Brumbies lock Nick Frost has delivered a clear sign of intent and mentality about the New Zealand finals drought: “The record is going to be broken one day.”
The ACT Brumbies face a daunting challenge this Saturday as they head across to face the Chiefs in the Super Rugby semi-final at FMG Stadium, Hamilton.
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No Australian team has ever won a finals match on New Zealand soil, going back to the start of the competition.
This is a record the Brumbies are determined to rewrite.
Historically, the Brumbies have stumbled at this stage in New Zealand, losing their last three semi-finals there, including to the Chiefs in 2023.
But this week, a sense of belief is quietly growing within the ACT-based team and that sense of inevitability of breaking the drought is fuelling the squad’s determination.
Frost also pointed to the team’s growth over the past couple of years under coach Stephen Larkham.
“Over the past couple of years [there have been] big learnings,” Frost insists.
“Everyone will get behind us.”
Meanwhile, the Chiefs have been the benchmark team in 2025, finishing the regular season on top of the ladder.
Playing at home in Hamilton, they’ll have the advantage in conditions, crowd, and form despite last week's loss to the Blues.
The two teams faced off at the start of the year at the ground, with the Chiefs taking the 15-point win.
With a chance to make history and a group of players brimming with belief, the Brumbies aren’t just going to New Zealand to compete. They’re going to win.
“The games that you want to play in are the bigger games in general,” Frost added.
“Everyone rises to them and especially with the crowd here in Hamilton, the cowbells, everything like that, they're louder. They're good fun, even though they're supposedly supporting and cheering for the other team. It's the atmosphere that makes it, the anticipation.
“Everyone gets a little bit nervous, but they're good nerves for a big match ahead.”
Now, all eyes turn to Hamilton to see if this is finally the year an Australian team can break through.
