaching resource and has enormous amount of knowledge," McKellar said of Larkham.
"I'm sure there will be times when we catch up ... I don't plan to avoid contacting him. He won't be in every day, but I'll be open to discussing everything with him."
Larkham, a champion flyhalf as a player, admitted he was frustrated to be leaving without the title he set out to win when he returned to the Brumbies as a coach in 2011.
"I am frustrated we haven't [won the championship]. But we can take things out of this year and I think the team is in a really good position moving forward," Larkham said.
"The goal at the start of the year is always to win the competition. We didn't achieve that and I'm disappointed. But overall I have to take some comfort out of the team being in a good position."
A SEASON OF NEAR-MISSES
The Brumbies lost seven games by seven points or less this season. They made the finals as the Australian conference champions, but failed to beat a New Zealand side.
Skipper Carter lamented the close losses as the "season of missed opportunity" after they were knocked out by the Wellington Hurricanes in a quarter-final last week.
The Brumbies haven't beaten a New Zealand team since round one of the 2016 season.
"We did exceed our expectations to some degree, but we did let ourselves down by not making the most of the opportunities we did have," Carter said.
"We weren't expected to do that well and we know we could have done better, but that makes it disappointing in a lot of ways.
"There were a lot of setbacks, but the most impressive thing for me was the way young guys stepped up and the culture down here."
The Brumbies lost four games in a row in the middle of the season and looked doomed, but rebounded to secure their fifth consecutive finals berth despite injuries.
Lausii Taliauli ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in the pre-season, Christian Lealiifano (leukaemia), Tomas Cubelli (knee), Scott Sio (hamstring and knee) also missed large portions of the season.
Regular starters Kyle Godwin and Aidan Toua suffered season-ending injuries before the play-offs.
"We did everything right to win the Australian conference to achieve our goal, but our goal was to win the championship," Larkham said.
"We used 37 guys this season, that's the most since I've been [coaching] and we do take a positive out of that."
LEALIIFANO'S INSPIRATION AND POCOCK'S COMEBACK
Christian Lealiifano's comeback moment was another step in what has been an inspirational tale for the Brumbies' co-captain.
He played his first game since being diagnosed with leukaemia in the clash against the Hurricanes.
It was a moving story and put the Brumbies' season in perspective after his diagnosis shocked the rugby world last year.
The playmaker veteran will likely take on leadership duties alongside Carter next year, while superstar flanker David Pocock will return from a 12-month Australian rugby sabbatical.
"I've said it before, Christian is the heart and soul of the team. So it's going to have him back and it will really help me," Carter said.
"Poey is one of the best in the world and nothing will change when he gets back."
It is hoped Pocock will be refreshed after stepping out of the spotlight this year to focus on his interests outside of sport.
The Brumbies found a gem of replacement in Chris Alcock, who was one of the team's best in every game he played.
Alcock is moving his career to Japan and Pocock will reclaim the No. 7 jersey.
"He will have a big impact because Poey is such a good player," Larkham said.
"Poey is a standout and we've seen he can change a game. That gives confidence to everyone around him and hopefully his presence gives some energy to the group."
THE CHANGES
The Brumbies lost more than 800 games worth of experience at the end of the 2016 campaign and there will be 11 players leaving the capital this season.
Young gun Nick Jooste and Nigel Ah Wong will join the list of players moving on while Wallabies warrior Scott Fardy is also moving on.
Former Brumbies head coach Fisher returns as a forwards guru while Pocock and Lealiifano will be massive inclusions in the squad.
McKellar will add another two backs to the full-time squad as well as filling the extended player squad spots.
The recruitment picture could become clearer when the ARU goes to arbitration with the Western Force on Monday as part of the process of axing one Australian franchise.
The Brumbies have their eyes on several players from the Force and Melbourne Rebels if a team is cut.
BRIGHT LIGHTS FOR THE FUTURE
The Brumbies blooded 12 new players this season and found some diamonds in the rough.
Joe Powell enjoyed a rapid rise and made his Wallabies debut while Tom Banks showed he's an excitement machine in the making.
Playmaker Wharenui Hawera played every minute of every game in his first Super Rugby season as the replacement for Lealiifano.
"When you look at the young players we had this year, there's plenty to be proud about," Larkham said.
PLAYERS DEPARTING: Scott Fardy, Tom Staniforth, Tomas Cubelli, Saia Faingaa, Anthony Faingaa, Jarrad Butler, Chris Alcock, Aidan Toua, Jordan Smiler, Nick Jooste, Nigel Ah Wong.
ON THE RADAR: Matt Lucas (scrumhalf), Folau Faingaa (hooker).
SEASON SUMMARY: 4th on overall ladder (Australian champions) - Played 16, won 6, lost 10.
SUPER RUGBY RESULTS
Round one: lost to Crusaders 17-13 in Christchurch.
Round two: lost to Sharks 27-22 in Canberra.
Round three: beat Force 25-17 in Canberra.
Round four: beat Waratahs 28-12 in Sydney.
Round five: lost to Highlanders 18-13 in Canberra.
Round six: bye
Round seven: beat Reds 43-10 in Canberra.
Round eight: lost to Rebels 19-17 in Melbourne.
Round nine: lost to Hurricanes 56-21 in Napier.
Round 10: lost to Blues 18-12 in Canberra.
Round 11: bye
Round 12: lost to Lions 13-6 in Canberra.
Round 13: beat Kings 19-10 in Port Elizabeth.
Round 14: beat Jaguares 39-15 in Buenos Aires.
Round 15: beat Rebels 32-3 in Canberra.
Round 16: lost to Reds 16-15 in Brisbane.
Round 17: lost to Chiefs 28-10 in Hamilton.
Quarter-final: lost to Hurricanes 35-16 in Canberra.
