KEY POINTS:
Call this the Chiefs' year of living dangerously.
Faced with a daunting challenge to make the Super 14 playoffs after losing their first four matches, they remain alive going into next weekend's final round scrap against defending champions the Crusaders in Christchurch after a nerve-rattling win in Sydney last night.
Trailing 23-21, it took a try by replacement Tane Tu'ipulotu three minutes from the end at the lefthand corner to get the points against a valiant but limited Waratahs.
Stephen Donald's fine sideline conversion made the gap five points and when the Waratahs botched their final lineout chance a minute from time the Chiefs ran down the clock.
They sit on 36 points and headed for the tunnel in third spot on the table, but the Bulls and Sharks can overtake them by the end of the weekend.
"She was pretty ugly," Chiefs captain Jono Gibbes said. "It'll be hard viewing on Monday, but four points is the positive."
Certainly neither side scaled great heights of rugby excellence, but the state of the table ensured a measure of tension and Chiefs fingernails would have taken a real gnawing.
Flanker Liam Messam had a big say in the outcome. With the Chiefs trailing 20-16 16 minutes from the end, he cut back on a Tu'ipulotu pass to sprint 30m for a fine try.
Then his final pass, which might have verged on forward, put Tu'ipulotu in for the matchwinner.
The Chiefs made an ideal start. Sitiveni Sivivatu's try in the seventh minute, running through a giant gap in the Waratahs' defence, provided an early 10-0 lead to settle the nerves.
The Chiefs were prospering from catching the hapless Waratahs behind the advantage line, but then things started going awry. The second-bottom Waratahs, perhaps recognising a final opportunity to press for Wallaby jerseys this year, woke up, and the indefatigable Marty Holah, Donald and Roy Kinikinilau all had to make critical tackles in the Chiefs' 22.
When first five-eighth Sam Norton-Knight sold Messam a dummy and sped through a yawning gap to the line it was no surprise.
The error rate on both sides grew as tackles were missed, and possession was frittered away at the breakdown.
Donald and Peter Hewat swapped penalties but the Chiefs couldn't capitalise on Waratahs blunders, including one Keystone Cops caper on their own tryline. Sione Lauaki's influence increased after the restart and the Chiefs, with significantly more territory, had their chances.
But rookie wing Lachie Turner scored an outrageous try from 60m to put the Waratahs ahead after 53 minutes. A Hewat penalty put the Waratahs in front a second time, but Messam, Tu'ipulotu and Donald had other ideas.
Chiefs: S. Sivivatu, L. Messam, T. Tu'ipulotu tries; S. Donald 3 pen, 2 con.
Waratahs: S. Norton-Knight, L. Turner tries; P. Hewat 3 pen, 2 con.
HT: 13-13.
