NSW were given a painful lesson in opportunism as their Super Rugby campaign hit another hurdle with a 30-13 loss to the Chiefs in Hamilton on Saturday.
The Chiefs scored three tries to one, but NSW dominated the first half and squandered several scoring chances.
It was the Waratahs’ fifth straight loss in New Zealand and fourth in six games this season.
The Chiefs outscored NSW 17-3 in a second half in which the visitors spent most of the time defending.
The Waratahs secured around 70 per cent of possession and territory in the first half, but failed to make it count on the scoreboard apart from an early try to winger Tom Kingston.
Breaks deep into Chiefs territory by flanker Chris Alcock and five-eighth Berrick Barnes both went unrewarded due to loose passes.
Prop Benn Robinson took a cross-field kick from Barnes just short of the line, but the Chiefs’ defence scrambled well.
NSW led 7-0 early after halfback Brendan McKibbin converted a try to impressive youngster Kingston, who had sufficient momentum to just get to the line after brushing off two tackles.
Against the run of play, the Chiefs equalised within five minutes when five-eighth Aaron Cruden converted after good lead-up work from him and winger Tim Nanai-Williams set up a try to fullback Robbie Robinson.
McKibbin kicked a penalty to put NSW 10-7 up, but Cruden added two for the Chiefs, who led 13-10 at the break.
The game turned against the Tahs less than two minutes into the second half.
A Sonny Bill Williams kick fortuitously landed in the hands of centre partner Richard Kahui after deflecting off Waratahs’ flanker David Dennis and ended with prop Arizona Taumalolo going over.
Twice in two minutes a Chiefs player was held up over the Waratahs’ line as the home team got right on top.
Any chance the Waratahs had dissolved in the 67th minute after they conceded a try after losing a scrum feed on their own 10-metre line.
Chiefs forward Sam Cane snatched the ball before it could be taken by NSW replacement halfback Sarel Pretorius and he combined with halfback Tawera Kerr-Barlow to send flanker Liam Messam over.
The Chiefs thought they had a bonus-point try in the 76th minute, but replacement back Leila Masaga had it rubbed out for a push.