The Brumbies copped criticism for their gritty 16-9 win against ladder leaders the Durban Sharks last week in a contest dominated by 93 kicks and minimal running rugby.

Fisher expects a more free-flowing match against the Free State Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Sunday morning, Australian time.

Captain Ben Mowen said the Brumbies were “genuinely excited” by the prospect of a more expansive game against the Cheetahs, the worst defensive team in Super Rugby.

But Fisher said the Brumbies would not be forced into overhauling their tactics, pointing to the fact the ACT side has scored the most tries of any Australian franchise, including the much-hyped NSW Waratahs.

“It wasn’t a fair criticism at all last week, I look at the game and there were two opportunities to run that we didn’t take … it’s about risk and smart decisions,” Fisher said.

“We’ve built this team over the past three years to be pragmatic. Our game is to compete for everything and make it tough, that’s what rugby is.

“It’s not touch footy. We’ve embraced that style and hopefully, off the back of being tough and uncompromising, we can score tries off that.

“I understand the concept of money and needing people to watch the game, but I believe in growing supporters, not spectators. Supporters will come irrespective of the quality of the game.”

The Brumbies kicked the ball 44 times against the Sharks and scored just one try in what many regarded as a dour contest.

In comparison, the Canterbury Crusaders kicked the ball 35 times in their six-try romp against the Queensland Reds, but drew no criticism.

The Brumbies have expanded their game under the guidance of Fisher and World Cup-winning playmaker Stephen Larkham.

The Brumbies have scored 30 tries in 11 games, more than Australian conference rivals the Waratahs (26) and the Western Force (23).

The players have been given the freedom to attack from anywhere, but Fisher said that did not mean taking risks inside their own half.

“We’ve tried to open our game this year and if guys see the opportunity to run from our own end, by all means do it,” Fisher said.

“I guarantee we would have lost if we didn’t play the way we did last week. Who said the game has to be about running out of your own end and scoring long-range tries?

“Rugby is about 15 on 15, scrums, lineouts and whatever unfolds. If you don’t like it, bad luck.”

Fisher said it was unfair to compare the top of the table match against the Sharks to high-scoring encounters.

The Cheetahs pose a significantly different threat to the Brumbies, as they aim to extend their lead at the top of the Australian conference.

The Cheetahs have conceded 43 tries this year and are second last on the ladder.

But they are regarded as one of the most dangerous teams in the competition because of their willingness and ability to attack from anywhere on the field.

Mowen said the Brumbies would not be drawn into a high-scoring try battle against the Cheetahs, despite more than 100 points being scored in the club’s past two trips to Bloemfontein.

“The games the Cheetahs have played well in this year, they’ve been super loose and they’ve got plenty of points in them,” Mowen said.

“We’re genuinely excited about playing this week. The kick contest that eventuated last week isn’t the way we want to play footy, but you have to react to the way teams play against you.

“The Cheetahs are the opposite, they want to be entertaining and keep the ball in hand. We’re excited about it, but we’ll be smart about that. We don’t want to get too loose. There will be space in the game and we have to convert that to points.”