The brilliant 12-10 win snapped a four-match losing skid stretching back to the Super Rugby AU grand final and capped a huge week for the club as it celebrated its 25th year anniversary.

Alex Fidow looked to have stolen the win for the visitors when he crossed with six minutes on the clock, before the third match official detected a knock on by Hurricanes captain Ardie Savea in the build up.

Barrett then had two cracks to steal the win. His booming penalty attempt from halfway hooked left, before he missed on an angle from 30m out after the siren after the Brumbies had been penalised in possession for being off their feet in the ruck.

"I wasn't watching, I assumed he was going to kick it to be honest and walked out and walked past the TV screen and he missed it," Brumbies coach Dan McKellar said.

"We deserved a bit of luck to be honest with you, we haven't had a whole lot later. You always feel for the opposition player there but pleased we can celebrate a win at home."

It would've been harsh on McKellar's troops to lose the game after desperately standing strong for their finest win since last year's Super Rugby AU final.

On paper this contest was effectively a dead rubber for the Brumbies, playing in single-digit temperatures before a small home crowd at Canberra Stadium with any hope of playing the Trans-Tasman final in two weeks long extinguished.

But there was pride on the line here, and a brilliantly unique Pasifika jersey on their backs to represent.

"We represent the Brumbies. . .any time you pull on the jersey is a special moment," McKellar said.

"That's how our group approaches it and tonight was an opportunity back in front of our faithful supporters who came out here and braved the cold and tough conditions.

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"It's been a tough month you go back to the grand final and it's one that we'll probably never get over. We managed to get ourselves up for the Crusaders and we were unlucky against the team I consider the best in the world, and the last two weeks we've been disappointing.

"Off the back of the last four weeks that we've had, to bounce back tonight is what we're most proud of. We've got our old boys in the dressing sheds celebrating 25 years of the Brumbies, just to see a whole lot of smiling faces in the crowd after the game that's what you play for."

The match started at break-neck speed and the Brumbies brought an intensity that had perhaps been missing in the last two matches of their New Zealand tour.

Ryan Lonergan took full advantage of his starting gig at scrum half, opening the scoring with an opportunistic try from close range in the first half.

All Black Dane Coles hit back quickly, peeling off the back of a lineout maul to crash over and level the scores.

The Brumbies then lost Darcy Swain to a head knock administered by Hurricane flanker Du'Plessis Kirifi who received 10 minutes in the bin for his trouble.

But the home side couldn't take advantage, and a late Barrett penalty gave the Hurricanes a three-point lead.

Nic White replaced Lonergan early in the second half, and his impact was instant as he turned the ball back inside to a rampaging Len Ikitau who beat three Hurricanes defenders to score what proved to be the winning try.

The Hurricanes celebrated when Fidow crossed, before replays emerged of a small Savea knock on several phases earlier.

"I obviously don't know the rules as well as the officials, I didn't think you could go back to a restart early, there was a penalty and the knock on happened before the penalty," Hurricanes coach Jason Holland said.

"I'll have to go back and make sure I got the rules right."

Brumbies 12 (R Lonergan, Ikitau tries, Lolesio conv) def Hurricanes 10 ( Coles try, Barrett conv, pen)

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