The Western Force have produced another astonishing win, beating the Brumbies 45-42 in Round 2 of SMARTECH Super Rugby Pacific at GIO Stadium in Canberra on Saturday night.
It was one of the Force's greatest wins as records fell.
The side finally ended their 15-away game losing streak that stretched back to Round 15 2022.
It was the first time they have won back-to-back opening Super Rugby games and it stopped the clock at 5060 days since their last victory in Canberra, dating back to 2011.
The historic victory came on the back of the amazing Round 1 after-the-siren 45-44 victory over Moana Pasifika.
The Force did it the hard way, overcoming four yellow cards and being reduced to 13 players in the second-half.
They scored the winning points five minutes from time through Wallabies hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa and then ground their way through 17 phases to get the away-day monkey of their back.
Both sides scored six converted tries with fly-half Ben Donaldson's second-half penalty separating the sides.
Wallabies winger Dylan Pietsch grabbed a double, hooker Nic Dolly, winger Harry Potter, flanker Carlo Tizzano and Paenga-Amosa all grabbed five pointers.
Donaldson kicked five conversions and a penalty and Max Burey the final conversion.
The Force got off to a fast start and jumped out to a 21-point lead, but the Brumbies hit and went ahead with less than 20 minutes remaining.
Dolly opened the scoring after just four minutes. After sustained possession Potter made an incisive break, off-loaded to Sio Tomkinson who fed Dolly for the corner.
Potter crossed five minutes later. Intercepting an Andy Muirhead pass on halfway he left the home side defence in his wake.
The points came on the back of good line speed, forcing the Brumbies into errors with the Force coming close to two intercepts.
Potter then went from try scorer to points-saver when he and Tizzano produced a great effort to hold up Brumbies No 8. Charlie Cale over the line.
The Force produced some sparkling close rugby and hard carries, dragging in defenders before Donaldson produced a magnificent, pinpoint cross-kick for Pietsch and the Wallaby winger sprinted into the corner.
They were reduced to 14 men on 23 minutes when Pietsch was yellow-carded for knocking the ball down in a Brumbies attack.
The home side were immediately on attack but great try-line tackling and slide defence kept them out until numbers told and Muirhead sprinted in 12 minutes from the break.
The Force replied four minutes later.
Turning down a penalty, they went for a line-out and Tizzano scored - his third try in two games from a rolling maul.
The Force went down to 14 players for a second time, three minutes before half-time, when No.8 Reed Princep was binned for a high tackle and they could not prevent Declan Meredith slipping through to score just before the interval.
Things did not start well for the Force after the break.
In the opening six minutes Cale and Judah Saumaisue crossed. Lonergan converted both to level the scores at 28-points apiece.
Donaldson restored the lead with a penalty but after quick hands Corey Toole crossed to give the Brumbies the lead for the first time.
The Force battled back and went ahead again when a beautifully worked move from a line-out saw Pietsch add his second.
Still the points kept coming, Cale grabbed his second, before Force captain Jeremy Williams was binned for foul play on 60 minutes.
A succession of penalties had the Force under siege and playing under a warning before Nick Champion de Crespigny was yellow carded and the Force went down to 13 men with 12 minutes remaining.
Somehow, they battled out of their own half and went 18 phases to snatch the lead back when hooker Paenga-Amosa forced his way over on debut, Burey converted, and the Force hung on for the win.
ACT Brumbies 42
Tries: Muirhead (28’), Meredith (38’), Cale 2x (41’, 61’), Qoro (46’), Toole (53’)
Conversions: Lonergan 6/6
Penalties: Nil
Western Force 45
Tries: Dolly (3’), Potter (9’), Pietsch 2x (18’, 58’), Tizzano (32’), Paenga-Amosa (74’)
Conversions: Donaldson 5/5, Burey 1/1
Penalties: Donaldson 1/1
