In the end they always finish the same way: the New Zealand team wins and the Australian sides leave the game with their tails between their legs.

The Brumbies fell short of their bid to snap Australian rugby's horror losing streak, overpowered in the second half of a 43-17 demolition job in Dunedin.

New Zealand teams have now won 34 games in a row against Australian rivals. The Brumbies still haven't beaten a Kiwi side since 2016 or won in New Zealand since 2014.

But the 26-point gap was far from indicative of how tight the battle was. But it was a reminder of the massive gulf between the countries as Australian teams try to stop the rot.

"Our effort was outstanding. But what we saw tonight was that the margin for error in New Zealand is small. Minute," said Brumbies coach Dan McKellar said.

"A dropped ball, a knock on, an intercept try and a turnover try ... all of a sudden the score is 36-10 and that hurts.

"So the message to the players is that effort was outstanding, but execution at critical moments has hurt us in New Zealand again."

The Brumbies fell behind early, leaking tries to Lima Sopoaga and Ben Smith to allow the Highlanders to open up an early lead.

But the Brumbies weren't in New Zealand to make up the numbers. They wanted to win and gain respect, and for most of the next 50 minutes they were the better side.

David Pocock was denied a try because of an accidental offside, but Isi Naisarani made up for it moments later when he forced his way over.

The scrum was dominant, the defence was solid and the Highlanders were scrambling to protect a two-point lead. It prompted the Highlanders to take a 48 metre shot at goal to get a five-point gap instead of trying to break the Brumbies' defence.

Then came the moment that changed the game. Sopoaga was in the sin bin and the Brumbies were hammering away at the Highlanders line.

Playmaker Wharenui Hawera spotted space out wide, but his pass was intercepted by Waisake Naholo, who ran 85 metres to score and break the Brumbies' spirit.

The Highlanders scored two more tries in a 10-minute burst and the game was gone. Joe Powell got one back as a consolation, but it was too little, too late.

"We lost our way a bit in that second half. Obviously that intercept hurt us," said Brumbies captain Christian Lealiifano.

The knockout blow came after the siren when the Brumbies played on looking for a miracle, but lost the ball and Fletcher Smith completed the Highlanders' rout.

"We came here wanting to have a crack and I thought we did that," McKellar said.

"A couple of little moments were the difference. It's about being better in the key moments.

"That's the disappointing part. If we execute or make a couple of better choices, the scoreline is completely different and we're playing from in front.

"There are certainly some important learnings to come out of that game."

The Brumbies have now lost 12 games in a row against New Zealand opponents and still haven't won a game across the Tasman since 2014.

Their season is precariously placed at three wins and four losses, with time running out to find momentum and charge up the ladder.

The next challenge will be against the Argentina Jaguares, who shocked the Melbourne Rebels on Saturday afternoon and fired a warning shot to their Canberra rivals.

The good news for the Brumbies?  Pocock was outstanding in just his third game back after a knee injury and a 12-month Australian rugby sabbatical.

He was one of the best players on the field in a team that was well beaten, destroying the Highlanders at the breakdown in typical Pocock fashion.

Lock Rory Arnold also powered through 80 minutes of work for just the second time in his 51-game career.

the Brumbies could be boosted by the return of winger Henry Speight for the clash against the Jaguares, while Lolo Fakaosilea could bolster the back-row stocks if he recovers from a shoulder problem.

AT A GLANCE

Super Rugby: OTAGO HIGHLANDERS 43 (Ben Smith 2, Lima Sopoaga, Waisake Naholo, Shannon Frizell, Fletcher Smith tries; Lima Sopoaga 4, Ben Smith conversions; Lima Sopoaga penalty) bt ACT BRUMBIES 17 (Isi Naisarani, Joe Powell tries; Wharenui Hawera penalty, conversion)at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday night. Referee: Ben O'Keeffe.