The Jekyll and Hyde Waratahs confirmed their status as Australia's premier Super Rugby side on Friday night, sweeping aside the Hurricanes 32-16 to book a place in the Super 14 semi finals for the fourth time in six years.

The ‘good' Waratahs turned up at the Sydney Football Stadium, racing in four tries to one, dominating key possession and displaying an attacking flair that has been inexplicably missing in some of their performances this season.

They were joined in the playoffs on the ‘night of the attacking kick' by the sublime Crusaders who dusted the Brumbies 40-22 in Christchurch. The end of the Canberra side's season and the Brumbies career of flanker George Smith was sadly anti-climatic.

The Brumbies' tight five was minced by the Crusaders at the set piece and in open play collisions while the New Zealanders' defence and counter attack were exceptional.

It's fitting that the Waratahs and the Crusaders should join the two South African sides, the Bulls and the Stormers in the semis. Not only did the four teams get the results they needed to still be alive, they are the best four squads in the comp.

For all the justified excitement about the Reds' entertaining style this year, it has been the Waratahs' ability to do the heavy work in tight to provide a platform for their backs that has prolonged their season.

Two tries each to player of the game, Drew Mitchell, and Kurtley Beale sealed the bonus point win.

Three of the Tahs' tries came from attacking kicks -- two chips, one from Beale and one from Lachie Turner and a grubber from Mitchell. It was a similar story in Christchurch where the Crusaders repeatedly turned the Brumbies around with strategic kicking, often on the counter attack.

The Waratahs, much to the relief of the 31,500 crowd, opted to keep ball-in-hand for long stretches, minimising the dangerous ‘Canes attacking opportunities and maximising the chance for their own outside backs to shine.

Yet the New Zealanders were still in touch 18-9 at half time, courtesy of three penalty goals.

But there was no letting the visitors back in and the Waratahs ended the Hurricanes' five-game unbeaten streak and maintained their unbeaten record at home this season with a performance of poise, occasional panache and defensive bravery late in the game when they were playing with 14 men after Turner was sin-binned.

Turner, often underemployed in tough games, played to his potential while his back-three partners, Mitchell and Beale, were exceptional.

Mitchell surely booked a wing spot in Robbie Deans' Wallaby set up, while Beale's late season form has been nothing less than game-changing.

Rob Horne was also at his best and must rate as the form outside centre in Australian rugby.

In tight, Dean Mumm and youngster Kane Douglas stepped up yet again in a pack substantially weakened by the injury-enforced absence of arguably two of the Waratahs' two best players, Benn Robinson and Cliff Palu.

The Brumbies forwards, on the other hand, spent most of the game on the backfoot.

And to add injury to insult, hooker Stephen Moore sustained a broken jaw - perhaps a fatal blow to his international prospects this season.

After a competitive first quarter, the Crusaders were in control, back to their riveting best. The Brumbies' cause wasn't helped by referee Bryce Lawrence who pinged them by a two-to-one ratio in penalties, but they were beaten all over the park and will have to look back at their season and ask a few tough questions.

Not the least of them is their ability, or lack of, to grind across the advantage line. Too often their talented backs are forced to play without forward momentum.

George Smith was everywhere as usual in his 129th Super match, but his nemesis Richie McCaw had his measure.

One shining light for the Brumbies and Australia was Adam Ashley-Cooper, a threat every time he touched the ball.