ACT Brumbies set to host Super Rugby AU final after beating Western Force

The Brumbies secured top spot and hosting rights for the decider in a 31-14 win over the Western Force at Canberra Stadium on Friday night.

Dan McKellar's side now has one regular season match to play, away to the Queensland Reds next week, before two rivals battle it out in a semi-final on September 12.

The winner will earn the right to challenge the Brumbies in the final on September 19, with club officials hopeful the ACT's crowd limit of 3000 could rise for the biggest domestic encounter of the year.

The final will be the first of its kind after the coronavirus pandemic brought the regular globetrotting Super Rugby competition to a shuddering halt in March before Australia and New Zealand split to run their own five-team competitions.

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An Australian crown will look somewhat different to the two Super Rugby trophies the Brumbies have won in the past, yet never has their mission wilted.

The bonus-point win over the Force takes the Brumbies to 28 competition points, giving them an unassailable seven-point lead over the second-placed Reds.

"It's really special, you've got to be proud of the effort from the boys. We went out there and did the job," Brumbies captain Allan Alaalatoa said.

"It was very special to play in front of 3000 fans, we hope in three weeks' time it can lift again and we'll get more people into the stadium because we know everyone is keen. It's going to be really special to play a final here at home.

"We definitely did [notice the bigger crowd], especially when your backs are against the wall, and your fans are really passionate and loud. They really get you through those tough times.

"I hope in three weeks' time it can lift again."

The nomads from the west now have one more shot to break through for a maiden victory - but their showing against the Brumbies suggests there is enough to build on with Rugby Australia committed to retaining five franchises in 2021.

But all four of the Brumbies' rivals would do well to run them down, for the changes coach Dan McKellar made in the 50^th minute were enough to send chills down any opposition's spine.

On came Scott Sio, Folau Fainga'a, Nic White and Rob Valetini - four Wallabies came off the bench and immediately the hosts began to regain the ascendancy after a passive start.

Yet still the Force refused to go away, hitting back before Len Ikitau's maiden Super Rugby try proved something of a saving grace to give the favourites some breathing space.

Then it was Andy Muirhead hammering the final nail in the coffin with a try that will see club bosses on the phone to stadium officials about making a booking for September 19.

"Pleased, that's what we had to come here tonight and do. Another bonus point as well, it was a tough night," McKellar said.

"They turned up, and we knew they would after last week, it was a rare event for a Western Force team. They threw the kitchen sink at us.

"We weren't great in the first 25 minutes, the boys adapted really well on the field. We had probably played a little bit too much side to side, we were a little bit more direct in the last 15 in the first half and benefited off the back of it.

"That's more of our natural game, we're continually evolving, especially in our attack. For the players to identify that and adapt on the run was excellent."

AT A GLANCE:

Super Rugby AU round nine: ACT BRUMBIES 31 (Tom Wright, Tom Banks, Will Miller, Len Ikitau, Andy Muirhead tries; Bayley Kuenzle 3 conversions) bt WESTERN FORCE 14 (Fergus Lee-Warner, Jono Lance tries; Ian Prior 2 conversions) at Canberra Stadium. Referee: Amy Perrett.