ACT Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham says his side must improve if it wants to be a genuine Super Rugby title contender, but insists a lacklustre finish to the regular season will be irrelevant when the finals begin this week.
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The Brumbies booked their ticket to the play-offs when they beat the Western Force 24-10 at Canberra Stadium on Saturday night and simultaneously ended the NSW Waratahs' season by snatching Australia's guaranteed finals berth.
The result sets up a showdown with the defending champion Otago Highlanders in Canberra on Friday at 6pm and the 14-point win against the Force will hardly strike fear into the New Zealanders.
The Brumbies stuttered through the first half and then failed to score a point in the second half in a performance Larkham labelled disappointing in victory.
The effort was good enough to topple the lowly-ranked and controversy-striken Force, who won just two games this year, but Larkham says improvements must be made for a short turnaround against the Highlanders.
The face a huge challenge given Australian teams have only won three of 25 games against New Zealand opponents this season.
"Obviously it was a disappointing game ... a disappointing second half but I think the first half was a good display of gritting it out," Larkham said.
"We just dropped too much ball. It became a defensive game. [But] it's irrelevant, it's about what we do this week now.
"You have ups and downs and certainly the second half [against the Force] was a half we're not happy with. But it's all irrelevant now, it's about putting it behind you and moving on to the next job.
"We've played the Highlanders this year and we were disappointed with the result of that game ... I think we've learnt from that. We've had our troubles with New Zealand teams, we'll make sure we give ourselves the best opportunities to play well."
The Brumbies did become the first Australian team to go through a season undefeated against their interstate rivals and claimed the top of the Australian conference honours for the first time since the system was introduced.
However, the Brumbies marched into the change rooms somewhat disappointed after failing to fire a warning shot on the eve of the play-offs.
The 9387 crowd was left in frozen silence as the first 20 minutes lacked any enthusiasm or energy before the Brumbies scored three tries before the break to open up a match-winning gap.
Matt Toomua and Tevita Kuridrani got over the line twice each, but both had a try denied while the powerful Brumbies scrum won a penalty try.
The Force showed plenty of fight and made the Brumbies work. But the home side was its own worst enemy in a performance that did just enough to earn a finals berth.
How they got to the finals won't matter when they start preparing to play the Highlanders, and the good news is that superstar flanker David Pocock and Jordan Smiler are poised to make comebacks from injury.
The Brumbies went into the Force clash knowing they would advance to the finals as long as they didn't lose by eight points or more.
When they got in front they hit cruise control and a shakey effort, but fullback Aidan Toua was the bright spark in open play that showed the Brumbies have got what it takes.
Co-captain Stephen Moore set a new record as the most capped Australian player in Super Rugby history, running out for his 163rd match.
Christian Lealiifano battled a cold during the week and nursed a sore shoulder through most of the match, but will be fit to play the Highlanders.
"As a game controller I'm disappointed with the errors we made and we couldn't build any momentum, which was frustrating," Lealiifano said.
"Looking back on it I don't think it's going to hurt us too much ... but it's a good learn for us heading into this part of the season to be able to adapt, get the win and defend the way we did.
"I thought Aidan was outstanding, it's good to see him in space. And the forwards at scrum time was perfect again. It's anyone's race now. We'll come in on Monday buzzing that we've got an opportunity to win this comp."
The turning point for the match was two minutes before half-time when Brumbies-bound Force centre Kyle Godwin scored a try, but was denied by the television match official for being offside.
The Brumbies raced to the other end of the field and then Kuridrani scored after the siren to break the Force's hopes.
The Brumbies will be forced to play the Highlanders in the unusual timeslot of 6pm after SANZAAR – Super Rugby's governing body – kiboshed the club's hopes of playing on Sunday afternoon.
Canberra's cold weather forced a change to the 7.40pm kick-off because the Canberra Raiders host three matches at Canberra Stadium on Saturday and staff feared a frost would not allow them to mark the lines on the field for a 10am start.
AT A GLANCE
Super Rugby round 17: ACT BRUMBIES 24 (Matt Toomua, penalty try, Tevita Kuridrani tries; Christian Lealiifano 2, Matt Toomua conversions; Christian Lealiifano penalty) bt WESTERN FORCE 10 (Ben Tapuai try; Ian Prior conversion, penalty) at Canberra Stadium on Saturday night. Referee: Paul Williams. Crowd: 9387.
SUPER RUGBY ELIMINATION FINAL
Friday: ACT Brumbies v Otago Highlanders at Canberra Stadium, 6pm. Tickets available from Ticketek.
