NSW rugby coach Ewen McKenzie and his record breaking captain Chris Whitaker were left to question the Waratahs' attitude towards their defensive duties after they lost ground in the race for the Super 14 rugby top spot with a 37-33 loss to the Chiefs in Hamilton.

The Waratahs picked up two bonus points for scoring five tries and losing narrowly, but fell three points behind the Crusaders, who they led on for and against going into the penultimate round.

Renowned for its efficiency, and notoriously tight defence, NSW committed numerous missed tackles, mistakes and turnovers, while normally reliable goal kicker Peter Hewat landed only three out of seven attempts.

Chiefs kicker David Hille landed all seven of his attempts.

Fullback Hewat's conversion of a last minute try to flanker Rocky Elsom secured the Waratahs a second bonus point and moved them to 44 points on the ladder, three behind the Crusaders, but one ahead of the Hurricanes, who they host in the final round next week.

The winner of that game will secure a home final, but would need the Crusaders to lose at home to the Brumbies in order for either of them to have a shot at first place.

NSW scored five tries to four, and led on four separate occasions, but Hewat who equalled his own NSW Super season scoring record of 173 points, either shaved the woodwork or was just wide of the post with all of his missed kicks.

It was the first time since last year's Super 12 final that the Waratahs had conceded four tries and more than 30 points.

"We didn't turn up ready to play tonight, defence is a sign of attitude and we just fell a bit short tonight," said halfback Whitaker, who was making a record breaking 116th appearance for NSW.

McKenzie felt the Chiefs played well but said his team was bad and definitely off the pace.

"I think the defence thing is an attitudinal thing, I think we were all looking at each other to do something and in the end we needed people to put their hands up and it just didn't happen at various stages," McKenzie said.

He was also disappointed by the Waratah's uncharacteristically sloppy lineout performance and what he thought was a crucial error and turning point in the second half, when the Waratah's opted to take a quick tap in front near the line instead of going for a kick to touch and driving from a lineout, a tactic which produced tries to hookers Adam Freier and Tatafu Polota-Nau.

Five-eighth Mat Rogers scored the opening try in the 12th minute with a scintillating 45m run to give the Waratahs an 8-3 lead.

The Chiefs hit back with tries to centre Sam Tuitupou and fullback Mils Muliaina to establish a 17-11 advantage for the home team.

Freier's try cut the deficit to one point before Chiefs goal-kicker Hille banged over a penalty to make it 20-16 at the break.

NSW took the lead for the fourth and final time after 47 minutes when a superb crossfield kick from Rogers was taken by winger Lote Tuqiri.

However, the Chiefs regained the lead through Muliaina's second try and never lost it again.

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