The Waratahs took a giant stride towards shedding the travel monkey off their back with a 42-25 Super 12 win against the Chiefs in Rotorua.

The Chiefs were unbeatable in Rotorua last year, but were outplayed by the Waratahs, who had scored their fourth try and earned a crucial bonus point after only 31 minutes of play. The Waratahs lost all their away games last year.

The Waratahs led 28-6 at half-time and held on as the Chiefs threatened a comeback in a scrappy second-half.

For the Waratahs, it was an impressive Super 12 debut for league convert Mat Rogers, who showed plenty of composure and individual skill at fullback, while Matt Burke hardly looked out of place at outside-centre. It was a good game for the Waratahs outside backs with Scott Staniforth and Marc Stcherbina also enjoying strong games.

The Chiefs were dealt a major blow early in the game when they lost inspiration captain and lock Deon Muir to a knee injury. Without his control at the base, the Chiefs scrum struggled and they also missed his strong play at the breakdown. And it seemed some of the Chiefs backs needed a quiet word from someone after a terrible display of passing.

The Chiefs opened the scoring in the third minute with a penalty to Glen Jackson, but the Waratahs quickly struck back four minutes later when Staniforth finished off some excellent work by opposite winger Stcherbina for his first try.

Duncan McRae was having a strong game at five-eighth for the Waratahs as replacement for Manuel Edmonds and was rewarded from some excellent individual work with a try in the 20th minutes. Jackson reduced the lead to 14-6 with a second penalty, but Staniforth was again on hand to maintain the Waratahs roll when he scooped up a McRae chip in the 23rd minute to score.

The Waratahs enjoyed the majority of possession, showed excellent continuity for this stage of the season and were getting over the advantage line with some ease. Phil Waugh and Des Tuiavii were dominating the loose play for the Waratahs.

Tuiavii will be rueing a brief visit to the blood bin as his replacement Jone Tawake was on hand to take the final pass after an excellent break by outside-centre Matt Burke to score in the 31st minute. No sooner had Tawake planted the ball and he was running off as Tuiavii returned to the field. It was the Waratahs' fourth try and with it came a vital bonus point.

The Chiefs really only had two good chances during the first half, but on both occasions wingers Roger Randle and Mark Ranby were edged into touch as they dived over the line by some excellent work in defence by Rogers.

The Chiefs finally crossed for their first try in the 57th minute when Randle finished off a bullocking 20m charge by lock Kristian Ormsby. But just as a comeback threatened with the Chiefs starting to consistently find their quick outside men, the Waratahs struck back.

Inside-centre Nathan Grey toed ahead after some abysmal Chiefs passing went to ground 40m out and won the chase to carry the ball over the line for the try.

The game continued to open up and again the Chiefs reduced the lead when replacement lock Mark Weedon crashed over in the 63rd minute. Randle scored his second try with five minutes to go and while it was all too late to snatch victory, the Chiefs continued to lift with a fourth try and bonus point beckoning. But it was the Waratahs who finished the stronger with Staniforth crossing for his hat-track of tries with two minutes remaining.

Svoreboard

Waratahs 42
Tries: Scott Staniforth 3 Duncan McRae Jone Tawake Nathan Grey.
Goals: Matthew Burke 6

Chiefs 25
Tries: Roger Randle 2 Mark Weedon.
Goals: David Hill 2, Glen Jackson 2 pen goal.