As it happened: Waratahs v CheetahsGibson rues bonus point miss
          What a difference three weeks can make.
After assuring the doubters their season wasn't over after yet another loss against the Brumbies on   April 16, the Waratahs now sit on top of the Australian conference alongside their rivals, thanks to a 15-point win over the Cheetahs. 
What makes the Waratahs turn of fortunes even more remarkable is the fact they have a game in hand over the Brumbies, after racking up their third straight win and first victory at home since round one. 
Outright top spot looked to be in the Waratahs' possession when Israel Folau crashed over the line after the full-time siren, but the try was overturned because of a blatant forward pass from Michael Hooper. 
"I thought that was back," said Hooper with a grin after an 80 minute grind. 
There was another chance to go to top of the table when Kurtley Beale put in a deft kick to an unmarked Reece Robinson on the right edge late in the second half, but the former Eels winger slipped over and made a meal of what could have been one of the easiest tries of the season. 
Being king of the Australian castle might have to wait another week. 
"We'll certainly take the win," said Beale. "Bit frustrating the ball didn't really stick tonight. The bonus point was in the picture, but a win's a win, we'll take that." 
Wins over the Force, Stormers and now the Cheetahs have put Daryl Gibson's men in with a real chance of playing finals football despite what people might have thought a short time ago. 
Tries to Robinson and Bernard Foley in the first half created a buffer the Cheetahs were unable to come back from as the Waratahs tightened up areas they have been attempting to do so all season.
Their scrum was much-improved - they won 91 per cent of them - and they inflicted sustained pressure on their opposition, forcing turnovers and silly errors from their South African rivals on many occasions.
There would, however, have been a degree of trepidation for Waratahs fans making their way to Allianz Stadium on Saturday evening.
The last three times NSW have played in front of their home fans they have put in one of their worst first halves of all time (Highlanders), made a string of schoolboy handling errors (Rebels) and were pipped at the post (Brumbies), but this game takes their win-loss record to 2-4. 
It had left Sydney supporters with little to cheer about despite three wins all up on the road from the Waratahs, but they will wake up on Sunday morning a whole lot prouder of the ever-improving outfit. 
Robinson and Tatafu Polota-Nau showed no signs of the shoulder problems they encountered at Friday's horror captain's run, with the latter having a profound impact up front.
There was no sign of Jed Holloway, who dislocated his shoulder on Friday, meaning Wycliff Palu started for the first time since the Highlanders game in round four.
The biggest cheer of the opening quarter of an hour came when Will Skelton strutted around shirtless for over a minute because of a ripped shirt, but it was he and his pack's successful scrum shortly after that demonstrated how much they have progressed in recent weeks.
Daryl Gibson must hate the word shoulder by now. Three of his starting XV hurt theirs during the week and to make matters worse Skelton trudged from the field just before half-time with an AC joint issue in his left shoulder.
He took no further part in the game and will be assessed to see how serious the injury is - something both the Waratahs and Wallabies coach Michael Cheika do not need at this time of the year. 
Slippery conditions contributed to too much dropped ball, making it one of the most scrappiest games of the year. 
Although Robinson and Foley produced the only five-pointers of the first half, the real highlight came from the most unassuming Waratahs back, Andrew Kellaway.
Cheetahs halfback Tian Meyer dashed towards the right corner post and looked certain to score, but Kellaway produced what could well be the tackle of the season to brush Meyer's feet along the sideline. And didn't his teammates get around him.
Meanwhile Beale did his Wallabies No.12 hopes no harm with another scintillating performance and even more pleasingly, with a clever kicking game.
Coonamble product turned Randwick second-rower Ned Hanigan came on in the 65th minute to make his Super Rugby debut and did not look out of place as the Waratahs continue to build momentum one week at a time.