The NSW Waratahs won back some respect with an enterprising 29-12 Super Rugby victory over the Lions at the Sydney Football Stadium on Saturday night.

The Waratahs broke the shackles with a five-try bonus-point triumph to consolidate their place in the top six on the eve of their departure for South Africa for pivotal games against fellow finals aspirants the Sharks and Bulls.

Only 14,123 people - the lowest crowd in NSW's 15-year Super Rugby history - witnessed the Waratahs' biggest win in six weeks.

But they certainly left the SFS in a better mood than the 100 or so who vented their frustrations at the Waratahs' drab playing style at a brutal fan forum on Thursday night.

Indeed, the small but appreciative crowd gave the Waratahs a rare standing ovation at halftime after the home team piled on their five tries before the break.

"I noticed that and you certainly appreciate that and that means a lot to the team," said NSW coach Chris Hickey.

"I think tonight there were some people who turned up in response to some of the talk through the week.

"But I think there were also some people who turned up tonight to really back the Waratahs and that's a really great sign and I hope that this bonus-point win for them is a good reward for getting out here and supporting us."

Stand-in captain Dean Mumm, deputising for the injured Phil Waugh, who has been ruled out of the South Africa tour, said the playing group was "not immune" to the fans' criticism.

"You certainly hear about it," Mumm said.

"But we chose to back ourselves and back the strategy this week and that's what happened in the first half.

"We know what we're capable of doing. It's just a matter of producing it and executing and making sure we get it right.

"(The flak) has tightened the group. We're certainly proud of the last two wins and we're definitely proud of tonight's. They just come in different ways."

The Tahs made a dream start, with Kurtley Beale starting and finishing a beautiful try after just 68 seconds before the Lions briefly drew level in the 14th minute with a try to fullback Jaco Taute.

NSW regained the lead eight minutes later when slick hands from the backline sent winger Soseni Anesi over for his maiden try for the franchise.

Beale was again instrumental in a magical try to centre Ryan Cross that extended NSW's lead to 12 points.

After a midfield bust from big prop Sekope Kepu, Beale sped through to take Berrick Barnes' well-executed cross-field kick and then floated a lovely ball over for Cross to score out wide.

With Lions lock Deon Van Rensburg sin-binned for kneeing Mumm in the head, the Tahs capitalised on their one-man advantage with Anesi swooping on a Luke Burgess box kick to grab his second try of the night and secure the side's all-important bonus point.

The hosts went to the break in total command after replacement winger Tom Kingston, on for the blood-binned Lachie Turner, also crossed for his first-ever Super Rugby five-pointer just before halftime.

The Lions scored a consolation try through replacement Dylan Des Foutain nine minutes before fulltime, but the result was never in doubt for the Waratahs despite being kept scoreless in the second half.

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