Next step is evolution into Super men

The Brumbies are still smarting from last weekend's five-point grand final loss to the Waikato Chiefs. Captain Ben Mowen has declared that he will never watch a replay of the 27-22 defeat.

But Nic White has vowed to learn from the experience and not dwell on an uncharacteristic mistake that contributed to a momentum shift in the decider.

The Brumbies led by 10 points with 20 minutes remaining when White failed to find touch from a penalty deep in Brumbies territory.

The Chiefs immediately went on a scoring spree, as the inexperienced Brumbies faltered with more errors, including fullback Jesse Mogg also failing to find touch from another penalty in the dying seconds.

The long-kicking games of White and Mogg had been a strength for the Brumbies all season.

White, who has since joined the Wallabies in camp, explained he had been trying to kick long and get the Brumbies out of danger.

''We pushed the envelope, but if we had put it out we would have looked good. I went for it, it didn't come off,'' White said. ''Jake said if there's one thing he wanted me to learn from that, it's not to go into my shell.

''We were so close. There were so many small moments.

''I don't think it was any one thing that went wrong, you could pull out anyone that changed the game.

''My kick didn't go out, Moggy's kick didn't go out, but the Chiefs made just as many mistakes as us. Looking back now, it was a bit of inexperience.

''We lost the game but no one can take away the experience we got out if it.

''You can't put it in the box and throw it away, you've got to learn from it.''

While the Brumbies exceeded external expectations to make their first grand final in nine years, Mowen admitted he was still coming to grips with a missed opportunity.

''To be honest, I don't think I'll ever watch it,'' Mowen said.

''It just reminds me of disappointment. I'm so proud of the way we played and I thought we were outstanding for 60 minutes. For so much of the game we were in control but a couple of pressure moments really cost us.

''The job's still not complete. Now we've got to wait a long time for 2014 to kick off and we'll be motivated to get the trophy.

''You can't disguise the fact we kicked poorly for 20 minutes. We didn't put penalties out on the full … We'll learn a lot from it.''

Reflecting on his second season in charge of the Brumbies, coach Jake White highlighted the many successes this season; beating the British and Irish Lions, and making the Super Rugby finals for the first time since 2004.

But the 2007 World Cup-winning coach said the Brumbies would need to continue their evolution to be a championship contender next year.

There has been a lot of commentary about the Brumbies' defensive style of rugby, but White stressed his team was still developing as a group.

''There's a general feeling in the club that we haven't even played our best rugby yet,'' White said. ''We know we can get better, we know the graph is still going upwards.

''We have to take positives out of that, but we're not happy coming second. Our intention was to win the championship and that's still our goal.

''Our game has to evolve … if we do everything the same next year, we'll come second again. That's not what we want.''

The Brumbies will maintain the bulk of this year's squad, with champion flanker George Smith, prop Dan Palmer, lock Peter Kimlin and flanker Colby Faingaa the biggest losses.

Smith's departure will be eased by the return of David Pocock, who suffered a season-ending knee injury early in the year.

Mowen said the belief would be stronger in the Brumbies squad next season.

''We'll reset the bar in all areas,'' Mowen said. ''Our game will continue to evolve and guys will start to see different things, more opportunities and look to back themselves.

''Our game will look worlds different to what it does now. We've been through the finals now and, at the end of the day, we only want to be there for a championship.''

Having gained the respect of their rivals, Nic White said the Brumbies needed to strive for consistency in Super Rugby.

He pointed to the Sharks, who made the grand final in 2012 but failed to qualify for the playoffs this year.

''The outside pressure won't affect the group too much,'' he said.

''Maybe we caught everyone by surprise in 2012, but this year teams were up to play against us.

''We have to keep getting better if we want to keep that respect.

''It might be another step up again next year, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I'd rather be in this position and have teams chasing us than being the teams who have to chase.''