The NSW Waratahs confirmed their credentials as a genuine contender for the Super 14 title despite going down 17-11 to the Crusaders and surrendering the ladder lead to the New Zealand side in the process.

Outplayed in the first half, which ended with NSW trailing 14-3, the Waratahs penned the Crusaders back in their own half for most of the final quarter.

The five times Super champion needed a strong defensive effort, especially inside the last ten minutes when NSW imposed sustained pressure on the home team's line.

"The Waratahs threw everything at us and I think at halftime we knew that was going to happen," Crusaders captain and flanker Richie McCaw said.

NSW committed several turnovers and missed plenty of tackles in the first half, but lifted considerably after the break as they followed coach Ewen McKenzie's halftime advice to keep the ball closer to the forwards.

"In the end, we put ourselves in a good position to win the game and we batted away for the last 15 minutes and just couldn't get over the line and that was frustrating," McKenzie said.

The result took the unbeaten Crusaders to 35 points from eight games, two above the Waratahs who have played one game more who and picked up a bonus point in suffering their second loss of the season.

The Crusaders dominated the first half, with lock Chris Jack crossing the Waratahs' line in the sixth minute.

The try was scored down the Crusaders left hand side and fullback Leon MacDonald crossed in a similar area after another well executed move near the half hour mark.

NSW went to the break 14-3 down after a penalty on the siren from fullback Peter Hewat, the only Waratah to pose consistent problems to the Crusaders defence in the first half.

McKenzie revamped his side with two changes at halftime and another two just five minutes into the second half.

McKenzie replaced inside centre Shaun Berne with Sam Norton-Knight and brought on Rocky Elsom for injured flanker Wycliff Palu (shoulder) at the break before substituting captain and halfback Chris Whitaker with Brett Sheehan and prop Matt Dunning with Benn Robinson.

"I didn't want to die wondering, so we wanted to see if we could change the game a bit and we did that and scored straight away, so that got us back in the hunt," McKenzie said.

Centre Morgan Turinui crossed for the Waratahs' only try when he capitalised on an unpredictable bounce from a Hewat kick, which deceived Crusaders winger Rico Gear.

Crusaders five-eighth Daniel Carter, who converted both tries, gave his side a nine point cushion with another penalty.

However, Hewat, who missed four of his six attempts at goal, set up a thrilling final quarter by kicking his second penalty of the night.

Although monopolising possession in the final stages NSW couldn't crack the stout Crusaders defence, with the visiting forwards restricted to small gains and dangerous wingers Wendell Sailor and Lote Tuqiri well contained.

"The tempo of the game was much faster than we played in previous games, so the guys were physically tired and when you're tired you can make more mistakes, so we didn't come up with all our best options," McKenzie said.

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