The ACT Brumbies are determined to stay grounded following their emphatic 50–24 win over the Crusaders in Christchurch, with lock Lachie Shaw describing the result as a statement, but not a finished product.
The Brumbies’ dominant performance ended a 26-year drought in Christchurch and moved them to 2-0 to start the season.
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“It was massive,” Shaw said to reporters. “To do it in New Zealand, against the Crusaders on their home turf and by that margin - it was a huge credit to all the boys.”
After more than 15 weeks training together through pre-season, Shaw said the cohesion within the squad is beginning to show.
“It’s all starting to come together off the back of a lot of hard work. We’ve been training together so long and we know how we want to play. We’re confident in one another and we’ve got each other’s backs out there,” Shaw said.
Despite the result, Shaw was quick to stress there remains improvement left in the Brumbies’ game.
“It’s definitely a statement win, but there’s a lot of small areas we can still improve on,” he said. “We can’t let it get to our heads. We’re staying grounded in what we’re trying to achieve week to week.”
Attention now turns to a blockbuster clash against the Blues at GIO Stadium on Saturday night - the Brumbies’ first home game of the season.
After weeks on the road during trials and the opening rounds, Shaw said returning to Canberra provides a lift.
“Having a home game is huge for us,” he said. “We’re keen to put on a good show for the fans.”
Shaw expects a strong response from the Blues, particularly after the Brumbies defeated them in Auckland last season.
“It should be a really good game against the Blues,” he said. “We beat them at their home ground last year, so they’ll be coming out ready to go and try to beat us at ours.”
Momentum has been a key theme across the opening fortnight, but Shaw emphasised that maintaining discipline and standards will be crucial against another powerhouse opponent.
Senior players such as James Slipper have helped drive that accountability.
“Those older boys are really driving the standards around the simple footy we want to play,” Shaw said. “We don’t want to give away cheap penalties and we train that.”
Competition for spots has also intensified, with the second-row stocks strengthened by experienced campaigners and emerging talent.
“I’m just grateful for the opportunity to play,” Shaw said. “Playing alongside big Nev (Cadeyrn Neville), I’ve learned a lot from him over the last few years.”
With the season’s momentum building quickly in a short competition, Shaw said the squad understands the importance of capitalising early.
“The vibes are high around the team, but we all know we’ve got a job to do,” he said.
After a statement win in Christchurch, the focus now shifts to backing it up at home.
