The NSW Waratahs have outlasted the Brumbies 17-14 for a confidence-boosting win in their last trial match before the Super 14 competition begins.

In a mostly scrappy and error-riddled affair, the Waratahs showed flashes of brilliance to score a tight win in front of 8,321 fans at the Sydney Football Stadium.

The Waratahs scored two tries in the first half with their first-choice side on the field, before the Brumbies staged their comeback after the break.

The men in blue had most of the possession in the first half and created a handful of early chances, but strong Brumbies goal-line defence kept them out on three occasions.

Unable to crack the Brumbies defence, Phil Waugh finally elected to take the points and Kurtley Beale's penalty goal made it 3-0.

When halfback Brett Sheehan returned from the blood bin in the 18th minute, his quick ball to Beale off the back of a ruck sparked the night's first five-pointer.

Flyhalf Beale threw a cut-out pass to centre Timana Tahu, who made a storming run before offloading to Rob Horne who found the chalk from 10m out.

Beale scored the Waratahs' second try in the 58th min when Daniel Halangahu managed to scoop up an ordinary ball off his bootlaces, regather and send a well-timed grubber into the in-goal area where Beale pounced.

After wholesale changes by both coaches following the halftime break, the Brumbies - down 17-0 at halftime - got their first points through a try to Christian Lealiifano.

Brumbies frontrower John Ulugia then crashed over in the 76th minute and a sweet conversion from Lealiifano made it 17-14.

Waratahs centre Tom Carter and flanker Beau Robinson were late withdrawals due to injury, handing Tahu and Ben Mowen their respective starting jerseys.

In the curtain raiser, the Brumbies second XV beat the junior Waratahs 37-14.

Beale's performance in Thursday's match will go a long way to securing him the No.10 jersey from challenger Halangahu.

Waratahs coach Chris Hickey praised the supreme efforts of Beale, who scored a try and set up another.

"Kurtley has worked very hard ... and I think he's made some really big improvements, we're very happy with his kicking, particularly in the first half," said Hickey, who finishes the pre-season with three wins from three matches.

"We're reasonably happy with his performance and even when he switched to 12, I thought he handled himself quite well there, so that just gives us that bit more depth and a little more versatility."

Brumbies coach Andy Friend was disappointed by his side's lack of physicality.

"It was tough, I thought it was a very physical game, I thought we were actually outmuscled on the physical front," Friend said.

"That's something that we'll need to improve."

Beale's performance in Thursday's match will go a long way to securing him the No.10 jersey from challenger Halangahu.

Waratahs coach Chris Hickey praised the supreme efforts of Beale, who scored a try and set up another.

"Kurtley has worked very hard ... and I think he's made some really big improvements, we're very happy with his kicking, particularly in the first half," said Hickey, who finishes the pre-season with three wins from three matches.

"We're reasonably happy with his performance and even when he switched to 12, I thought he handled himself quite well there, so that just gives us that bit more depth and a little more versatility."

Brumbies coach Andy Friend was disappointed by his side's lack of physicality.

"It was tough, I thought it was a very physical game, I thought we were actually outmuscled on the physical front," Friend said.

"That's something that we'll need to improve."

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