NSW Waratahs rose to the challenge to take control of their Super 14 finals destiny with a crushing 46-19 win over the Chiefs in Hamilton on Saturday night.

Combining forward muscle and backline flair, the Waratahs scored seven tries to three and rocketed to third on the back of their bonus-point win.

Up 20-0 at halftime, NSW secured the vital bonus point within 60 seconds of the restart, when five-eighth Berrick Barnes scored a 50-metre intercept try.

The win set up a potential winner-take-all final-round home game against the Hurricanes next Friday.

"We've given ourselves everything to play for now and every opportunity to grab a place in the finals series, I think," Waratahs coach Chris Hickey told AAP.

"It's a big challenge playing the Hurricanes but we're back at the SFS and we're looking forward to a really big crowd there to support us."

While some of their first-half passing left something to be desired, NSW produced several impressive multi-phase moves throughout the game.

"This is a team that rises to the challenge and shows that they have got the ability to turn up at the big games," Hickey said.

"It was a good performance in most aspects at the game."

Starting the round in fifth spot, NSW delivered on their pre-match aim to produce a more physical performance after their listless effort at the breakdown against the Highlanders last week.

Captain and openside flanker Phil Waugh popped up everywhere while No.8 Ben Mowen and lock Kane Douglas also excelled.

"We knew that if we were going to get the opportunity to play we needed to control the breakdown," Hickey said.

"I thought Ben Mowen, Phil Waugh and (blindside flanker) Pat McCutcheon performed admirably in that area."

In the backs, winger Drew Mitchell, fullback Kurtley Beale and Barnes created constant problems for the Chiefs defence.

"Drew Mitchell had a really strong influence on the game and did some special things and I think Kurtley is growing in confidence in that position at fullback," Hickey said.

A brilliant second-minute solo try from Mitchell, who burst through a gap, chipped and regathered, set the tone for a dominant NSW display.

Mowen and hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau added further tries before the break and Barnes reasserted the Waratahs dominance by scoring almost immediately after halftime.

Beale and Turner scored tries from well-weighted kicks and replacement hooker Damien Fitzpatrick crossed for his first Super five-pointer just before the end.

Hickey said Barnes, Waugh, centre Rob Horne and prop Benn Robinson were replaced as a precautionary measure and didn't expect Sunday's medicals to produce any major injury worries.

Three final-quarter tries, two to centre Jackson Willison and one to fullback Tim Nanai-Williams salvaged a smidgeon of respectability for the Chiefs, who completed their 2010 program in Hamilton without a win.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP