Australian Super Rugby Pacific hopes are still alive, after the Brumbies edged the Hurricanes 37-33 in a thrilling quarter-final at Canberra.
Hurricanes captain Ardie Savea had a winning try disallowed after the final siren, as his side fell agonisingly short of sealing an all-NZ semi-final draw next weekend, with the Chiefs, Crusaders and Blues already progressing.
The Brumbies will now face the tabletopping Chiefs at Hamilton next Saturday, while the Crusaders and Blues stage a rematch of last year's finalists at Christchurch on Friday.
With 10 minutes remaining, the Hurricanes held a 33-30 lead, after scoring 17 straight points to turn around a halftime deficit, but Brumbies Tom Wright scored what turned out to be the winning try to set up the grandstand finish.
As the Hurricanes laid siege on the tryline, Savea tried to inspire his team to one more decisive try and twice went close himself. The second - and final - time, he was over the line, but referee Nic Berry and his officiating team ruled a hand under the ball, much to Savea's dispair.
"Pretty disappointing," said Savea. "It came down to that last play and as much as I disagree, that's just the way footy is - sometimes it doesn't go your way and sometimes it does, just got to live with it.
"I scored it... initially, I scored it and then he held me up, but it is what it is."
The Hurricanes were quickly on top, when they regained the opening kickoff and Savea put winger Kini Haholo over in the second minute. Their lead was shortlived, when Hawke's Bay utility Ollie Sapsford answered for the Brumbies.
First-five Brett Cameron had the Hurricanes ahead with a penalty, but former Chiefs first-five Jack Debreczeni - a controversial selection ahead of Wallabies international Noah Lolesio - scored a try for Brumbies and another to Len Ikitau helped them to a 25-16 halftime advantage.
After the restart, the Hurricanes enjoyed a dominant period that saw them run in two converted tries to Savea and flanker Devan Flanders, with Cameron adding a penalty for 33-25 lead. Flanders scored his from a scrum that wheeled near halfway, galloping 60 metres to score.
Replacement loose forward Luke Reimer scored from an attacking lineout to bring the Brumbies back into the contest - and it was Reimer who also wrapped his hand around the ball to deny Savea his matchwinner.
"When we held onto the ball, we either got penalty advantages or made little breaks, and that's what we did in that second half," said an emotional Savea, who will held to Japan, after this year's Rugby World Cup.
"It paid dividends. We got ourselves in the right area of the field in the last 10 minutes, but we just couldn't capitalise.
"That's disappointing. I can sit here and complain, or sit here and sulk, but that can't change it."
Brumbies 37 (Sapsford, Debreczeni, Ikitau, Reimer & Wright tries; Debreczeni 2 conversions & 2 penalties, Lolesio conversion) Hurricanes 33 (Naholo, Savea & Flanders tries; Cameron 3 conversions & 4 penalties)
