After being Australia’s top team in the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific last season, the ACT Brumbies will be determined to push on in 2024.
Finishing the regular season in fourth place in the standings, the Brumbies went on to reach the semi-finals before defeat to eventual runners-up the Chiefs.
With that experience under their belt, the Brumbies will be hoping to achieve great things this year and try to end New Zealand’s domination of this competition.
The Brumbies are 10.00 to win the grand final this season.
There are certainly plenty of positives head coach Stephen Larkham and his management team can take from last season’s efforts to reach the semi-finals.
Winning 10 of their 14 games in the regular season was a tremendous effort from the Canberra outfit and they also impressed with their 37-33 win over the Hurricanes in the quarter-finals.
It was always going to be a big ask to overcome the Chiefs in their own backyard, especially as the Hamilton outfit had only lost one game throughout the entire regular season.
The Brumbies only finished two points behind eventual winners the Crusaders on the ladder at the regular season.
Such is the competitive nature of Super Rugby Pacifica, it’s incredibly fine margins that will once again determine who are crowned champions come the end of the season.
The Brumbies have a rich history in the competition, winning two titles in 2001 and 2004, while they have been runners-up on four occasions in 1997, 2000, 2002 and 2013.
The wait continues for more silverware but Larkham’s side should be in the mix once again in the upcoming campaign.
Leading from the front, skipper Allan Ala’alatoa is a force in the front-row and will once again be hoping for a big campaign ahead.
Much will also be expected of fly-half Noah Lolesio, who will be looking to impress this season in a bid to nail down the No.10 jersey for the Wallabies.
Corey Toole was the leading tryscorer for the Brumbies last season with nine and he will be eager to improve on that tally in 2024 out on the wing.
New arrival Harrison Goddard will be looking to add competition at scrum-half, alongside the likes of Ryan Lonergan and Klayton Thorn.
Centre Austin Anderson is another new arrival from the off-season after impressing in the National Provincial Championship with Waikato.
The Brumbies will kick-start their 2024 Super Rugby Pacifica campaign on Friday 23rd February when they hit the road to face the Melbourne Rebels at AAMI Park.
Larkham’s side are also on the road in Round 2 at the Chiefs on 3rd March, before a first home game of the season against Western Force on 9th March at GIO Stadium.