Brumbies brimming with belief ahead of Super Rugby qualifying final showdown against Chiefs

THE Brumbies face a grand final rematch against the Chiefs — and skipper Ben Mowen says they head into the Super Rugby playoffs high on confidence.

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - JULY 11: Henry Speight of the Brumbies is tackled during the round 19 Super Rugby match between the Brumbies and the Force at Canberra Stadium on July 11, 2014 in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Stefan Postles/Getty Images)

BRUMBIES skipper Ben Mowen says his side’s seven-try romp over the Western Force will act as the perfect confidence springboard into next week’s Super Rugby finals.

The Brumbies will host the defending champion Chiefs in a grand final rematch at Canberra Stadium on Saturday night. The winner of that qualifying final clash could potentially play the Waratahs in Sydney the following weekend.

With many of their Wallabies stars missing in recent weeks, the Brumbies had won just one game in their last four before rediscovering their mojo in the do-or-die 47-25 win over the Force.

The comprehensive victory, spearheaded by fit-again Wallabies playmaker Matt Toomua, washed away doubts the Brumbies were no longer a team to be reckoned with as the Force entered the game with the chance to secure their first ever­­ ­finals berth.

“When you score seven tries in a decisive game it gives you a massive belief in what you’re doing,’’ Mowen said.

“Getting into a knockout situation and putting in a performance like that will give the group massive confidence going forward.’’

Toomua said the side was extremely keen for the home qualifying final and director of rugby Laurie Fisher echoed his comments in the post-match press conference.

The Brumbies haven’t lost a home game since they entered the season under-cooked in round one of the competition against the Queensland Reds. They thumped the Chiefs, who beat them in last year’s grand final in Hamilton, 41-23 in round 11 in Canberra.

“Playing at home in any competition is an advantage,’’ Fisher said.

“It won’t win you the game, but it’s great to sleep in your own bed, to not have to travel, to train on your own pitch.

“All those little things help.’’

Originally published as Brumbies brimming with belief ahead of Super Rugby qualifying final showdown against Chiefs