Unbeaten NSW comfortably covered the absence of lock Justin Harrison as it destroyed the Stormers lineout in their 25-10 victory at Aussie Stadium.

The Super 12 ladder leading Waratahs made it four wins from as many matches, though they failed to collect maximum points for the first time this season.

NSW scored three tries to one and proved way too efficient for an error ridden South African outfit, whose only five-pointer effort came in the final minute of the match.

Impressive centre Morgan Turinui scored two tries and flanker Phil Waugh one, as the Waratahs dominated despite the absence of lineout star Harrison, who voluntarily stood down from the game after admitting to racially abusing Cats winger Chumani Booi in Johannesburg last weekend.

NSW comfortably won its own line-out throws and pinched eight of the Stormers with established lock Daniel Vickerman and Harrison's replacement Alex Kanaar prominent.

"I think we probably surprised a few people with the way the line-out functioned," NSW coach Ewen McKenzie said.

"I was certainly very confident of the players we've got," McKenzie added.

While he was disappointed with the way NSW occasionally turned the ball over in the tackle, McKenzie was pleased with the Waratahs defence which proved almost impenetrable until Stormers captain and halfback Neil de Kock crossed their line with 45 seconds to go.

Turinui took his try tally for the season to five, with one in each half.

With the Waratahs trailing 3-0 to a penalty from Stormers flyhalf Chris Rossouw, Turinui zipped between the Stormers Springbok centres De Wet Barry and Marius Joubert for the opening try.

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