The Cheetahs beat the Blues 34-13 to reach the Super Rugby playoffs for the first time on Saturday.
The Cheetahs outscored New Zealand’s Blues three tries to one at Free State Stadium to secure a top-six finish and also end the Auckland-based Blues’ chances of making the playoffs.
Blues scrumhalf Jamison Gibson-Park went over inside five minutes for the opening try, but the Cheetahs worked their way back through Philip van der Walt’s score in the 22nd and the boot of flyhalf Riaan Smit, who kicked 19 points in all.
The Cheetahs led 19-10 at halftime and then pulled away with late scores by replacements Sarel Pretorius and Boom Prinsloo.
The Cheetahs will finish at least sixth after being guaranteed another four points from their bye next weekend.