It might seem small for an Australian derby, but it's actually bigger than initial predictions and shows there's life in the Canberra rugby community.

Sure, the game was sandwiched between a GWS Giants pre-season AFL fixture and the Canberra Raiders' first home game of the year, which is expected to attract more than 16,000 fans.

So where were the rest of the Brumbies supporters on a night when they needed them most?

Some were probably at the South Coast, others watching from home and the rest most likely fed up with uncertainty in Super Rugby as SANZAAR bosses try to find a way to reinvigorate the competition.

It is hoped there will be an answer on Super Rugby's future by Saturday morning. The reality is it's likely to be at least a month before a decision is finalised.

How can fans jump on board the new look Brumbies if the ARU doesn't know if there will be a Canberra side in future seasons?

Sure, a small crowd isn't a good look, particularly because the Brumbies are in the danger zone alongside the Force and Melbourne Rebels if an Australian team is kicked out.

But does a disappointing crowd define a club's existence. Definitely not.

It wasn't that long ago the Raiders had 6000 people walking through the gates in their 2015 campaign.

A Green Machine resurgence on the field is creating a wave of momentum off it, with the club within reach of the biggest first home game crowd since moving to Canberra Stadium in 1990.

The Giants were drawing horrible crowds to Manuka Oval a few years ago when they were being thumped by opposition teams. Now they're premiership favourites and there's hardly a spare seat in the house.

Momentum is the winner and unfortunately Australian rugby, and the Brumbies, don't have it.

Everyone has been waiting to find out if an Australian team will be cut from the competition, making it hard to buy into a new season.

Diehard rugby fans knew the Super Rugby season was about to kick-off. But where was the ARU-driven buzz and excitement in a market where the NRL and AFL are kings?

Super Rugby needs to change, at the very least by overhauling the format and the conference system that has left some fans disenchanted.

That said, there's no way to sugarcoat the turnout at the Brumbies on Friday night.

The Brumbies might still be suffering some brand damage after infighting and court-room battles led to the club hitting one of its lowest points last year.

Usually chilly Raiders and Brumbies use the weather as an excuse, but the clash against the Force was on a perfect mid-March night.

Maybe some supporters jumped in the car to get to the South Coast early for some sand and surf instead of spending the night at an ageing Canberra Stadium.

But you only have to look at the expected Raiders crowd to know there are still people in Canberra.

Traditionally, one-third of the Brumbies' membership don't attend a game in the capital on the Canberra Day long weekend and the capital's three-sport weekend certainly didn't help cross-code fans.

The Force don't traditionally pull in big crowds in the capital and the Brumbies planned accordingly.

The SANZAAR hierarchy recognises all is not well with the format, which had just three Australian derbies in the first three weeks and all games involved the Force.

The first step in building momentum is giving Canberra clarity on the future.