The final result was a draw, but the Kings secured a moral victory in Canberra when they drew 28-28 with the log-leading Brumbies thanks to a try by Cornell du Preez.
Brumbies 28 (19) Kings 28 (14)
As has been their want all season, the Kings simply never gave up against the more-fancied Brumbies, who looked set for a big one after they scored two tries in the first 17 minutes. However, thereafter they could only kick penalty goals, thanks to bad discipline by the visitors, while the men from the Eastern Cape put four tries past Jake White’s team.
The visitors managed to match the Brumbies’ physicality and stop their momentum, but also showed a lot of character and never gave up until the end of the match, despite having had to defend for most of the match.
Although they made a few silly mistakes and conceded too many kickable penalties, the Kings took their chances well, with Du Preez scoring a brace of tries, while his fellow loose forward Wimpie van der Walt and loosehead prop Schalk Ferreira also crashing over.
It took the Cheetahs 21 defeats in Australasia before they drew with the Chiefs away, the Bulls lost their first 20 tour matches before they beat the Hurricanes, the Lions lost their first five Down Under before winning against the Force in Perth and the Stormers their first four before they beat the Hurricanes.
Only the Sharks, who won their first tour match as a franchise, in 1998 against the Brumbies, had a shorter “Australasian losing streak” than the Kings.
Brumbies – Tries: Henry Speight, Joe Tomane. Penalty goals: Christian Lealiifano (5), Nic White.
Kings – Tries: Wimpie van der Walt, Cornell du Preez (2), Schalk Ferreria. Conversions: George Whitehead (3), Demetri Catrakilis.
