Broken finals dreams to motivate new-look Brumbies

The Brumbies were knocked out of Super Rugby title contention by the Argentina Jaguares on Saturday morning, failing to fire in a 32-point defeat in Buenos Aires.

It was a sad way for Lealiifano to end his 12-year Brumbies career. He is one of nine players leaving the club, including influential stars David Pocock, Henry Speight, Sam Carter and Rory Arnold.

The team's return to Canberra will be the first steps in rebuild, with the team needing to find a new leader and preparing to throw rookies into the key playmaker role.

McCaffrey said the best way to pay tribute to Lealiifano and co was by building on what they have created this year.

"Christian mentioned that in the change rooms to the team," McCaffrey said.

"To be the best team in Super Rugby and Australia, you've got to maintain high standards every year.

"Although there are some quality guys leaving, the work ethic and culture at the Brumbies will never be lost no matter who comes and goes.

"We'll reflect on this season for a few weeks, then we'll start ripping in again to have that desire to do better next year."

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The Brumbies will retain the bulk of their squad for the start of a new four-year World Cup cycle next season.

NSW Waratahs flanker Will Miller will join the Brumbies and the club will make more signings in the coming months.

Coach Dan McKellar will put his faith in a quartet of young guns to shoulder the flyhalf duties, with Mack Hansen, Noah Lolesio, Reesjan Pasitoa and Bayley Kuenzle to get opportunities.

"It's a massive learning curve for a lot of our boys, even the ones who didn't play against the Jaguares," McKellar said.

"Guys like Mack Hansen, they got an insight into what's required to win semi-finals. It goes up to a whole other level.

"Immediately after the game there was emotion because those guys [leaving] realised their time at the Brumbies had come to an end. We're sad to be losing some guys who have been at our club for a long time but we also know there's a bright future ahead."

Lealiifano 150^th game for the Brumbies was also his last as he prepares to move his career to Japan.

"It's hard to explain what Christian means to the team and myself. We would have loved to have won a title for him, I don't know anyone who deserves it more than him," McCaffrey said.

"He's an outstanding player but more importantly he's an outstanding human being. He's been a tremendous captain and someone we all look up to. We're going to miss him a lot next year, but that's rugby.

"He's done more for the Brumbies than anyone I know of and we're just lucky to have been able to play with him."

Pocock is hoping to be fit for the World Cup while Carter is moving to Ireland, Arnold to France and Speight to the Queensland Reds.

Hooker Josh Mann-Rea has retired while Chance Peni and Jordan Jackson-Hope are moving to Japan and Ben Hyne is aiming to relaunch his career after injury woes in Canberra.

McKellar said his team was devastated after a 39-7 semi-final defeat after struggling to get into the game against the Jaguares.

But he hoped the finals loss would not overshadow the good work his team did this season, including winning seven games in a row for the first time in Brumbies history.

"I'm not going to let one game be a reflection on our whole season at all," McKellar said. "There are a lot of positives. We turned around our season, we turned around how we play as a club and we've been good. We just weren't good enough [in the semi-final]." The Brumbies will return to Canberra on Tuesday before turning their attention to Wallabies duties.