Two numbers tell the tale of the ACT Brumbies' unexpected fall from grace - 33 and nine.

The 2004 Super 12 champions finished outside the top four for the first time in six years as an horrific run of injuries forced them to call on 33 different players this year, including nine debutants.

At the top of their long injury list were Wallabies halves George Gregan (broken fibula) and Stephen Larkham (broken forearm), who were both missing for the last month of competition.

Despite going seven weeks without a win, the Brumbies still held hope of an inconceivable semi-finals berth after their thrill-a-minute last-round 38-21 win over Queensland at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.

The six-try victory, engineered by young guns Matt Henjak and Matt Giteau, moved them level with the Pretoria-based Bulls on fourth with 29 competition points.

But the Bulls blew away any chances of post-season action with nine-try 75-14 hammering of the Stormers two hours later.

By halftime of the match in Pretoria, the Brumbies, watching on in Brisbane, knew their season was over and started fully celebrating their acquisition of the Rod Macqueen Cup and the career of England-bound foundation forward Owen Finegan.

It could also have been the last match in Brumbies colours of improving halfback Henjak, Wallabies winger Clyde Rathbone, workhorse No.8 Scott Fava and rookie flyhalf Sam Norton-Knight.

All five are weighing up rival offers, with Rathbone the ACT's highest priority to retain.

South African-born Rathbone, being courted by both the Western Force and NSW, lasted only 40 minutes in the last-round win after suffering a back spasm in the last play of the first half.

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