The ACT Brumbies took a giant step forward in restoring their dented pride with a morale-boosting win in South Africa, but will it be enough to put bums on seats when they return to Canberra?
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Brumbies co-captains Sam Carter and Christian Lealiifano have urged fans to get behind the team and show their support by turning up to Canberra Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The Brumbies have set an ambitious target of attracting a crowd of 15,000 for a clash against the Japan Sunwolves in the fan-friendly 4pm timeslot, with the club to donate $15,000 to charity if they reach the goal.
It would almost triple the attendance of the last home game three weeks ago, but the Brumbies hope a gritty win against the Pretoria Bulls will help restore pride and give supporters confidence.
The Brumbies came from behind to beat the Bulls 38-28 at Loftus Versfeld, despite playing the final 19 minutes with 14 players on the field after Folau Faingaa was sent off.
It snapped a five-game losing streak, moved the Brumbies up the Australian conference standings and gave the players some much-needed self belief.
Frustrating performances and a drop in overall Super Rugby interest has contributed to a drop in Brumbies crowd numbers, prompting a warning the club may cease to exist if low numbers continue.
But Lealiifano hopes supporters jump back on board to help the team take another step forward in the game against the Sunwolves.
"We're really looking forward to getting back home," Lealiifano said.
"Hopefully everyone can turn out on a Sunday afternoon and hopefully it's dry again so we can play the way we want to play.
"I'm just proud. Proud for the guys to get some reward for the hard work they're putting in every day. It's a big boost for us, we're pretty stoked."
Carter added: "To get that win after struggling for a couple of weeks, it's a great feeling.
"There have been little moments that were letting us down and we were heading down that path again, but the one thing we've learnt is to get out of those situations."
The Brumbies will return to Canberra on Monday to prepare for their clash against the Sunwolves and the team will be intent on scoring back to back wins before a four-week mid-season break.
The win against the Bulls was the Brumbies' first victory since April 7, ending an almost two-month drought and restoring confidence and pride at the club.
It has come too late for the Brumbies to mount a charge for the finals, but being the first Australian team to win in South Africa this year was a positive step forward for a new group of players.
A handful of Brumbies will be included in Wallabies coach Michael Cheika's squad this week for the three-Test series against Ireland in June.
But coach Dan McKellar is hoping the effort against the Bulls will restore fans' faith and encourage them to get behind the team this week.
"Relief, pumped, proud ... very proud. We've copped some flak the last few weeks as a club, this group has stayed together and shown a lot of resilience," McKellar said.
"We're just starting play a brand of footy that we want to play and hopefully a style that people want to watch. Hopefully the supporters enjoyed that win.
"We understand we've copped that flak, we want to get back to Canberra Stadium and put on a performance that our fans will enjoy and be proud of. That's a real goal of ours."
Kyle Godwin, Lachlan McCaffrey, Faingaa, Tom Banks and Andy Muirhead scored tries, while Wharenui Hawera nailed two sideline conversions to hammer home the Brumbies' win.
Banks was brilliant in the two games in South Africa and got back to the form that catapulted him into a Wallabies training squad last year.
Godwin has also relished a return to the starting side at inside centre, while David Pocock was influential in the win.
"What we've been trying to push [as coaches] is to play with out fear. Play with freedom. Don't fear errors ... and the boys have done that," McKellar said.
"I think they enjoy playing that style of footy and they've managed to execute it pretty well the last couple of weeks."
SUPER RUGBY ROUND 16
Sunday: ACT Brumbies v Japan Sunwolves at Canberra Stadium, 4.05pm. Tickets available from Ticketek. Fans will be allowed on to the field after the match and the Brumbies will donate a total of $15,000 to OzHarvest, Lifeline Canberra and Give me five for kids if they reach a 15,000 crowd goal.
AT A GLANCE
Super Rugby: ACT BRUMBIES 38 (Kyle Godwin, Lachlan McCaffrey, Folau Faingaa, Tom Banks, Andy Muirhead tries; Christian Lealiifano 3, Wharenui Hawera 2 conversions; Christian Lealiifano penalty) bt PRETORIA BULLS 28 (Handre Pollard, Roelof Smith, John-Ben Kotze tries; Handre Pollard 2 conversions, 3 penalties) at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria, on Saturday night. Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen. Crowd: 8189.
