Fisher has also spoken to Super Rugby referees to ensure the Brumbies are not stuck with an ill-discipline reputation, despite having three players sent to the sin bin in the past three games.

The Brumbies have had four players sent to the sin bin in six games this season – the equal most in the competition – and will get a crash course in breakdown etiquette after a shock loss to the Melbourne Rebels 32-24 on Friday night.

The Brumbies hope two days away from each other, the longest break of the season, will help rejuvenate them for the clash against the Auckland Blues this week.

Second-rower Scott Fardy was punished for repeated team infringements and sent to the sin bin in the second half against the Rebels, following Matt Toomua and Ruan Smith who were yellow carded for the same problem by the same referee, Jaco Peyper, two weeks ago.

The Brumbies were on the wrong end of a 13-8 penalty count against the Rebels, but coach Stephen Larkham insisted giving away penalties was not a team tactic.

Fisher, the ACT's forwards coach, said the Brumbies weren't committing fouls to stifle opposition momentum.

"I have spoken to referees and SANZAR referees boss Lyndon Bray and there is no perception that we're a side that is happy to give away penalties," Fisher said.

"The team is not coached to give away penalties. It happens sometimes, but if you look on balance the same things happened by the Rebels in the first half.

"We don't have to change it, we just have to be better at what we do. If we're competing [at the breakdown], we have to be better. We're doing it to try to force turnovers. Guys are making an error of judgement ... you have an instant to make a decision as does the referee.

"We'll get some wrong and the referee will get some wrong, but we'll get plenty right."

The Rebels booted six penalty goals, which ultimately lifted them to an unlikely eight-point victory.

Larkham said the team's inability to capitalise on almost 80 per cent possession in the first 20 minutes "scarred us for the rest of the game".

"We certainly made a lot of mistakes ... there were plenty of opportunities but we didn't take them," Larkham said.

"We were penalised heavily inside our own half, they scored six penalty goals and in close games you can't afford to give them away."

The Brumbies appeared tired after an intense month of Super Rugby action.

The players have decided to get away from rugby on the weekend, with only half of the squad returning to Canberra on Saturday to refresh before training starts on Monday.

The two-day break is the longest period the Brumbies have spent away from each other on non-rugby duties since before the Super Rugby campaign started in February.

An intense start to the season appeared to take its toll in the clash against the Rebels, the Brumbies missing 22 tackles and failing to capitalise on a mountain of possession in the first half.

The Brumbies will be boosted by the arrival of breakaway Tom McVerry this week as the club battles a growing injury toll.

McVerry was recruited to add depth to the squad, but is recovering from an ankle injury and won't be available for selection until the game against the Queensland Reds in two weeks.