The mere thought of travelling to Buenos Aires to play a semi-final would leave even the toughest Super Rugby players shaking. But ACT Brumbies coach Dan McKellar says his men "won't be scared" as they look to overcome one of the most gruelling road trips to secure their spot in the grand final.
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The Brumbies claimed a club record seventh straight win after thrashing the Durban Sharks in a quarter-final on Saturday night. Dan McKellar's side are one win away from securing a grand final spot, but first they'll have to overcome a gruelling travel schedule to Buenos Aires and face the red-hot Jaguares.
It will be a marathon journey for the players but the trip isn't so daunting with their recent record on the road.
The Brumbies claimed back-to-back victories over the Johannesburg Lions and Cape Town Stormers in South Africa earlier this year. They haven't dropped a game since the tiresome South Africa-Argentina tour.
After spending four weeks travelling over the South Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, McKellar said their trip to Buenos Aires was just a "walk in the park".
"You've got to embrace it," McKellar said.
"Finals footy is tough and travel is part of Super Rugby. It's not new to us, it won't scare us. We obviously limit our training time and focus on recovery but I think that's something we did really well on the road a couple of months ago. It'll be the same.
"It's a bit easier than going via Cape Town. It will still have its challenges, but we love getting on the road and if we're on the road then so be it.
"The boys just enough each other's company and we've always toured well, so I don't know if that's what it is. We won't be looking at the travel as a negative. It's not an excuse for us, we'll embrace it and give it a crack."
McKellar has more reason to glow with confidence ahead of their semi-final clash in Argentina. The Brumbies also boast a strong history of success in overseas finals.
The Brumbies came back from behind to beat the Pretoria Bulls in South Africa to secure their place in the 2013 Super Rugby grand final. They also thrashed the Stormers in Cape Town in their 2015 quarter-final.
"It does give us confidence," McKellar said.
"There's a lot of guys who have played finals and been involved in those games."
"So we'll [approach] next week as normal as we can and turn it up [in Buenos Aires]."
Captain Christian Lealiifano played a vital role the club's 2013 finals campaign, scoring all 22 of the Brumbies' points in a five-point heartbreaker against the Waikato Chiefs.
Lealiifano called time on his decorated career in Canberra last week, giving the Brumbies extra motivation as they play off for the silverware.
The 31-year-old flyhalf said the trip to Buenos Aires was the toughest road trip in the competition but believed the Brumbies would overcome the challenge.
"The group enjoy challenges and it's a big challenge ahead of us but we relish that," Lealiifano said.
"It's an exciting time, we're playing at the right end of the year. You can get caught up in the hype and the travel and all that but we'll just enjoy it."
BRUMBIES NEWS
The Brumbies have won nine of their past 10 games but their most recent loss came against the Argentine side.
McKellar believes his men can deliver an eighth straight victory next weekend but will need to prepare for a physical match against the red-hot South American side.
"They're a very physical side, obviously [former Brumbies No.9] Tomas [Cubelli] is there and he's dangerous. They're a team that defends well, play physical and take their opportunities," McKellar said.
"We learned a lot up there a few weeks back. So we'll take those things on board and make sure we're better. Our forwards are playing well, as are our backs, so our game is in good shape.
"But there is certainly going to be a focus on our physicality and our intent up there because if you don't produce that, you won't beat them."
The winner of the Brumbies-Jaguares match will advance to the grand final to play either the Canterbury Crusaders or the Wellington Hurricanes.
If the Brumbies win and the Hurricanes beat the Crusaders, the Brumbies will host the grand final on July 6.
SUPER RUGBY SEMI-FINAL
Saturday: Argentina Jaguares v ACT Brumbies at Jose Amalfitani Stadium, Buenos Aires, 9.05am (AEST).
Lucie Bertoldo
Lucie Bertoldo is a sports reporter for the Canberra Times.
Lucie Bertoldo is a sports reporter for the Canberra Times.
