The Cheetahs scored two second-half tries to fight back after being down 9-3 at halftime to earn their first-ever victory in France.

Following a very nervy first 40-minute period, the Cheetahs looked a lot calmer and more in control of their game.

In the first half, the Pau fullback, Clément Mondinat, landed three penalties, while for the Cheetahs, the Springbok, Ruan Pienaar, slotted a penalty.

The replacement flanker, Daniel Maartens, opened the scoring in the second stanza with a converted try in the 44th minute. Pienaar then landed a second penalty for the team from Bloemfontein.

Pau struck back some four minutes later when the loosehead prop, Rémi Seneca, crashed over for a converted try.

With 20 minutes remaining on the clock, the Springbok Oupa Mohoje scored for the visitors after Reinhardt Fortuin pounced on a loose ball following a hanging kick. Fortuin drew his defenders before launching Mohoje into the air.

Pienaar regained the lead for the Cheetahs with a penalty kick five minutes from full-time. With just more than a minute left on the clock, Siya Masuku – who took over the kicking duties from Pienaar – slotted a penalty to seal the game for the Cheetahs.

The win could have come at a high cost for the Cheetahs, with Frans Steyn off with what appeared to be a hamstring injury, while Jeandré Rudolph left the park with a knock to the head that required stitches.

Next week, the Cheetahs will play in their first "home game" of the tournament when they host the Scarlets of Llanelli at their home base in Parma.

Scorers:

Section Paloise: Try - Rémi Seneca Conv. - Clément Mondinat Pen. -  Mondinat 3

Cheetahs: Tries - Daniel Maartens, Oupa Mohoje Conv. – Ruan Pienaar  Pen. – Pienaar 2, Siya Masuku

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek