Waratahs confirm semifinal spot

The Waratahs exhibited all the hallmarks of a champion team when beating the Highlanders 41-20 in a Super 12 rugby match in Dunedin tonight.

The result at Carisbrook confirmed their place in the semifinals and saw them return to the top of the standings, one point ahead of the Crusaders, with two rounds remaining.

After years of promising much and delivering little, the Waratahs loom as genuine title contenders after outclassing the Highlanders, who entered the match in third place.

They applied all the pressure, were desperate in all they did and proved too physically demanding for the Highlanders, dominating the battle for possession and repeatedly turning the home team around by efficient recycling of the ball.

The Waratahs led 21-13 at halftime and methodically extended their advantage, first when halfback and captain Chris Whitaker scored a try in his 100th appearance for the state, after a surge down the blindside, and later when winger Peter Hewat stole an intercept try with 12 minutes remaining.

The Highlanders had the satisfaction in seeing replacement winger Neil Brew score a try in the 73rd minute, when he palmed off tiring flanker Rocky Elsom, but it was strictly a consolation effort.

The Waratahs justly had the last say when replacement Cameron Shepherd completed the scoring with his team's fifth try in the final minute.

The match began brightly for the Highlanders when first five-eighth Nick Evans scampered 65m for an opportunist try when he pounced on a loose pass by Nathan Grey after just 90 seconds.

The Waratahs responded with two penalties to Hewat before they broke down the home team's stubborn defence by spreading the attack to both flanks for centre Morgan Turinui to step inside then out and score a try near the right-hand corner in the 22nd minute.

Ben Blair trimmed the deficit to 10-11 by landing his first penalty for the Highlanders but the Waratahs gave themselves breathing space with another try, this time to flanker Phil Waugh, when they again pierced the defence after a multiphase attack.

Hewat's conversion and a penalty took the Sydney-based franchise out to a commanding 21-10 advantage heading into halftime before Blair landed his second penalty in the 40th minute.

The Highlanders fell off eight tackles in the first half alone as the Waratahs, fuelled by 68 per cent of possession and 73 per cent of the territory, patiently tested the home team's resolve.

Scores: Waratahs 41 (Peter Hewat, Morgan Turinui, Phil Waugh, Chris Whitaker, Cameron Shepherd tries; Hewat 4 pen 2 con)

Highlanders 20 (Nick Evans, Neil Brew tries; Ben Blair 2 pen, 2 con). Halftime: 21-13.

- NZPA