Waratahs wonder-kid Kurtley Beale was at it again, setting up the winning try as his NSW side downed defending Super 14 champions the Crusaders 17-12 at Aussie Stadium.

With two minutes left on the clock and NSW finding it almost impossible to get out of its own half for virtually the whole of the second half, Beale dummied and split the defence 60m out before drawing the Crusaders' last defender and sending replacement halfback Josh Holmes over for the clincher.

He then converted the try to give the Waratahs a scrappy Rotmahana Challenge win.

Thrown into the fray in the second half with the Waratahs up 10-5, Beale had shown glimpses of brilliant footwork but had also let a try in, brushed aside by Crusaders replacement halfback Andrew Ellis' fend to allow the visitors to a 12-10 lead on the back of a huge territorial advantage.

Big names Lote Tuqiri, Wycliff Palu, Morgan Turinui, Sam Norton-Knight and Peter Hewat were all on show - although they were replaced for the scrappy second stanza.

NSW coach Ewen McKenzie used Josh Valentine at No.9 for the first half, with fellow Wallaby tourist Brett Sheehan taking over in the second and young gun Holmes getting a run in the last 10 minutes.

It was one try apiece after the first 40 minutes, Waratahs fullback Norton-Knight's finish after a 70m Hewat sprint in the 38th minute securing the lead for NSW.

The Crusaders mounted the early pressure but it was the Waratahs who posted first points on their first foray into enemy territory.

Hewat gave the home side a 3-0 advantage with a penalty goal in the eighth minute after impressive flyhalf Daniel Halangahu had put inside centre Tom Carter into space.

The New Zealanders continued to win the territorial battle, dominating the lineouts but blowing several chances with poor handling until flanker Kieran Read got their first five-pointer when he scooted down the right touchline in the 33rd minute.

A woeful conversion attempt from fullback Brent Ward had the Crusaders in front 5-3.

The new four-step scrum rule posed plenty of problems for both packs - and the referee - as set piece after set piece had to be reset.

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