Departing Brumbies captain Matt Giteau says his side's improvement in the latter part of the Super Rugby season could be a springboard for the Canberra-based side in 2012.

The Brumbies defeated the Melbourne Rebels 32-17 in Canberra on Friday to follow the triumph over the Queensland Reds and record the side's first consecutive wins since May, 2010.

But the two-time Super champions have endured their worst season since the competition began in 1996.

The sacking of coach Andy Friend following a shock one-point loss to the Rebels in round two and a spray from interim coach Tony Rea have reflected a decline in the former glamour Australian province.

Rea scorched the coaching manual after he said his team lacked fight when events turned tough in matches following the loss to then bottom-placed Lions.

The Brumbies have a defeat, a draw and two wins from their past four matches since the loss to the South African side, compared to two wins and nine losses prior to the defeat.

Giteau will watch the Brumbies from France next season as he is among an exodus of 12 players from Canberra at the end of this season while Rea is also leaving following the match against the NSW Waratahs next Saturday.

But Giteau felt the the remaining players could take confidence from their recent turnaround heading into the next campaign.

"From the Force, which was a tough game for us, we didn't have too much ball, so to come out with a draw (13-all), we were pretty happy with that and obviously the Reds and the Rebels," Giteau said.

"Hopefully we can take that into the (Waratahs) next week.

"I feel the group has a little bit of confidence heading into next year."

Lock Peter Kimlin hurt his ribs against the Rebels but he should be fit for the match against the Waratahs in Sydney, while no.8 Ita Vaea returned from suspension.

"We'll have a selection headache," Rea said.

Giteau denied the spray from Rea was the major catalyst for the recent improvement.

"It wasn't so much that, we just had some games that had probably gone against us, a little bounce of the ball and we had given up a little bit," he said.

"That certainly sparked us a little bit but the whole group, we have developed a lot.

"Certainly a lot of the senior guys have stood up a lot more in the back-end of the season and the younger players who have been given that opportunity have been going really well."

While the Brumbies' chances for the finals ended in April, a win against the Waratahs could end the playoff dreams of their NSW rivals.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP