NSW coach Dan McKellar made a plethora of changes for Saturday's clash at HFC Bank Stadium, but was dealt a late blow when the Wallabies' utility back Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii was ruled out with hamstring tightness weeks after returning from a two-month-long hamstring injury.
McKellar reaped the rewards of his team's transformation though, as the Waratahs shot out to a 29-point halftime lead before the Drua stepped up in the second half to salvage a blowout.
The bonus-point win is precious for the Sydney-based team, having lost seven of their past nine encounters going into the match, and they now sit one point adrift of the sixth-placed Queensland Reds, who take on the Western Force later in Perth, with two rounds remaining.
Halfback Teddy Wilson was busy registering 58 passes, 45 metres gained, and a try, while hooker Ioane Moananu crashed over twice to help the Tahs end their dismal 15-game losing streak outside of Australia.
"I thought the partnership between Teddy and (Jack) Bowen was awesome to see," NSW captain Matt Philip told FBC Sports after Bowen (26 passes, 11 kicks) made his first start of the campaign.
"(I'm) very pleased we could stick to how we wanted to play this week. We haven't been able to do that for the last three or so games."
Fresh off a bye, the Drua needed a win to keep their finals hopes intact, but leaky defence, along with a sea of turnovers, cruelled their chances.
"We wanted to start fast, but unfortunately it took us the whole 40 minutes of the first half to actually get our rhythm," co-captain Temo Mayanavanua said.
"There were a couple of key moments that we weren't urgent enough in."
The Waratahs crossed first when Harry Potter got on the receiving end of a sneaky pass from Moananu, before Moananu scored his own five-pointer when he capitalised on a rolling maul.
After a busy start, Max Jorgensen was rewarded when he pounced on a Bowen grubber in the 19th minute, but the Drua responded through Mesake Doge.
Wilson, Sid Harvey and Angus Scott-Young piled further misery on the home team, each scoring a try as the Waratahs opened up a 36-7 lead at the break.
Moananu wrestled over in the 44th minute, but despite losing Emosi Tuqiri to injury, lock Elia Canakaivata and flanker Kitione Salawa crossed to close the deficit.
Fijian Apolosi Ranawai notched a five-pointer to bring up the visitors' half-century before Tuidraki Samusamuvodr, and Mayanavanua scored consolation tries for the hosts.
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