The hooker scored the second hat-trick of his career off the deadly maneuver in the Brumbies 23-22 loss to the Otago Highlanders at Canberra Stadium on Saturday, adding to his remarkable try tally.

Fainga'a has scored 17 tries in the last 20 games, including five already this season.

His double against the Highlanders saw the return of the Brumbies formidable rolling maul, an attacking weapon that drew criticism last year.

But if it's such a great weapon then why not use it? The Highlanders tried everything they could to fracture and dismantle the maul in the first half, but it moved like a flying wedge to the try-line.

First it was the heat and a state of emergency, then the threat of rain and finally the thunder.

Someone at the luckless Brumbies must have kicked a cat or walked under a ladder because their first three games of the season have been a weather nightmare.

It was hoped they would attract a crowd of 10,000 for the first time on Saturday night, but the dark clouds saw only 7270 fans turn up.

The rain had all-but cleared by kick-off, but the damage was already done. Crowds have been the biggest challenge of the year so far.

There are five home games left for the year and the Brumbies will be hoping they've had their share of bad luck already.

A last minute Teariki Ben-Nicholas try spoiled the Brumbies winning streak at Canberra Stadium, with Dan McKellar's men losing their first match on home soil since round one last year.

A victory over the Highlanders would have seen the Brumbies secure an 11th consecutive win at home for the third time in the club's history.

They haven't beaten the Highlanders since 2015, now losing the past five clashes to the Otago outfit.

Australian teams have been struggling against their trans Tasman rivals, with none having beaten a New Zealand team so far this year.

The Brumbies' first away game of the season will be a daunting task against the Waikato Chiefs, who kept their unbeaten run going with a 43-17 win over the Japanese Sunwolves yesterday.

The New Zealand Conference leaders ran in seven tries to three in Tokyo and have now scored 105 points in three games.

The Chiefs, who led 24-12 at the break, won despite making 26 more tackles than the Sunwolves.

Next Saturday's match at FMG Stadium Waikato, where the Brumbies haven't won since 2007, kicks off at 5.05pm (AEST).