Brumbies coach Dan McKellar says his side needs to improve its composure, after two Brisbane Tens losses ended their finals chances.
The Brumbies were outclassed by the form Brisbane team, the Crusaders, and went down narrowly to the Hurricanes in their final clash to finish their tournament in the round robin stage.
Though he was generally pleased with his side's effort, McKellar said his team needed to keep the faith when the momentum turned the opposition's way.
"As a coaching group we're pretty specific and simple about how we've got to go about beating those teams and it's just under pressure moments make sure you stick to it and execute it," he said.
"I thought, actually our defensive effort over the last couple of days has been really good and our breakdown defensive pressure's been good as well. We'll take bits and pieces away from it. "
It was a forward who impressed McKellar the most over the two days, with flaming red head Mees Erasmus showing off his mobility in the tournament.
(He's) a young developing tighthead prop, who's probably well-suited to this game, he's a pretty dynamic front rower," he said.
"He's contributed well in all three games, he'd probably be one standout."
The Brumbies now turn their attention to a final preseason trial against the Chiefs on the Sunshine Coast, in which McKellar expects to field close to his strongest lineup.
"There'll be 28 guys that will play in that game but the reality is that the majority of that squad will go to Tokyo to play the Sunwolves Tuesday week," he said.
The Brumbies' loss to the Hurricanes continued a run of Aussie losses to Kiwi teams across the weekend, but McKellar said he didn't think that was a sign of things to come.
"For us (Super Rugby is) a new start, we're not too bothered about what's happened in the past with the New Zealand teams," he said.
They've got good footballers, they're well-coached, they've got plenty of depth so we just need to make sure that when you do play those teams that you;re up for it and that you take your opportunities but I think across the board all four Australian teams will be much stronger in 2018."
The Brumbies take on the Chiefs in their final Super Rugby trial on Wednesday February 14 at Sunshine Coast Stadium.
