The ACT Brumbies did everything right in a thumping win against the Japan Sunwolves on Sunday, smashing their way to a 33-0 to put them in a perfect finals position.

It was their fifth win in a row at home and their fourth win from their past five games anywhere and, although there was a foggy start, the sun was shining.

Unfortunately for the Brumbies, daylight, tries and winning rugby didn't translate to bums on seats as 7698 fans turned up to watch. The team undoubtedly deserves bigger, but how do they get it? Winning more? Or just having Rugby Australia sort out the game's off-field issues? Time will tell.

Most will look back at the Brumbies' win and think about the tries. But a moment of desperation in the second minute of the game was the real key to winning.

Scrumhalf Joe Powell gave away more than 20 kilograms in a battle for the first try of the game when Sunwolves winger Gerhard van den Heever looked certain to score.

Powell appeared out of nowhere and used all of his 83 kilograms to nudge van den Heever into touch before he could get the ball down. It was the key turning point.

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika was busy contacting players on Sunday night to tell them if they were in or out for a pre-World Cup camp.

Henry Speight and Tevita Kuridrani made their cases, while Tom Banks could replace Israel Folau and Lachlan McCaffrey is pushing for a back-row spot. James Slipper is another pressing for a recall.

"They've just got to keep playing good footy," said Brumbies coach Dan McKellar. "Both [Speight and Kuridarni] are very good defenders and they're defending well together at the moment. That's so important in Test match rugby. Henry - if there's a better winger in the world at the breakdown I'd be surprised."

AT A GLANCE

ACT BRUMBIES 33 (Henry Speight 2, Joe Powell, Tom Banks, Pete Samu tries; Christian Lealiifano 4 conversions) bt JAPAN SUNWOLVES 0 at Canberra Stadium on Sunday. Referee: Damon Murphy. Crowd: 7698.