A historic four tries to Waratahs winger Drew Mitchell secured NSW a convincing 73-12 victory over the hapless Lions in a round five Super 14 mismatch at the Sydney Football Stadium on Friday night.
In front of 16,878 supporters, the Waratahs showed they were capable of playing running rugby with a thoroughly convincing 11 tries to two bonus-point flogging.
Mitchell was virtually in everything, scoring a first-half double, before wrapping up his quartet by the 62nd minute.
It was the first time in NSW Super history a player had scored four tries in a game. The final tally of 73 and Berrick Barnes's nine conversions were also a NSW Super record.
NSW captain Phil Waugh, who became the most capped Waratah in his 119th appearance for the franchise, said it was important to show their patient fans they could still play open rugby.
"The guys were a little frustrated after last week," Waugh said at full-time.
"It's important to get people into the game and we tried to play as open as possible, and hopefully we can get people to the game."
It was the Waratahs third win of the season, and by far their most comprehensive and entertaining.
The Waratahs' showed their desire to keep the ball in play from the outset when Mitchell took a quick-tap from close-range in the sixth minute, knocking back an easy penalty goal, to burrow over from 5m. Barnes converted to give NSW a perfect start.
Three minutes later, Mitchell then undone his good work when he failed to clear a Carlos Spencer grubber kick inside his own in-goal, allowing Lions winger Tonderai Chavhanga to score an easy five-pointer, his first of the 2010 season.
A minute later the Waratahs then got one back on Spencer, when lock Dean Mumm intercepted a kick off the New Zealander's boot, racing 25m to score the hosts second try of the night. Barnes converted to edge the Waratahs ahead, 14-5.
By the 17th minute, it was clear the Waratahs were going to keep the ball in-hand, again knocking back three points to go for the try.
It paid off with outside centre Tom Carter powering over from a basic backline move. Barnes converted from out wide to give the Waratahs a commanding 16-point lead.
Mitchell was again involved in the 26th minute when he split the Lions' ordinary defence with a wonderful weaving run which started from inside his own half. But the move broke down inside the Lions' quarter.
Nine minutes before half-time the Waratahs secured a bonus-point when winger Lachlan Turner completed an exciting passage, set-up by damaging Wallabies No. 8 Wycliff Palu.
The powerful backrower burst into a gaping hole off a neat ball by replacement half Josh Holmes. Palu's long-run into Lions' territory was followed up by a precise Halangahu grubber kick for Turner to scoop up and score his 17th career Super 14 try.
On the stroke of half-time, Mitchell collected his second try, accepting a fine Halangahu inside ball to score under the posts. Barnes converted to make it 33-5 at the break.
Unlike the previous Saturday night when the Waratahs were booed for endless kicking, the Sydney-faithful appeared satisfied with the opening 40 minutes.
It took the Waratahs 11 minutes to get moving in the second term, with a clever Barnes cross-kick sitting up nicely for Palu to score in the corner, giving the hosts a