The Brumbies have held on to claim a gutsy 12-10 victory over the Hurricanes in Canberra, but only after All Blacks star Jordie Barrett missed two potentially game-winning penalty kicks in the final two minutes.

Dan McKellar's men became just the second Australian team to record a victory over New Zealand opposition in the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman competition.

Barrett had two opportunities in the final minutes to steal the game and keep the Hurricanes' unbeaten Trans Tasman title quest on track. But he missed from 50 metres out and pushed the second to the right after the siren.

The outcome handed the Hurricanes their first loss of the competition, leaving fellow Kiwi outfits the Blues, Highlanders and Crusaders as the only unbeaten teams as they chase the two spots in the one-off final with one round to play.

Hurricanes skipper Ardie Savea said it was a disappointing end to a physical contest.

"Pretty tough pill to swallow tonight," he said post-match.

"We knew coming to Canberra it was going to be a tough one and the Brumbies boys were going to bring it physically - they certainly did that.

"Just missed out there in the end. Pretty gutted to be honest but it is what it is."

In the Brumbies' first home game in six weeks, the Canberra men were sluggish from the outset in a bruising and battering match played predominantly in the middle of the park, with the set-piece the platform for attacking opportunities.

But fullback Tom Banks attributed their commitment to defence as the determining factor in the contest.

"We knew it was going to be physical so we really fronted up front and that sort of set the platform," he said.

"We were lucky to get away with that one but it comes back to the tough road we had in New Zealand losing three. We knew we had to front up and perform for our home crowd."

After taking a 10-7 lead heading into the break, the visitors, while managing less handling errors on the night, were unable to capitalise in the dying stages.

The Hurricanes almost stole victory before Barrett's missed kicks as Alex Fidow crossed in the 73rd minute but the TMO called referee Paul Williams back to review the lead up, with Hurricanes skipper Ardie Savea judged to marginally knock the ball on.

Sustained pressure from the Brumbies was their strength throughout the match, and scrumhalf Nic White's injection in the second half was the game-changer.

White shaped to kick with a penalty advantage in the 52nd minute, before slipping a pass inside to centre Len Ikitau who briefly lost his feet 10 metres out before gathering and diving over to score.

Ikitau's try was ultimately the game winner and put a dagger in the Hurricanes' hopes for finals contention ahead of next weekend's final round.