Lote Tuqiri, the hottest property on the Australian rugby market, has become embroiled in controversy after turning on NSW teammate Sam Norton-Knight during a sensational finale to the Waratahs' 16-16 Super 14 draw with the Western Force.

Forget the derby between the Waratahs and the Force, Tuqiri and Norton-Knight were caught up in their own personal battle as the final siren sounded at Aussie Stadium.

When NSW were awarded a penalty seconds before fulltime 40 metres out and on the right-hand touch line, it was presumed superboot Peter Hewat would be presented with the opportunity to kick the Waratahs to victory.

But when Norton-Knight took a quick tap, only to kick the ball straight to the Force who put it into touch, Tuqiri exploded.

The dual international pushed Norton-Knight in the back as he made his feelings known before apologising to his crestfallen teammate later in the dressing room.

Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie described the incident as "a dead issue" but it is sure to fuel further debate over whether Tuqiri is worth the millions of dollars he is chasing to remain in rugby beyond this year's World Cup.

"He obviously thought we were going to kick at goal and Sam thought there was an opportunity, so I assume that was the reason for action," McKenzie said. "I haven't actually quizzed him on the detail.

"It was an adverse reaction. It's not something we're about and Lote acknowledged that in front of the team and said that he'd done wrong and he apologised straight away, so it's finished.

"Look, he's disappointed. He's already apologised in the dressing room, so it's a dead issue."

With hooker and skipper Adam Freier replaced midway through the second half, flanker Rocky Elsom assumed the captaincy, but Tuqiri - who vice-captained Australia against Italy last November - was clearly keen to make the decisions.

Apart from the Norton-Knight incident, the superstar winger also gestured to the posts when the referee asked what course of action the Waratahs would pursue when handed another penalty.

McKenzie denied the uncertainty surrounding Tuqiri's future was affecting his in-demand charge.

"I think he's just trying to participate in the game," he said.

"It was a tight game and it was a frustrating game in some respects. He's had a big training week, he's keen to get involved, so I guess he was offering an opinion."

McKenzie also defended Norton-Knight for committing what most considered a selfish act.

"He just took a quick tap. He obviously saw an opportunity and took it and it didn't happen," McKenzie said.

"We missed one (shot at goal) from the far side earlier on from a similar distance so it would have been tight.

"It's easy to say sitting in the coach's box with the benefit of hindsight to take a shot at goal.

"But I think everyone thought that was probably what was going to happen and that's probably the reason he tapped the ball - because everyone thought there was going to have a shot at goal."

A flash of Matt Giteau brilliance had looked like lifting the Force to a stirring victory over the Waratahs but, ironically, a penalty goal from Hewat 15 minutes from time denied the second-season franchise an historic maiden win over a rival Australian team.

Giteau bamboozled Waratahs trio Will Caldwell, Wycliff Palu and Daniel Halangahu with a vicious right-foot step and then had too much pace for the cover defence of opposing five-eighth Kurtley Beale.

The Force maintained their advantage until Hewat's intervention in the 65th minute.

The Waratahs had jumped out to a 13-0 lead after just 20 minutes thanks to two early penalty goals from Hewat and brilliant solo try to Morgan Turinui, who beat four defenders to score while playing wing for the first time for his state.

But Giteau's influence was profound and worthy of earning the visiting team a share of the spoils.

First, he capitalised on an overlap on the Waratahs line to put fullback Drew Mitchell over before his stunning strike in the 43rd minute deservedly earned him man-of-the-match honours.

The draw advanced the Force to fourth place on the table early in round five but left the Waratahs languishing in 11th position.

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