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Forget the Australian rugby sideshow. Fans are fed up with cross-code tug-of-wars and trans-Tasman politics, but there is something they can get excited about brewing in Canberra.
The ACT Brumbies are on the verge of breaking winning records and hooker Folau Fainga'a can become an unlikely try-scoring hero if he gets across the line this weekend.
The Brumbies will be chasing their sixth consecutive win this year when they play the Western Force at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday. They've won six in a single year just one before in the club's history, which sent Dan McKellar's men on a golden run into the finals last year.
And Fainga'a is edging closer to his own slice of history. If he scores against the Force, he will become the first player since the start of Super Rugby in 1996 to do so in seven consecutive games.
The Brumbies have managed to do all this despite bushfire smoke, the mumps, coronavirus and a Super Rugby split because of travel restrictions.
McKellar has been building a resilient squad since taking the coaching reins and the progress was obvious when the Brumbies clawed their way to a win despite their set-piece woes last week.
"We would have lost that game 12 months ago," McKellar said. "We've got that mindset every week that regardless of who we're playing, we're turning up with belief and confidence that we can win off the back of our preparation.
"We don't ever want to come second. It takes time to ingrain that and by winning games like last week it builds confidence. You'll have nights every now and then where things don't function ... to be able to turn that around is pleasing."
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The Brumbies have won 14 of their past 16 games, a run of good form stretching back to the start of May last year. Some will look back and put an asterisk next to the purple patch given the coronavirus disruptions and the shift to an Australia-only competition.
But the run includes wins against New Zealand, South African, Japanese and Australian teams, and the Canberra franchise recorded its 200th Super Rugby win - the first Australian team to reach the milestone - when it came from behind to be NSW last week.
Super Rugby nations have agreed to have games, points tallies and records counted towards overall competition stats despite the different format this season.
It means Fainga'a is on an individual charge, scoring from the back of rolling mauls and from close range in each of the past six games. He is level with Malcolm Marx, but can set a new mark if he can burrow over against the Force.
McKellar has made eight changes to his squad for the Force battle, wary of the Perth franchise chasing its first win.
"We took a lot about a winning mind set and dealing with pressure," McKellar. "Perfection is unrealistic. We had to find a way, that's the growth of this team."
SUPER RUGBY AU ROUND FOUR
Saturday: Western Force v ACT Brumbies at Leichhardt Oval, 7.15pm.
Brumbies: 1. Scott Sio, 2. Folau Fainga'a, 3. Allan Alaalatoa, 4. Murray Douglas, 5. Nick Frost, 6. Rob Valetini, 7. Will Miller, 8. Pete Samu, 9. Joe Powell, 10. Bayley Kuenzle, 11. Tom Wright, 12. Irae Simone, 13. Tevita Kuridrani, 14. Solomone Kata, 15. Tom Banks. Reserves: 16. Connal McInerney, 17. Harry Lloyd, 18. James Slipper, 19. Ben Hyne, 20. Lachlan McCaffrey, 21. Issak Fines, 22. Mack Hansen, 23. Andy Muirhead.
Force: 15. Jack McGregor, 14. Byron Ralston, 13. Marcel Brache, 12. Henry Taefu, 11. Brad Lacey, 10. Jono Lance, 9. Nick Frisby, 8. Brynard Stander, 7. Tevin Ferris, 6. Henry Stowers, 5. Fergus Lee-Warner, 4. Jeremy Thrush (capt), 3. Kieran Longbottom, 2. Feleti Kaitu'u, 1. Angus Wagner. Reserves: 16. Andrew Ready, 17. Chris Heiberg, 18. Tom Sheminant, 19. Ollie Atkins, 20. Ollie Callan, 21. Jacob Abel, 22. Richard Kahui, 23. Kyle Godwin.