ACT Brumbies coach Jake White says his team now has the belief it can compete with any opponent in Super Rugby despite returning to Canberra with heavy hearts today.
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The Brumbies' 29-22 loss to the Waikato Chiefs last night ended the perfect start to the season for White's young squad.
They will arrive home having lost their first match, but the Brumbies have proved they will no longer be competition easy-beats.
Prior to the match White said the Chiefs would provide the biggest test for the Brumbies so far.
The Hamilton-based side boasts a star back line - including All Blacks Sonny Bill Williams, Aaron Cruden and Richard Kahui - and a powerful forward pack. For 79 minutes the Brumbies matched it with their more experienced opponents.
But the Brumbies crumpled in the dying minutes and lacked the composure to hold on for a draw.
It was a harsh lesson for a team riding high on confidence and White said his players must learn from it if they want to improve.
''You have to win if you want to pass tests,'' White said. '' … [What was good] was they gave it a full crack, they're starting to get the belief we can win games away from home and we can take on sides like the Chiefs. There's enough there to know if we play properly, we can beat sides at home. It's not ideal … but this is a tough competition and the difference between winning and losing is marginal.''
The challenge for the Brumbies is to rebound from their last-minute loss. They cannot afford to let the defeat by the Chiefs stall their rebuilding phase under White and let it dent their confidence.
They play the Otago Highlanders at Canberra Stadium next Saturday night.
