Summary Brussow also resumed from a long injury absence, playing the last 30 minutes for the Cheetahs.
INVERCARGILL (AP) - Cheetahs scrumhalf Sarel Pretorius scored two first half tries and flyhalf Johan Goosen kicked 21 points as the South African team stunned the favored Highlanders 36-19 in Super Rugby on Saturday.
The Bloemfontein-based Cheetahs emphatically ended a two-game losing start to the season when they ran in three tries from Highlanders errors to lead 30-7 at halftime.
Highlanders flyhalf Lima Sopoaga had a nightmare game, conceding one try from a charge-down and another from an intercept. He was replaced after only 37 minutes by Colin Slade, playing his first match after a year-long injury layoff.
Backrower Heinrich Brussow also resumed from a long injury absence, playing the last 30 minutes for the Cheetahs.
The Highlanders put the opening kickoff out on the full in the first of a catalog of errors that the Cheetahs eagerly exploited. The Cheetahs forced some errors, dropped passes and other turnovers, through vigorous defense and superiority in contact play.
"I'm very proud of the guys. It's great to get a win in New Zealand against a quality side," Cheetahs captain Adriaan Strauss said.
"Our defense was right up there today. Credit to our loose forwards and all the tighties working hard off the ball and getting those double hits and carrying them back."
Pretorius scored his first try in the 20th minute after powerful runs by Strauss and flanker Pieter Labuschagne who were the Cheetahs' best players. Center Robert Ebersohn scored from a charge-down in the 29th minute and Pretorius completed a double with an intercept six minutes from halftime.
Flyhalf Goosen kicked eight goals from eight attempts, including the two penalties that were the Cheetahs only points in the second half.
Highlanders winger Kade Poki scored three tries, including two after halftime, but couldn't spark his team to its first win of the season. The recruitment of a number of high-profile players placed the Highlanders among the favorites in this season's tournament but they remain without a win after two matches.
