New Zealand’s Blues have made their worst start to a Super Rugby season after conceding a controversial late penalty to lose 25-24 to the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.

Cheetahs five-eighth Joe Pietersen slotted the winning penalty with two minutes remaining. Blues counterpart Ihaia West narrowly missed a dropped goal attempt after the final hooter to send the visitors crashing to their third successive loss.

The Blues, who had never lost their first three games of a campaign, will curse an inability to finish off a game in which the lead changed hands nine times.

The desperate Cheetahs made it two wins from two following their opening-round win over fellow South Africans, the Sharks.

They clung on, having to attempt 160 tackles to the visitors’ 37.

The Blues dominated a host of other statistics, routinely beating defenders and keeping the ball alive through offloads from their big forward pack.

Captain Jerome Kaino, playing outstandingly in his 100th game, crossed for their third try in the 65th minute.

They had several chances to seal the result after that but failed to do so before handing Pietersen his late shot through a technical lineout infringement.

They chose not to contest a Cheetahs lineout drive, a tactic used to good effect against the Stormers last week.

However, Australian referee Rohan Hoffman penalised the Blues forwards for stepping backwards, a decision hotly contested by Kaino.

The Cheetahs led 14-12 at halftime boosted by two slick tries to Springboks wing Cornal Hendricks.

Flanker Luke Braid and prop Charlie Faumuina crossed for the Blues before halftime but they trailed again soon after the break when Cheetahs halfback Sarel Pretorius scored from a weaving 40m run.