Fisher looking to delay farewell

 

Fisher is preparing for a Canberra farewell as the Brumbies' host the Chiefs in a Super Rugby play-off game on Saturday.

 

It will be Fisher's last game in the capital before he moves to England to take control of Gloucester.

 

Fisher will leave Canberra almost immediately after the Brumbies' campaign ends and he hopes to delay his departure for at least another three weeks and leave after winning the championship.

 

"I never thought I would be back at the Brumbies [after I left in 2008]," Fisher said. 

 

"The nature of coaching is that you love what you're doing and where you are, but eventually your time is up.

 

"I'm excited that we're in the finals, I'm sad that I'm leaving but you've got to go and I'm going to a great opportunity. 

 

"I'm leaving with a sense of pride with what we've achieved and knowing the place is healthy."

 

The Brumbies-Chiefs contest is a re-match of last season's grand final and a chance for the Brumbies to ease the pain of being over-run by the Chiefs in the last 20 minutes of the title race.

 

"I don't think there's any flying under the radar in finals games," Fisher said.

 

"We've got more experience this year … it's a relief to be there, but we know we're good enough to go all the way in the competition.

 

"To be alive in a home play-off, it's tremendously satisfying at this stage."

 

Although the 56-year-old said the timing was right for his Brumbies exit, he hopes to continue coaching for another decade and admitting he would struggle to coach a rival Australian franchise.

 

"Wayne Bennett's about to sign a new deal [in the NRL] and he's in his 60s, Sir Graham Henry is at the Auckland Blues and he has to be getting up there," Fisher grinned.

 

"There's no reason why I haven't got another seven, eight or nine years in the game.

 

"It's always sad to leave home, but the opportunity is right. Coaching against the Brumbies is not an aspiration of mine, but you don't know what opportunities come knocking."

 

The Brumbies will bid farewell 17 players and staff when their Super Rugby campaign finishes, including Fisher, captain Ben Mowen and veteran Clyde Rathbone.