Tries either side of half-time killed off the hopes of the Highlanders in Sydney last night.
The two tries gave the table-topping Waratahs a 15-point lead which was ultimately enough for a Highlanders team which appeared to wilt as the game went on.
The Highlanders tried to attack throughout the game but passes went to ground at critical times and the Waratahs defence was hard to penetrate.
The try by Waratahs No 8 Wycliff Palu after just two minutes in the second half was critical as it gave the home team momentum and confidence which it never lost.
The try came after the Waratahs poured on to attack and Palu used his considerable bulk to charge over from 2m.
He had been involved in the movement three times as the Waratahs forwards charged away.
The Highlanders hit back shortly afterwards with captain Jason Shoemark going over after a dart from halfback Sean Romans. That got the Highlanders to within eight points but that is as close as they got.
Romans was forced off the field with a leg injury after 17 minutes of the second half.
The Highlanders kept banging away in the final 15 minutes but lost the ball at crucial times.
Shoemark had three unmarked men outside him at one stage but could not control the ball quickly enough.
The Highlanders shifted the ball plenty during the game but went too sideways at times and the Waratahs cover defence was too good.
Referee James Leckie was inconsistent with his rulings and seemed to confuse both sides at times.
Best for the Highlanders was fullback Israel Dagg, first five-eighth Daniel Bowden, halfback Sean Romans and lock Josh Bekhuis.
Phil Waugh and Palu were the best for the Waratahs.
The Highlanders scored first in the match with Bowden, who did not miss a kick, knocking over a simple penalty after just five minutes from a Waratahs scrum error.
He added a second eight minutes later as the Highlanders shifted the ball well and stretched the Waratahs defence.
Waratahs second five-eighth Tom Carter thought he was over after 10 minutes but he was ruled offside after chasing a kick.
But the Waratahs were the first side to score a try after a nice grubber kick from Kurtley Beale and big winger Lote Tuqiri did the rest.
Beale added the extras to put the home side in the lead.
Waratahs prop Benn Robinson was then penalised for a second time for going in on the angle in the scrum and Bowden put his side back in the lead.
A try by blindside flanker Ben Mowen was a real killer blow for the Highlanders with time up on the clock in the first stanza. The Waratahs kept the ball going and a delightful ball from Beale set fullback Sam Norton-Knight away.
He fed Mowen who sprinted for the corner.
Beale had his radar on all night and added the sideline conversion to give the Waratahs a bonus-point win, their third victory from as many games.
- Waratahs 34 (Lote Tuqiri, Ben Mowen, Wycliff Palu, Brett Sheehan tries, Kurtley Beale 2 penalty goals, 3 conversions, Daniel Halagahu conversion) Highlanders 16 (Jason Shoemark try, Daniel Bowden 3 penalty goals) Half-time: 17-9. Crowd: 19,432.
• The Hurricanes dulled the pain of the past last night, at least temporarily, with a rare Super win over the Crusaders in Christchurch, NZPA reports.
They did it in style, too, prevailing 30-24 for the first victory in their past seven outings against the reigning champion.
Long numbed by their constant failure against the most successful franchise in Super rugby history, the Hurricanes showed they had at last learned from their past lessons to repulse a Crusaders fightback from a deficit of 30-12 with 20 minutes remaining.
First five-eighth Piri Weepu led the way for the Hurricanes with 15 points from the boot.
- Hurricanes 30 (Zac Guildford, Alby Mathewson, Ma'a Nonu tries; Piri Weepu 3 penalty goals, 3 conversions), Crusaders 24 (Casey Laulala, Brad Thorn, Jared Payne, Thomas Waldrom tries; Stephen Brett conversion, Colin Slade conversion). Half-time: 16-7.
