ACT Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham hopes last weekend’s 34-point humbling at the hands of the Chiefs serves as a reality check for his team in the Super Rugby Pacific competition.
Heading into Saturday’s first home game for the season against the Western Force, Larkham lamented the Brumbies’ inconsistency in copping 46 points against the Chiefs, the most they’ve conceded in a match since round three of 2017.
But having taken the loss so early in the campaign, Larkham called on his players to use it as inspiration as they look to better back-to-back semi-final finishes.
“It’s consistency just across the board,” Larkham said.
“Defensively we obviously let in quite a few tries, some of those not necessarily from the defensive system, but certainly defensively we saw some inconsistencies there from our players.
“We had some issues around set piece as well – all things that are good to get early in the season, and things we can reflect back on.
“They had a few tactics out there that were quite successful as well and that will open our eyes.”
Larkham praised the application of his players on returning to training after the beatdown, as they prepare to tackle the Force and take on a familiar face in former long-term Brumby Nic White.
They’ll go in without the injured Charlie Cale, resulting in the forward pack being shuffled to see Rob Valetini move to No.8 and Tom Hooper to the back row from lock.
Bench forward Cadeyrn Neville won’t play against the Force, recovering from stitches he needed after a sickening blow from Jared Proffit with the Chiefs prop copping a three-game suspension as a result.
Set for their first game this season at GIO Stadium after consecutive trips to Melbourne, Larkham hoped his team could once again use an early-season defeat as motivation to reach new levels.
“(It was) very similar to a couple of games last year actually … very similar in terms of the physical battle,” he said.
“It was very similar in terms of our preparation going into that game, and our mindset. It’s good to have it early in the season, and we can reflect back on it.
“Preparation at home is a lot easier without the travel but equally we’ve spoken about trying to create a great atmosphere out there by playing some exciting rugby.”
By Alex Mitchell in Canberra
