It was 15-years-ago that the Waratahs went down and "invaded their space".
That space was the Brumbies' territory in Canberra, and they did so by by arriving in the nation's capital well before the weekend kick-off in their Waratahs-emblazoned bus in 2005.
Having never won in Canberra, Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie decided to go "radical" in an attempt to break their hoodoo.
"We'd never had a win in Canberra at that stage, you've got to start to do things that are (a) bit more radical," McKenzie said later.
"Hoping isn't good enough, you've got to try to drive an outcome. You've got to get the belief in the players somehow ... it was a bit radical with the bus. I still remember it. We went to Manuka to a joint where you can get pretty good milkshakes. Stevie Larkham lobbed there. The Brumbies used to to have Manuka and Kingston as their home turf. They saw us sitting in their seats and invading their space.
"I don't know if it was confronting ... you don't win the game there but you've got to generate confidence and play a few (mind) games."
As history shows, it worked.
The Waratahs left Canberra on that cold April night with a narrow 10-6 win in front of 27,000 fans.
LISTEN: The day Ewen McKenzie drove a Waratahs bus throughout Canberra to help his side snap their hoodoo.
On Saturday night, the Waratahs return to Canberra in what shapes as another exciting installment in the history between the two clubs.
Already Brumbies coach Dan McKellar has gone on the offensive, saying the Waratahs consider themselves "world beaters" after winning "two games" at his team announcement on Thursday.
In a trip down memory lane, Waratahs great and assistant coach Chris Whitaker was reminded of McKenzie's tactic.
"I remember it," Whitaker told The Rugby Nation.
"We weren't on the bus, but back in the day they had the big Waratahs bus with everyone's photo on it. Ewen definitely tried to make it, because it was cold and there wasn't much to do and there was a good footy team down there so no-one liked to go there, he tried to change that idea and get down there early and tried all week, and said 'we're going to go down there to enjoy ourselves and treat it's like home'.
"It obviously worked because we came away with our first win down there. It was an interesting plan but it worked."
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In response to McKellar's barb, Waratahs coach Rob Penney asked whether his opposite was trying to "deflect".
It's added yet another intriguing element to the game which is a must-win for the Waratahs' hopes of making the finals.
"The rivalry's there because when the Brumbies first came in they performed, not better than everyone's expectations, but at the beginning of Super Rugby they were definitely the best performing Australian team so everyone wanted to knock them off," Whitaker said.
"Coming from Randwick as well, Randwick were kind of known as the second Brumbies team because we had so many guys that played down there, obviously Ewen McKenzie, Owen Finegan, David Knox, so when you'd go back to play for Randwick it was like I was an impostor again.
"I think the rivalry's just been one of those things that they were the form team.
"Nar, you didn't buy it because I played with half of them down at Randwick and you knew how good they were, and they'd still run it with you at training, 'We weren't wanted at the Waratahs'."
But does it still exist?
"100 per cent. I think the rivalry between NSW and Queensland is still there obviously, but I think since the beginning that rivalry with the Brumbies is still there as well," Whitaker says.
"I remember going back to Randwick and half of the supporters down at Randwick in the old days used to be Brumbies supporters, not Waratahs supporters, because there was so many Randwick guys there and I think it's still built on it."
BRUMBIES (1-15): James Slipper, Connal McInerney, Allan Alaalatoa (c), Murray Douglas, Cadeyrn Neville, Lachlan McCaffrey, Will Miller, Pete Samu, Ryan Lonergan, Bayley Kuenzle, Tom Wright, Irae Simone, Solomone Kata, Andy Murihead, Tom Banks,
Reserves: Lachlan Lonergan, Scott Sio, Tom Ross, Darcy Swain, Rob Valetini, Tom Cusack, Nic White, Len Ikitau
WARATAHS (1-15): Tom Robertson, Tom Horton, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Ned Hanigan, Rob Simmons (c), Lachie Swinton, MIchael Hooper, Jack Dempsey, Jake Gordon, Will Harrison, Alex Newsome, Karmichael Hunt, Joey Walton, James Ramm,Jack Maddocks
Reserves: Robbie Abel, Angus Bell, Te Tera Faulkner, Tom Staniforth, Hugh Sinclair, Mitch Short, Ben Donaldson, Lalakai Foketi
The Waratahs take on the Brumbies at GIO Stadium on Saturday August 22, kicking off at 7:15pm AEST, LIVE on Foxtel, Foxtel Now and Kayo Sports. Buy tickets here. Buy a Kayo subscription here.
READ MORE:
SLAP DOWN: Waratahs have 'won two games so they're world-beaters again'
16 CHANGES: Why Brumbies coach has made radical team swap
KAFER COLUMN: Is it time to change the 'Giteau Law'?
