ACT Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham is motivated to take the Brumbies to the next level as they prepare for a hot start to their 2025 season.
The Brumbies legend re-signed with the club for the next two seasons until the end of 2026.
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Larkham’s side is still hurting after their semi-final exit to eventual champions Blues in June.
In terms of wins, it was the best performance by an Australian side since the NSW Waratahs took out the title in 2024.
But it’s their two regular season losses that hurt Larkham, going down 46-12 to the Chiefs and 46-7 to the Blues.
“Our performance in those two games against the Blues and the Chiefs in the round games was somewhat embarrassing. Certainly very disappointing,” Larkham said to reporters.
“I thought we started to peak at the right time so everything was coming together at the back end of the season with a good performance against the Highlanders but then too many mistakes against the Blues in the semi-final so the challenge for us is the same we faced over the last couple of years.
“…Two losses to the team teams in the final gives us an indication of where we were but it was still a very successful season in terms of the quality of players we’ve brought into the program, new coaches and continuity with the group going into this season.
“But we know that as a Brumbies outfit, we are always searching for a finals representation and ideally we are lifting that trophy above our heads.”
Larkham’s side won’t have to wait long for revenge as they head over the Tasman in rounds three and four to face the Chiefs and Blues respectively.
Before that, they must deal with the toughest road trip in Super Rugby as they open their campaign against the Fijian Drua in Suva on February 15.
"We circle the Fiji game first, that's going to be played over there in February in significant heat and humidity and whilst we get the heat in Canberra, we don’t get that humidity,” Larkham added.
“We've already spoken about that as coaches. We’ve spoken about the challenge that's going to face and what we can do in pre-season to prepare ourselves for the game over there.
“(Drua) are very good at home and I think conditions play a big part in that so hopefully our preseason and planning will mitigate most of those issues and it just comes down to our performances on the field.
“…It’s a pretty tough start to the season. The season starts a week earlier, so it will be a bit hotter playing in Fiji, and then two games playing in New Zealand in the first four rounds is a challenge for us so we’re not looking forward to that."
