Between administration dramas, poor performances and the launch of Israel Folau's controversial GoFundMe campaign, Rugby Australia has struggled under negative publicity.

But two days after Folau's appeal went viral, the Brumbies claimed a rousing win over the Durban Sharks to secure their spot in the semi-final.

Brumbies boss Phil Thomson believes the club's success is exactly what Rugby Australia needs right now.

"Australian rugby needs a team in the finals series performing well and that's certainly what we're doing at the moment," Thomson said.

"It's nice to be talking about performances on the field rather than the issues happening off it. It's a very positive thing for the Brumbies and Rugby Australia.

"The team has been very consistent over the last couple of months and they've shown the Canberra community and rugby in general what they can do and how to perform well."

MORE BRUMBIES NEWS

The Brumbies are one win away from securing a grand final spot and will play the Argentina Jaguares in a semi-final showdown on Saturday.

Under Super Rugby regulations, the Argentine side has to pay the Brumbies $100,000, made up largely of gate takings.

"It would help the franchise significantly," Thomson said. "We haven't had a good year financially from our low attendances at [Canberra] Stadium, so it will certainly give us a boost for our bottom line."

The Brumbies had to pay $75,000 to the Durban Sharks last week as per the agreement and will have to fork out an additional $125,000 if they earn the right to host the Super Rugby final.

While hosting the grand final would be the ultimate home run for the Brumbies, disappointing regular-season crowds have left the club sweating on their financial sustainability. The Brumbies pulled their second biggest crowd of the season last week as 11,112 fans filled nearly half the stadium to watch their quarter-final clash.

But a home grand final could still be a financial win for the club. A sell-out crowd at Canberra Stadium could potentially bring in a $500,000 profit.

"We have to ensure that we get a good crowd here to help us with the match-day fee," Thomson said.

"Performances on the paddock have been positive with what they have been able to achieve this year, so I hope the community come and support the Brumbies."

If the Brumbies win and the Hurricanes beat the Crusaders, Canberra will host the grand final on July 6.

SUPER RUGBY SEMI-FINAL

Saturday: Argentina Jaguares v ACT Brumbies at Jose Amalfitani Stadium, Buenos Aires, 9.05am (AEST).