The ACT Brumbies will stew for two weeks on the club's biggest home defeat in Super Rugby history, insisting they can learn lessons from a momentum-breaking thumping on Saturday night.
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The Brumbies squad has been sent away from training for the week in a bid to refresh after the first six weeks of the season, that included a three-week tour of Perth, Cape Town and Bloemfontein.
But the nagging memory of a 48-23 loss to the Waikato Chiefs will sting them in the bye week and until they get a shot at redemption against the NSW Waratahs in Sydney on April 16.
Brumbies flanker Scott Fardy says the players must accept they were not good enough against the Chiefs and vow to make amends when they get a chance to play again.
"We're pretty gutted, but we were outplayed and you've got to cop that," Fardy said.
"We've got to move forward and learn lessons from what happened, then take it for the rest of the season. It showed you can't drop off or have lapses in concentration, especially against a team like the Chiefs.
"They took advantage of everything we did wrong. I thought we started well, we felt in control early and looked good. But a number of things didn't go our way and they stepped up in those moments."
The 25-point loss to the Chiefs was the Brumbies' biggest defeat in Canberra since the start of Super Rugby in 1996. It was the most points any Brumbies team had conceded since 2011.
The Brumbies were in the contest until the last 20 minutes when they dropped away and the Chiefs lifted to charge to an easy win.
It has blown open the Australian conference with the Brumbies, Waratahs and Melbourne Rebels all fighting to be the top team.
The heavy defeat to the Chiefs and the tight conference battle makes the match against the Waratahs in two weeks even more significant.
Another loss would be a devastating blow after winning four of the first five games and setting the pace for Australian teams.
But before they get to the Waratahs, coach Stephen Larkham has ordered his players to get away from rugby for the first time since the end of January to give them a mental break.
The week off will also allow lock Blake Enever to push his case for a return from a shoulder injury while Ita Vaea (cramps) and Sam Carter (head knock) are both expected to be fit to play the Waratahs.
"We'll give them the week off, we've been going at it for two months now and it's a disappointing end but it's been a superb effort for the past eight weeks," Larkham said.
"It's a well-earned break and we won't come back until [April 11] to come back nice and fresh."
Fardy added: "We're probably sick of each other at the moment, we see each other more than we see our families.
"Getting away for a bit and doing something a bit different might be good for all of us. We'll come back in and I'm sure we'll want to be back and we'll get into it for the Waratahs game."
A large chunk of the Brumbies squad went to Sydney on Sunday for a early-year Wallabies camp to start preparations for the Test series against England in June.
Rookie prop Allan Alaalatoa was part of the contingent that included World Cup stars Stephen Moore, Fardy and David Pocock.
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has floated the prospect of picking three specialist openside flankers - Pocock, Michael Hooper and Sean McMahon - in the same starting back row against England.
World Cup incumbent Fardy offers a point of difference as a lineout option while also giving a strong presence at the breakdown.
"It's about the best combination for the country. I've got to be playing well, there are some great back-rowers in Australian rugby at the moment so if I was looking towards England it would be short-sighted of me," Fardy said.
"I've got to make sure I perform well every week for the Brumbies and put my hand up to play for the Wallabies in June. It's going to tough to hold on to my jersey."
BRUMBIES BIGGEST HOME LOSSES
25 points (48-23): v Chiefs, round 6 2016
18 points (33-15): v Hurricanes, round 5 2008
18 points (41-23): v Sharks, round 3 1998
14 points (30-16): v Blues, round 18 2012
14 points (42-28): v Chiefs, round 8 2008
13 points (37-24): v Crusaders, round 18 2015
13 points (16-3): v Stormers, round 15 2011
