NSW coach Ewen McKenzie called on Waratahs fans to keep the faith after watching his team slump to a humiliating 32-19 Super 14 loss to the Bulls in Sydney.

Disgusted NSW supporters began filing out of Aussie Stadium more than 10 minutes before fulltime after the Bulls had run in their fourth try to consign the Waratahs to their third defeat in five matches this campaign.

The blinding pace of Springboks winger Bryan Habana and the cunning and guile of halfback Fourie Du Preez - who each bagged tryscoring doubles - mixed with a sequence of schoolboy errors by the Waratahs, combined to bring their season to an embarrassing low.

The Waratahs are now languishing in equal second-last position, above only the injury-ravaged Queensland Reds, after six rounds of the competition - and a disturbing nine points adrift of the top four.

Even with a game in hand, the Waratahs will probably need to win at least six of their remaining eight matches in order to squeeze into the playoffs for the third year running.

On Saturday night's meek, error-strewn performance, it is a task that looks beyond the understrength `Tahs.

McKenzie, though, refused to give up the ghost and urged fans to stay loyal.

"It's frustrating," he said.

"It's certainly frustrating for us and we know the fans are hurting. We've got to acknowledge it's tough times at the moment.

"We hope that they stick with us. It would be very easy to generate further pressure but there's plenty of pressure within the team about doing better and we're quite focused on that.

"I think the scoreboard again is not really indicating the effort and the improvement, but obviously we have to do better because obviously the scoreboard is the only reference point there is that matters."

A downcast skipper Adam Freier said it hurt to know Waratahs fans were suffering.

"It's an alien feeling at the moment. We're not used to it (losing) and nor are the fans," Freier said.

"It's just really important that we go out there and play with the same attitude and same heart - and we're not lacking that at the moment. The passion and desire is there."

The home team actually led 9-8 after 38 minutes following fullback Peter Hewat's third successful penalty goal, but it all turned pear-shaped after that.

Quickfire tries either side of halftime to man-of-the-match Du Preez and Habana - both coming after the Waratahs had made a hash of Bulls' kick-offs - shot the South Africans to a 22-12 lead.

A Derick Hougaard penalty in the 55th minute stretched the Bulls' advantage to 13 points before Du Preez's second try in the 67th minute put the issue beyond doubt and prompted a mass exodus of Waratahs fans.

Teenage star Kurtley Beale crossed for a consolation try in the 76th minute but it was not enough to save face for the team.

Despite their desperate plight, a defiant McKenzie insisted the Waratahs were in "the same place as if we had won".

"Still chasing another win next week. We just keep going," he said.

"We didn't win the game but it doesn't change our job next week, which is to go out and try and win that one.

"It was always going to be the way. We're just going to keep chasing wins every week. It's always been our approach and it will continue to be our approach."

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