The Cheetahs climbed to the top spot on the log after holding out for a 31-27 win over a 14-man Vodacom Bulls at Loftus Versfeld, after the home side lost Elrigh Louw to a first-half red card.
The Vodacom Bulls, however, did enough to secure fourth place after scoring four tries and claiming a losing bonus point.
They joined the Pumas in the semi-finals after the defending champions did the double over Griquas with a 27-17 victory in a rematch of last season’s final in Kimberley. With the Bulls falling at home, the Pumas ended in third place.
The final match of the weekend saw Western Province end their campaign on a high, by putting a heavily-changed Sharks side to the sword to earn a 44-5 win.
It wasn’t enough for Western Province to progress to the semi-finals, as the Cape side missed out on a singular log point. The Sharks, meanwhile, surrendered first place to the Cheetahs with a limp performance in Cape Town.
The first semi-final will see the Cheetahs host the Vodacom Bulls in Bloemfontein at 5 pm before the Sharks take on the Pumas in the second semi-final in Durban at 7.05 pm.
