3 Peter Kimlin

2 Scott Fardy

1 Matt Toomua

The almost decade-long absence from the finals are over and the Brumbies have confirmed themselves as a genuine title contender after smashing the Rebels. They have now all but guaranteed top spot in the Australian conference with one regular-season match remaining. The only thing that could prevent them hosting a match again this year is a last-round meltdown and the Queensland Reds beating the NSW Waratahs by more than 100 points next month. It’s been a painful eight seasons for the Brumbies. They haven’t seen finals action since winning the title with a team of legends in 2004. But a new group of unheralded youngsters will get their chance to shine when the Brumbies host a play-off in the opening round of the post season. Despite just 11,055 turning up last night, Canberra Stadium will be packed for the contest.

It was supposed to be a chance for Nic White to shine, but a massive moment in the young scrumhalf’s career ended in pain at Canberra Stadium. White was captaining the Brumbies for the first time and became the youngest skipper in the club’s history when he filled in for Ben Mowen. But he lasted just nine minutes before a stray knee hit him in his problematic shoulder and he was forced to leave the field. Not only was White captaining, he was launching one last attempt to impress Wallabies coach Robbie Deans to chase selection for the series against the British and Irish Lions. His season and Test dreams now hang on the results of scans as he waits to find out the damage. It’s hoped it was just a “stinger”.

The crowd erupted when the Brumbies decided to hold on to the ball in the opening minutes and attack the Rebels from inside their own half. It resulted in a a try to start the match. Jesse Mogg ran it from the back and sent it wide, giving winger Henry Speight some room to move. But from then on the Brumbies went back into their calculated and safe game plan. They kicked it away when in attack and the crowd booed as chances to heap pressure on the Rebels in the first half went begging. If the Brumbies want to challenge for the title, they can’t let teams off the hook with small kicks when there’s opportunities to score tries.

If Wallabies coach Robbie Deans wants hard work, heart, determination and passion for the British and Irish Lions, he should pick Peter Kimlin next week. Deans will finalise his squad for the Lions series when he picks the last five players on Tuesday. It’s likely the coach will opt for Hugh McMeniman as the loose forward, but Kimlin has been outstanding this year and deserves his chance in the gold jersey. He’s been consistently one of the best players every week. He puts his body on the line. He makes the tough tackles and he never shirks any responsibility. It’s a shame the versatile forward is heading to France at the end of the season because he’s in career-best form.

The Brumbies were leading 10-3 at half-time and while they appeared the better team, the result was still in the balance at the break. But when the Brumbies’ returned to the field they were ruthless. Despite a surprise try to the Rebels early, the Brumbies kicked into gear. They lifted the intensity and despite the raft of changes in the squad, they were clinical when opportunities presented themselves. Clyde Rathbone scored a double, Henry Speight, Zack Holmes and Colby Faingaa all got across the line. The fact the Brumbies were missing eight regular starting players makes it even more impressive. Championship teams need to assert their dominance over lower-ranked opponents and that’s exactly what the Brumbies did with some scintillating play in the second half. They won the second half 29-14.