🏉 Blues 20 - Brumbies 19

Proud, but hurting.

Proud of this bloke

Despite the frustrating end, what a game last night’s semi final was!

A courageous end to a great season from the Brumbs, and I think it’ll be remembered as the start of a new chapter for Rugby in the ACT.

The on-field success against the Kiwis has caught people’s attention, and people have begun to re-engage with the game, that of late, hasn’t had much to crow about.

But on field success alone won’t mask over issues people in the Canberra rugby community have the with the Brumbies, and why they don’t attend matches.

Australia wide, professional rugby had lost sight of the importance grassroots plays in the health of the game, and I know people still have issues with all the off-field drama that’s plagued the club, right back to David Nucifora’s sacking in 2004.

But I think the club is working hard to address that, and if the lads keep taking steps towards another title, while playing a brand of Rugby we can be proud of, then the club and the game can return to the health it once had.

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That aside, what did last night teach us?

We’ve always known it, but home ground advantage is massive in finals footy, and I can’t help but think we might of snuck a late penalty had the game been in Canberra.

Despite the end, the game was well reffed and there’s so much this young group can learn from, especially from the disappointing 2nd quarter of the game, after making an incredible start.

The pressure was all on Auckland, but those 2 tries before half time got their tails up and where able to hang on. But full credit to the Blues after being the form team all year, and Australian Rugby needs to get Blues Back’s Coach and Yass boy Dan Halangahu home and coaching the next generation of Australian backs.

Tackling and tactics aside, what stood out most for me these past 2 weeks has been the character the team showed. I know it’s clichéd, but to fight back in both matches against quality opposition shows how much its means to the lads to represent the region, and their never say die attitude.

Such a bittersweet way to end the incredible Brumbies careers of Scott Sio, Tom Banks, Irae Simone, Folau Faingaa and Dan McKellar.

All will be missed, and we wish nothing but the best in the next chapter of their careers, with Banksy and Dan’s time here typifying what the Brumbies is all about.

Banksy came to Canberra after being overlooked by the Reds, but grew so much as a player that his $1.2m per year contract in Japan now has him ranked right up there with Australia’s best paid athletes.

And not that it’s about the money, but that deal will set him and his family up for life, and bloody well deserved for a Red’s reject.

Dan McKellar too, as his career was once at crossroad and thought maybe coaching wasn’t going to work out. But an email from Laurie Fisher about an opportunity at the Brumbies now sees Dan as one of provincial Rugby’s best coaches, and I’m looking forward to him emulating that success on the international stage.

Dan always spoke about leaving the jersey in a better place then when you wear it, and there’s no doubt he’s done just that.