The opportunistic NSW Waratahs have snapped a 13-match losing streak to the Brumbies with a dramatic 25-23 Super Rugby Pacific home win.
The Tahs scored 21 unanswered points to lead by 15 at halftime.
Watch every game of SMARTECH Super Rugby Pacific live and on-demand via Stan Sport.
But the resilient Brumbies, who played with 14 men for a quarter of the game, got within three with just over 12 minutes left on Satuday night.
Max Jorgensen soothed the nerves of the home supporters in the 20,572 crowd, when he chipped ahead and then toed the ball forward, with centre Joey Walton winning the chase.
The anxiety returned within three minutes, as the never-say-die visitors hit back, with winger Andy Muirhead catching a crossfield kick from Jack Debreczeni following great work from Wallabies centre Len Ikitau.
The conversion cut the deficit to three, but the Waratahs held on to record their first victory over the Brumbies since 2018 and first over them at Allianz Stadium since 2015.
The win lifted the Sydney-based team above the side from the capital up to fourth on the ladder.
Brumbies five-eighth Noah Lolesio kicked two early penalties and the visitors enjoyed a barely believable 97 per cent of territory after 14 minutes.
But things unravelled from that time after a break in play caused by an injury to hooker Mahe Vailani, who was a late inclusion the starting side after Dave Porecki pulled out.
Shortly after play resumed the Waratahs scored a couple of long distance tries off turnovers against the run of play to tilt the match in their favour.
Halfback Teddy Wilson crossed after the Tahs moved the ball quickly down the left.
However, it appeared NSW fullback Andrew Kellaway might have touched the sideline early in the buildup, one of a few decisions that appeared to irk the Brumbies.
The visitors were punished for another turnover, when winger Triston Reilly kicked the ball forward from close to halfway and regathered after a friendly bounce to score.
The Waratahs added a third try through flanker Rob Leota, who scooped up a bounce pass from Jorgensen and pushed off winger Andy Muirhead.
The Brumbies were down to 14 at the time with hooker Billy Pollard in the bin for a high tackle.
They started the second half well and appeared to have got five points back when fullback Tom Wright crossed after a 20-phase move.
But the score was rubbed out upon review with Lolesio judged to have knocked on in the leadup.
Undaunted by another setback, the away side produced another multi-phase move with captain and prop Allan Alaalatoa barging over from close range.
They suffered another blow with flanker Tom Hooper binned for a dangerous lifting tackle in the 55th minute.
Flanker Luke Reimer crashed over from a trademark Brumbies drive from a lineout to keep them in touch and set up a thrilling finish.
Tries: Alaalatoa, Reimer, Muirhead
Cons: Lolesio 0/1, Debreczeni 1/2
Pens: Lolesio 2/2
Tries: Wilson, Reilly, Leota, Walton
Cons: Creighton 3/3, Edmed 1/1
WARATAHS (1-15): Angus Bell, Mahe Vailanu, Taniela Tupou, Hugh Sinclair (c), Ben Grant, Rob Leota, Charlie Gamble, Langi Gleeson, Teddy Wilson, Lawson Creighton, Max Jorgensen, Joey Walton, Henry O'Donnell, Triston Reilly, Andrew Kellaway
Replacements: Julian Heaven, Isaac Kailea, Daniel Botha, Felix Kalapu, Jamie Adamson, Leafi Talataina, Jack Grant, Tane Edmed
BRUMBIES (1-15): James Slipper, Billy Pollard, Allan Alaalatoa (c), Nick Frost, Cadeyrn Neville, Tom Hooper, Luke Reimer, Rob Valetini, Ryan Lonergan, Noah Lolesio, Corey Toole, Ollie Sapsford, Len Ikitau, Andy Muirhead, Tom Wright
Replacements: Lachlan Lonergan, Blake Schoupp, Feao Fotuaika, Lachlan Shaw, Rory Scott, Harrison Goddard, Jack Debreczeni, Austin Anderson
Referee: Ben O'Keeffe
Assistant Referee: Stu Curran, Jackson Henshaw
TMO: Glenn Newman
The Waratahs' clash with the Brumbies will be shown LIVE on Stan Sport and the Nine Network.
Coverage will be live and ad-free on Stan Sport, slated to start at 7:00 pm with kickoff expected at 7:35 pm.
The game will also be shown on free-to-air television on 9Gem, with coverage beginning at 7:00 pm
