Australia's Brumbies overcame a stout defensive effort from South Africa's Southern Kings to claim a 19-10 victory in their Super Rugby clash at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.
The Brumbies extend their lead at the top of the Australian Conference to seven points, despite the fact that their win at the Kings was only their fourth in 11 games this season.
They are also the first Australian team to win in South Africa in 2017. The Kings started well and took a 10-0 lead after 17 minutes thanks to an early penalty try and a penalty from flyhalf Lionel Cronje.
But the Brumbies began to dominate the possession from there and earned five points back when hooker Josh Mann-Rea crossed the tryline.
That was the way it stayed until 15 minutes to go when tries from wing Aidan Toua and fullback Thomas Banks sealed the win for the visitors.
The Kings made the perfect start as they were awarded a penalty try by referee Jaco Peyper after Banks was adjudged to have made a deliberate knock-down as Makazole Mapimpi looked destined to score having chased down his own kick.
Banks also received a yellow card and spent 10 minutes in the sin-bin and when Kings flyhalf Lionel Cronje had them 10-0 in front via a penalty, the home side looked good to extend their recent three-match winning run.
But from there on in it was largely all Brumbies as the Kings were forced to make a huge number of tackles, ending the match with 131 to just 56 from the visitors. They held out until the 64th minute though when some poor play under pressure cost them dear.
They elected to take a quick line-out and replacement flyhalf Pieter-Steyn de Wet saw his hopeful long pass intercepted and booted forward.
Toua had far too much speed for the retreating Kings defence and dotted down for a try that was converted by Wharenui Hawera to give the Brumbies a two-point lead.
That was extended five minutes later when the visitors again kicked behind the Kings defence and this time it was Banks who raced onto the loose ball to score.
Next up for the Brumbies is a trip to Buenos Aires to face the Jaguares on Saturday, while the Kings travel to Ellis Park to meet the rampant Lions on Sunday.