Led by an inspired performance from flanker Rocky Elsom, the Waratahs rebounded from their 34-7 defeat at the hands of the Crusaders to notch their fourth win from six games this campaign.

Victory lifted the Waratahs above the Brumbies into sixth place on the ladder and they will have the opportunity to crack the top four in the coming fortnight when they tackle the fourth-placed Western Force in Perth and the third-placed Blues in Sydney.

The Waratahs did the damage in the first half, going to the break with a 20-7 advantage, but had to hang on in the final 10 minutes after falling back into old bad habits in the second half.

Coach Ewen McKenzie entered the match with his position under intense scrutiny, with critics questioning his team's apparent lack of enterprise following an indifferent start to the season.

But the win would have done little to ease the pressure on McKenzie given the Cheetahs haven't won a game all season and outscored the home side three tries to two tonight.

The Waratahs seemed determined to put on a stylish performance, at least to begin with, producing a razzle-dazzle first half of rugby.

But they retreated into their shells after the interval and would have been relieved to have avoided what would have been a disastrous defeat against the South Africans.

The 'Tahs made a promising enough start, chancing their arm and going within inches of scoring in the opening minute.

Virtually from the kick-off, they spread the ball wide inside their own quarter and skilfully advanced play deep inside Cheetahs territory, where five-eighth Kurtley Beale was able to regather his own chip kick and set sail for the line.

But as he lunged to plant the ball for a try, he lost possession.

They needed a penalty goal from Beale in the 17th minute -- following a high tackle on prop Benn Robinson -- to open their account.

The Waratahs finally posted their first try in the 22nd minute when Lachie Turner showcased his blistering speed down the left wing.

Waratahs skipper Phil Waugh cagily intercepted a pass from Cheetahs five-eighth Jacques-Louis Potgieter and quickly shuffled the ball on to Turner, who put on the afterburners to touch down under the posts.

Beale's conversion made it 10-0 but the Cheetahs struck back with a try in the corner to lock David de Villiers, which centre Meyer Bosman converted from the sideline.

Elsom restored the Waratahs' 10-point lead with a powerful 20-metre burst to cross on the half hour and Beale's conversion and a second penalty in the 37th minute had the home team in control at the break.

But as the Waratahs reverted to safety-first football, the Cheetahs threatened a boilover in the second half when winger Jongi Nokwe and replacement forward Flip Van Der Merwe scored in the 53rd and 70th minutes to set up a tense finale.

Beale posted the final points with a third penalty four minutes from time.

Waratahs (20) 23
Tries: Turner, Elsom
Cons: Beale (2)
Pens: Beale (3)

Cheetahs (7) 19
Tries: Brussouw, Nokwe, Van der Merwe
Con: Bosman (2)

Waratahs: Sam Norton-Knight, Lachie Turner, Ben Jacobs, Tom Carter, Lote Tuqiri, Kurtley Beale, Brett Sheehan, Wycliff Palu, Phil Waugh (captain), Rocky Elsom, Dan Vickerman, Dean Mumm, Matt Dunning, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson.

Reserves: Adam Freier, Al Baxter, Will Caldwell, Beau Robinson, Josh Valentine, Daniel Halangahu, Rob Horne.

Cheetahs: Hennie Daniller, Eddie Fredericks, Hendrik Meyer, Meyer Bosman, Jongi Nokwe, Jacques-Louis Potgieter, Tewis de Bruyn, Duanne Vermeulen, Darron Nel, Heinrich Brussow, David de Villiers, Rory Duncan (captain), CJ van der Linde, Adriaan Strauss, Wian du Preez.

Reserves: Richardt Strauss, Bees Roux, Flip van der Merwe, Hendro Scholtz, Falie Oelschig, Conrad Barnard, JW Jonker