'It makes sense': Brumbies say new structure ends Super Rugby's confusing finals

A Wallabies-depleted Brumbies squad is in its second week of pre-season training and already has its sights set on the new Super Rugby format for next year.

Officials have removed the controversial pre-determined finals spots, which were allocated to one team each from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa under the previous model.

The guaranteed finals ticket for the winners of the individual conferences was brought in to suit television broadcasters, but it also created problems and tension because under-performing sides were able to host a play-off match even if they didn't deserve to.

The Brumbies were put in the awkward position of hosting teams who won more games than them in recent seasons, and fans saw through the token ladder positions.

The Super Rugby finals format was changed in 2011 to promote the winners of each conference. In 2017 the Brumbies finished 2^nd on the overall table despite winning just six games while others blow them won 10 or more.

The COVID-19 pandemic gave officials a chance to tinker with the system, reverting to a top-eight McIntyre play-off system.

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"It just makes sense," said Brumbies scrumhalf Ryan Lonergan. "Whoever has won the most games deserves to be there in the finals.

"It's just logical. I understand the concept of the conference system of the last few years, but it was confusing and I think a lot of people didn't like it.

"It probably benefitted Australia more than others to be honest, which is not what we wanted. But I think now it's the teams that deserve to be in the finals is a great thing.

"It's back how it was when I was growing up. You've got to win - that's how it is. I think it's exciting and it looks like a sustainable set up."

The Brumbies and Queensland Reds battled for Australian supremacy in the coronavirus-affected seasons of the past two years.

But both struggled in a five-week trans-Tasman series against New Zealand opponents, winning just one game each. They were the only Australian teams to beat Kiwi rivals and highlighted the gap between the nations.

The new Super Rugby format will introduce an Anzac round for the first time next year, with the Brumbies to play the Highlanders in Dunedin.

The ultimate test, however, will be when the Brumbies face the Canterbury Crusaders and Auckland Blues in back to back weeks to finish the regular season. It will most likely make or break the Brumbies' finals chances.

"We learnt a lot this year coming from Super Rugby AU going into the trans-Tasman. We hadn't played them in so long that it was a shock to us," Lonergan said.

"Playing them regularly, it will grow our game again. We just want to focus on what we can and to be tested by the best in the world will show us how we're really going."

There will be 15 weeks in the regular season, which starts on February 18, and a three week finals campaign as the competition welcomes new teams Moana Pasifika and Fijian Drua.

February 18: Moana Pasifika v Brumbies at Auckland, 5.05pm.

February 27: Rebels v Brumbies at Melbourne, 4pm.

March 5: Brumbies v Waratahs at Canberra, 7.45pm.

March 12: Reds v Brumbies at Brisbane, 7.45pm.

March 19: Brumbies v Hurricanes at Canberra, 2.35pm.

Round 6 date TBC: Brumbies v Chiefs at Canberra, TBC

April 1: Force v Brumbies at Perth, 9pm.

April 15: Fijian Drua v Brumbies at TBC, 7.45pm.

April 22: Highlanders v Brumbies at Dunedin, 5.05pm.

April 29: Brumbies v Reds at Canberra, 7.45pm.

May 8: Brumbies v Force at Canberra, 2pm.

May 14: Chiefs v Brumbies at Hamilton, 2.35pm.

May 21: Brumbies v Crusaders at Canberra, 7.45pm.

May 27: Brumbies v Blues at Canberra Stadium, 7.45pm.

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