Brumbies flying the flag for Australia in play-offs

Brumbies head coach Dan McKellar highlighted the importance of his team’s Super Rugby quarter-final against the Sharks in Canberra on Saturday.

After his team’s 40-27 bonus point victory over the Reds at the weekend, the Brumbies are the only Australian team who qualified for the knockout rounds.

Of the other Australian teams, the Rebels finished in 11th position in the 15-team competition while the Waratahs had to settle for 12th spot and the Reds finished in second last spot.

“I do think there’s a sense that we’re representing the country,” said McKellar.

“You get a bit sick of rugby getting beaten up in Australia for one reason or another. I’d love for us to keep working hard and put some really positive stories together for our own players and group to remember.

“But also for rugby to get some positivity over the next few weeks,” he added. “I’m confident we can do that.”

With the departure of captain Christian Lealiifano and a host of other players looming, there is plenty of motivation for the club to give some of their stalwarts a fairytale ending.

Despite that, though, McKellar said things would be business as usual leading into this weekend.

“Obviously there’s the buzz around playing finals and keen to play in front of a really good crowd so there’s all that but we’ll keep all the emotion in check and be ready to go at 8:05pm on Saturday night,” he added.

The Brumbies will be looking for their seventh straight victory at home and their sixth straight win overall.

One more triumph would be the longest winning streak in Brumbies history.