The Highlanders effectively dropped out of the Super rugby title race as the NSW Waratahs kept their play-off hopes alive with an emphatic 33-7 victory at the Sydney Football Stadium tonight.
The Highlanders need to beat the Blues on Eden Park next Saturday - plus secure a bonus point - and rely on the champion Bulls not adding to their 49-point tally during their two remaining fixtures if they are to squeeze into the top six.
Surprising losses to the Lions and Western Force on Carisbrook heralded the Highlanders downward spiral and they also had no answer to a superior Waratahs unit who bounced back from consecutive losses in South Africa.
A five tries to one triumph based on a dominant forward effort, deft touches by Kurtley Beale and Tom Carter's first career hattrick enabled the Waratahs to provisionally improve from seventh to fifth after banking the maximum five-point haul.
They remain second in the Australian conference behind the uncatchable Reds while the Highlanders languish in eighth on 45.
Two moments of magic from elusive Wallabies fullback Beale set the tone as he helped produce an early 12-point for the Waratahs as weaving runs set up tries for Carter and Dave Dennis.
Beale fielded an ineffectual box kick from Highlanders halfback Aaron Smith 60-metres from the line in the eighth minutes and after skipping past Kade Poki and Smith he nudged an inch-perfect grubber kick for Carter to collect and force despite a brave attempt by Ben Smith to hold him up.
A Highlanders turn over as they pressed deep into the Waratahs territory again had Beale at his free-spirited best as he glided 60m before another grubber was grabbed by Luke Burgess. The halfback transferred to a rampaging Tatafu Polota-Nau who passed to unimpeded blindside flanker Dave Dennis.
Beale added the extras to the type of bold counter attack frustrated Waratahs have yearned for this season.
The Highlanders also contributed to an enterprising encounter - until the weather deteriorated- and were rewarded in the 27th minute after turning down a third kickable penalty.
Opting instead for set piece and close quarter rumbles to the line, hooker Jason Rutledge squeezed over handy to the posts.
The Highlanders continued to dominate territory but stout Waratahs defence and a superior scrum conspired against the visitors.
A rearranged Waratahs backline had the final say in the opening half when Carter, who moved in a spot to second five-eighth when Berrick Barnes retired with a back injury six minutes before the break - was unstoppable from 10m when he cut back on to a Daniel Halangahu pass.
Beale converted to restore the Waratahs original 12-point buffer at halftime.
Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph exchanged All Blacks halfback Jimmy Cowan - a surprise starter on the bench - for Smith while Robbie Robinson took over from the veteran Brown for the second 40 minutes.
Returning Waratahs captain Phil Waugh were also spelled at the break as he returns from a hamstring while No.8 Wycliff Palu trailed soon after making a successful comeback from his long-term leg injury.
The contest lost its shape as occasional showers swept an already slippery surface and neither side was able to add further points until the 74th minute when Carter outflanked the cover defence to record his first career hattrick.
A perfect Beale cross kick for Holmes with two minutes to play completed the rout although the margin did not reflect the Highlanders contribution.
They gamely persisted with their quest for seven points rather than three with 12 minutes remaining but a refusal to attempt two kickable penalties amounted to nought when the Waratahs successfully scrambled in defence before securing another heartbreaking turnover.
