The Bulls beat the Cheetahs 40-24 in Super Rugby on Saturday after an early blitz from the three-time champions put them back into the playoff places with two regular-season rounds to go.
The Bulls scored four tries in the first half and another two early in the second for a 40-0 lead before the Cheetahs’ late charge.
Springboks Pierre Spies, Dean Greyling, Zane Kirchner and Francois Hougaard crossed in the first 40 and fellow internationals Werner Kruger and Bjorn Basson went over in the second half.
The Cheetahs took an hour to register their first points at Loftus Versfeld before prop WP Nel crashed over for the first of their four tries.
Victory left the Bulls fourth overall in the standings, second in the South African conference behind the Stormers.