Rugby: Waratahs outclass woeful Chiefs

Drew Mitchell of the Waratahs is tackled by Tanerau Latimer of the Chiefs during tonight's match. Photo / Getty Images

The Waratahs remain a Super 14 threat after outclassing rugby rivals the Chiefs 46-19 in Hamilton tonight.

The Waratahs responded to a shock defeat to the lowly Highlanders last week in rousing fashion, clinically dismantling a woeful Chiefs side who will end the season without a win at their main home base.

The result left the Waratahs with everything to play for against the Hurricanes next Friday in Sydney, where the winners will qualify for the semifinals.

The bonus point win lifted them to 38 points and a temporary hold of third place, one point ahead of the Hurricanes, midway through the penultimate round of matches.

They were a class apart from the Chiefs tonight, translating their on-field dominance in all facets into scoreboard supremacy as they ran the ball at every opportunity, retaining possession for long periods and pressuring the home side into an alarming high error count.

The Chiefs barely touched the ball in attacking mode in the first half and regularly fell off tackles as the visitors imposed themselves at the breakdown to lock up possession and earn a 20-0 lead.

The Chiefs actually missed more tackles than the Waratahs were forced to make in the first spell as the season's high injury attrition rate and plummeting confidence infected their performance.

Waratahs captain and flanker Phil Waugh was in the thick of the action to stamp his authority at the breakdown on the back of a physical tight five, enabling others to shine as they feasted on a second rate opposition.

The Waratahs wasted no time signalling their intentions, scoring their first try in just the third minute when winger Drew Mitchell punched through a hole on halfway before kicking ahead when challenged by the cover and winning the race to the ball.

Further first-half tries followed to No 8 Ben Mowen and hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau as the Waratahs overpowered the hosts and they pocketed their bonus point fourth try in the first minute after the break when first five-eighth Berrick Barnes snaffled an intercept.

The Australians continued to press hard but the Chiefs' defensive systems tightened in the second half before they finally showed some continuity in their play to create space on the left for fullback Tim Nanai-Williams to score a try in the 61st minute.

The Waratahs responded immediately when Nanai-Williams' opposite Kurtley Barnes ran on to a clever kick ahead by Barnes for their fifth try then Barnes set up the next one minute later with a break of his own and a delicate kick for winger Lachie Turner to gather near the right-hand corner.

The Chiefs enjoyed their best moments in the last 10 minutes when second five-eighth Jackson Willison scored two tries to give the scoreline some respectability before replacement hooker Damien Fitzpatrick applied an exclamation mark for the Waratahs with their seventh try in the last movement of the match.

NSW WARATAHS 46 (Berrick Barnes, Kurtley Beale, Damien Fitzpatrick, Drew Mitchell, Ben Mowen, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Lachlan Turner tries Barnes 2, Daniel Halangahu 2 cons Barnes pen) bt CHIEFS 19 (Jackson Willison 2, Tim Nanai-Williams tries Callum Bruce, Dwayne Sweeney cons) at Waikato Stadium. Referee: Steve R. Walsh (NZL).

- NZPA