The Highlanders have denied the NSW Waratahs a milestone away win with a stylish 26-19 bonus-point victory over the Super Rugby champions in Dunedin.

The Highlanders piled on four unanswered tries in a 20-minute blitz either side of halftime to swamp the Waratahs under the closed roof at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday.

The Waratahs made a slick enough start, with halfback Nick Phipps and centre Matt Carraro both crossing from well-executed set-piece moves before classy Highlanders No.9 Aaron Smith seized control of the match.

With the Tahs falling off tackles and unable to match the Highlanders’ physicality and efficiency at the breakdown, Smith had an afternoon out setting up his big and pacey backs.

A yellow card for NSW prop Sekope Kepu for cynical play while defending his line invited the Highlanders into the contest and Smith wasted no time putting lock Tom Franklin over for the home side’s first try with a sniping dart from the scrum base.

The match turned just before halftime when Malakai Fekitoa dispossessed Israel Folau in a tackle before setting powerhouse winger Waisake Naholo off on a 60-metre sprint to the line.

Fullback Ben Smith increased the Highlanders’ two-point halftime advantage with powerful, direct hole-running and then a breakout try to winger Patrick Osborne after some Highlanders razzle dazzle had the Waratahs chasing the game.

A late try to replacement back-rower Stephen Hoiles salvaged a bonus point for the Tahs, but coach Michael Cheika will be disappointed by his side’s scrappy performance and how they were out-muscled in their first trans-Tasman clash of 2015.

Unbeaten on the road since round 14 last year, the Waratahs had been chasing six straight away wins for the first time in 20 seasons of Super Rugby.

Instead, their second defeat from four starts this campaign leaves the titleholders languishing mid-table ahead of next weekend’s blockbuster derby with Australian conference leaders the Brumbies at Allianz Stadium.