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The Waratahs were unable to pull off another miraculous comeback as the Stormers won 27-6 in the Super 14 rugby match in Cape Town early Sunday, Australian time.
NSW, who scored two late tries to come from behind and win their opening round clash against Queensland, secured more possession and forced the Stormers to make more tackles.
But the visitors made too many mistakes and the Stormers were more disciplined and clinical in scoring three tries, two by Springboks winger Bryan Habana.
NSW lacked the cutting edge provided by lethal finisher Habana and their only points came from a penalty goal in each half by five-eighth Berrick Barnes.
The Waratahs started well, pounding the Stormers line in the first five minutes with three players dragged down just short of the line.
Their only reward for that first quarter pressure was an 18th minute Barnes penalty, which opened the scoring.
The Stormers defence proved strong and they gradually asserted themselves through the forwards, despite the early loss of talismanic captain and flanker Schalk Burger to a hamstring twinge
Flanker Francois Louw crashed over for for a 30th minute try from a forward drive, with fullback Joe Pietersen converting and adding two penalties to give the home team a 13-3 halftime advantage.
Barnes reduced the deficit to seven with a penalty inside two minutes of the first half, but a critical error from the restart proved costly.
Habana charged down a clearance kick from inside centre Kurtley Beale to score his first try.
The charismatic winger added a second five-pointer just over ten minute later, slipping past winger Drew Mitchell and fullback Sosene Anesi following a burst from halfback Ricky Januarie from a scrum move.
Pietersen converted both to expand the home team’s lead to 21 points.
The final quarter was a niggly affair, the Stormers unable to get a bonus point try and the Waratahs continuing to fritter away promising situations with poor play.
Captain and flanker Phil Waugh said his men needed to tighten up their discipline in the scrum after conceding a number of penalties in that area.
“We need to improve a lot from that performance,” Waugh said in his post-match television interview.
“We’ve got a big week in Pretoria next week against the Bulls, so we need to turn things around.”
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.