The ACT Brumbies have stunned the Crusaders and Super Rugby Pacific with a 50-24 win over the defending champions in Christchurch.
It breaks a mountain of records and shows why you should never write off Australia's benchmark team.
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So what did we learn?
Stephen Larkham and ACT Brumbies, take a bow.
The Brumbies looked destined to a fate of holding on for dear life when Leicester Fainga’anuku reduced the lead to seven with 11 to go.
Instead, the visitors turned on the heat and stunned the Christchurch faithful with a barrage of points.
It was a thoroughly deserved win after they dominated the first half with little reward.
You’ll struggle to find a better performance away from home by an Australian team in a long time, up there with the Reds’ win over the Chiefs a few years back and the Brumbies’ win at Eden Park.
Write off the Brumbies at your peril, even without a host of Wallabies
To put this result into perspective, here are some of the records set:
It’s the Brumbies first win in Christchurch since 2000, the first time the Crusaders have conceded 50 at home since 2001, and the Crusaders’ second biggest loss at home.
Close to half the Brumbies' side weren't even born the last time they won in Christchurch.
The win adds to Larkham’s CV as one of the best coaches in Super Rugby following last year’s win at Eden Park against the Blues.
The Crusaders looked like someone had sapped their powers at certain times of the game in an uncharacteristic performance.
It almost seemed like they were relying on the wind to do all the work for them after surviving a tough first half.
Yet, they switched off and gave up costly ball, never really getting out of second gear.
It puts the defending champions in a really tough spot after last week’s loss to the Highlanders, facing the Chiefs and Blues in the next fortnight.
Andy Muirhead has been the biggest winner out of the unfortunate injury to Tom Wright, stepping out of the shadows and into the limelight.
Muirhead’s experience and underrated athleticism helped turn a mountain of territory into points for the visitors as he straightened the attack.
The fullback was the pivotal link in their first two tries and forced indecision within the Crusaders' defence.
Charlie Cale, Ryan Lonergan, Ollie Sapsford and Kadin Pritchard were also excellent.
With a host of Wallabies moving on, a breakout season from Muirhead will go a long way towards maintaining their status as one of the best teams in the competition. Performances like this are a great start.
If all goes to plan, the next month will be a continual celebration of James Slipper and rightfully so.
No one deserved to score more than the loosehead prop, showing the trademark work rate to back up Cadeyrn Neville’s break for the five pointer.
It was a magic way to celebrate a man who has done so much for Australian Rugby.
The prop remains one of the finest loose heads in the competition, becoming the second man to reach 200 Super Rugby caps.
He’s two games away from Wyatt Crockett’s record of 202, while is inching ever closer to becoming the first player to play 100 games for two separate clubs, sitting on 96 for the Brums.
