In the annus horribilis that was 2021 for the Waratahs, arguably the lowest ebb came via a 61-10 humiliation at the hands of the Brumbies in Super Rugby AU.

Fast forward one year and six days, and only the result stayed the same, the Brumbies holding off a Tahs comeback to continue their undefeated start to the season 27-20. But under the tutelage of Darren Coleman, the difference between the NSW of ’21 and the team now is simply chalk and cheese.

After a sluggish start that saw the Brumbies canter to a 24-6 lead just after half time, the Tahs came storming back into the match with tries to Angus Bell and Will Harris, to briefly threaten an extraordinary comeback.

However, the Brumbies would hold firm, refusing to allow the Waratahs a final attacking foray of any significance to secure second spot on the Super Rugby Pacific table, and the Dan Vickerman Cup.

“Looking at the Tahs last week and then this week again, you can just tell that their game strategy’s completely different [to last year],” Stan Sport commentator Allana Ferguson said after the match.

“We knew this was going to be a close game, it was never going to happen last season, so I think it’s incredible to see, even this week, some improvements they’ve added to their game, particularly in that second half.”

For Brumbies captain Allan Alaalatoa, the key difference for the Tahs was simple: working as a team.

“Their connection as a group, how hard they work for each other, I definitely felt that playing against them,” he said.

“Physicality was something that we spoke about, they definitely delivered over the last two games and tonight again, so I think that’s been a huge improvement from them.”

Tahs skipper Jake Gordon, meanwhile, expressed pride in his team, but rued a series of costly errors that left his team their ‘own worst enemy’ at times.

“I think we showed a lot of guts to come back in that second half and come within seven. I’m really proud of the effort, but accuracy needs to come up a bit,” Gordon said.

“Once again probably our own worst enemy, but we’re developing.”

GIO Stadium has fast become a fortress for the Brumbies, having lost just once to an Australian counterpart there since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

For former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika, the stronghold undoubtedly played on the Tahs’ minds.

“You’ve got to believe you’re going to win down there. The moments where the Brumbies were able to nail points, they really showed an intent to go and win there,” he said on Stan Sport.

“Tahs got down there a couple of times and did a couple of really good things, but they weren’t able to do it enough with the intensity to get scores.

“They’re showing their grit; all the values they’re talking about, they’re showing them on the field. It may take a bit more time under coach Coleman to come to fruition, when they can dominate those moments, but that was the difference.”

Rob Valetini runs the ball during the round three Super Rugby Pacific match between the ACT Brumbies and the NSW Waratahs. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)

Fellow presenter Justin Harrison agreed, saying the Brumbies’ ‘counterpunch’ proved the difference.

“Games like this are a series of ebbs and flows. The difference tonight was the Waratahs gave themselves plenty of opportunity to counterpunch with a try and finish. The counterpunch for the Brumbies was to score back down the other end straightaway with Nick Frost, pick and drive,” Harrison said.

“That’s the skill of the Brumbies, that’s the cauldron of GIO Stadium.

“If you overcome that, and you start to finish some of those counterpunches… it’s impossible to dominate a game for 80 minutes. The Brumbies don’t dominate for 80 minutes, but when they are dominant, they come away with points.”

Particularly impressive was loosehead prop Angus Bell – not the least with the try that reignited hope for the Tahs in the second half.

For Harrison, the 21-year old man mountain has a bright future.

“He’s got a big frame, a big engine, he shows up at set piece time,” Harrison said of Bell.

“He is now shifting bodies and starting to hurt people, and building some routine into his match preparation is key. That manifests itself in consistency in performance.

“We wonder if Angus Bell is going to be the same as he was last week – is he going to run, is he going to hold his scrum up, is he going to score tries – and we’re seeing it week in and week out.

“That is a sign of a man that is maturing before our eyes, and most certainly developing into an international-class loosehead prop.”

For the Brumbies, key to victory was their own emerging star in Rob Valetini, whose bullocking strength – highlighted by a brutal steamroll of hapless Tahs fullback Alex Newsome that led to a Brumbies try – made him all but unstoppable.

“He’s just learning how to be a regular better player, understanding what his strengths are and learning from other players,” Cheika said.

“He’s never had a bad attitude, he’s just been learning his craft, and he’s building nicely now.

“In the try pack when Frost scored, he got multiple touches in the action. When he scored, multiple touches in the action.

“That is a sign of someone who is hungry to get his hands on the ball, and knows how important he is to the team’s efforts on the carry.”