Mowen: Key moments cost us
Brumbies captain Ben Mowen said it came down to a couple of key moments in the Super Rugby Final.
The Chiefs, coming from 10 points (12-22) down, scored 15 unanswered points in a six-minute blitz to retain their Super Rugby crown with a 27-22 victory in Hamilton on Saturday.
Mowen said the outcome hinged on things like kicks that didn't find their targets and high kicks that were dropped – which released the pressure that had been building.
"You have to be able to take those releases of pressure and turn them into points, which was the Chiefs did in the Final," Mowen said.
"There was a time when Matt Toomua was crunched by [Aaron] Cruden in a very good tackle and the next thing you know you are defending pick-'n-go under your posts, because they are good enough to turn that into points."
The Brumbies skipper said they will take a lot from their effort on Saturday and their effort in the last three weeks – which saw them reach the Final for the first time since 2004.
"I think it has been an outstanding attitude from our guys," Mowen said.
He dismissed the notion that fitness and travel fatigue could have cost them in the last quarter.
"It was just little decisions [made] in those big moments," the captain said, adding: "That is just experience and that will come for this group.
"I felt that just to put ourselves in this position [close to winning the Final] was outstanding."
Asked if he regarded 2013 as a successful season, Mowen said 'no'.
"Success is when you have a full trophy cabinet, we know that.
"We will certainly take momentum out of this year. After this week off, then 2014 starts for us – that has been the approach for us the last couple of years and we want to make sure that come this week next year we sit here with a trophy."
