The Japan Times - Waratahs 'on right track' despite crushing Brumbies loss

The loss in Sydney on Friday all but ended their hopes of making the six-team play-offs, while securing the Brumbies a finals spot.

A lack of execution despite dominating first-half possession saw the 'Tahs slump 21-0 down before a late fightback set up a grandstand finish.

McKellar's erratic side must now beat Western Force next weekend and hope sixth-placed Queensland Reds lose their last two regular-season matches to keep their campaign alive.

"We want to be playing at the back end of the season and we're not, so it's a pretty easy answer -- we're disappointed," McKellar said.

"But in terms of progress over the last two seasons, I think we've made huge progress. A lot of that the public can't see, so it's within the four walls of the building.

"We've made a lot of change and we're on the right track, but we're far from where we need to be."

The victory pushed the Brumbies into fifth on the ladder ahead of a final regular season clash next week against bottom-placed Moana Pasifika.

If they win that match and the Canterbury Crusaders lose to the table-topping Wellington Hurricanes, Stephen Larkham's Brumbies will snatch fourth place.

Finishing in the top four shapes as critical under the competition's new finals format this year, which pits first against sixth, second against fifth and third versus fourth.

"We just can't take the foot off the accelerator now," said Larkham. "We've just got to make sure that next week our preparation is as good or better than this week.

"We just want to put our best performances on the field from now on."

Y.Ishikawa--JT