Chiefs picking up where they left off

Tom Willis. Ross Land / Getty Images

One Semifinal appearance in 10 years is a meagre return for the Chiefs.

It happened in 2004, Ian Foster's first year in charge. They played the Brumbies in Canberra and were well beaten.

But last year, the Chiefs came home with a rush, four wins and one draw in their last six games. With the core of that squad retained, the signs are promising that the Hamilton-based franchise might be set for a decent tilt this year.

None of the players gone from last year was a week-in, week-out certainty, and there is a good leavening of All Blacks smattered through the squad.

Throw in new arrivals Mils Muliaina and Sam Tuitupou and the backline has more grunt to go with the pace out wide.

Tom Willis is a big asset up front, they should be fine at the lineouts and there's plenty of punch with the ball-runners in the pack.

Foster admitted reaching the last four in 2004 came a little early in the overall scheme of things.

"We are trying to build something. I'm pleased with the growth of the squad. It's got a core of 16 to 19 players who are really starting to understand how best to operate as a group," he said.

"And we can supplement that core with some talented players, and that's given us greater depth. We're pretty excited about the squad."

Foster admitted the results and form shown in the latter part of last season's campaign formed part of his thinking for this year in terms of squad selection and the possibilities of what the Chiefs could achieve.

The enlargement of the competition offers a second chance to teams who slip up along the way. The old 12-team format equated to a sprint with no let-up.

But the teams who are around at the business end are likely to be those who've been consistently reliable. So Foster insists his team will go through what he called "the normal processes" each week.

He shied away from talking in terms of breaking their draw into segments.

"I'll leave that to people outside our group. To me the priority is week to week and having the team prepare in a consistent manner.

"The biggest thing I've learned is there's not really any team you can take for granted. And we learned that last year on a couple of occasions."

He's no doubt thinking of the round-four loss to the hopeless Reds in Hamilton, a result that at the time looked like it might come back to bite them and in the final washup it did.

There is some good depth in the squad, a key factor when injuries kick in and individual form dips.

The Chiefs made sure they got plenty of players involved in the pre-season programme so there won't be any strangers if, or when, they need to dig into the reserve bag.

A backline including Byron Kelleher, Stephen Donald, Sam Tuitupou, Sosene Anesi, Sitiveni Sivivatu and Mils Muliaina reeks of excitement, and with the likes of Marty Holah, Steven Bates, Sione Lauaki, Bernie Upton, Ben Castle and Willis up front, not to mention the talismanic leader Jono Gibbes' return - set for the round two clash against the Cats next week - the Chiefs aren't short on quality.

There'll be no easybeats, but if their form matches their potential they should be in business come May. 
 

Key Asset

Tom Willis
1.83m, 106kg
Age: 26
Super 12 games: 29
Tests: 5
Position: Hooker.

He's been gone for almost two years with a lingering back problem, but Willis will be welcomed back with open arms.

A powerful, mobile No 2 with the reputation of being New Zealand's surest lineout thrower, he will add plenty off the field as well.

He captained the All Blacks in his first appearance against Ireland A in 2001. Willis will add an intriguing new face to the hooking mix with the World Cup in mind. 


Chiefs - Early wins on the road vital

The Chiefs have what they want, three games on the road at the start, getting South Africa out of the way early.

From weeks eight to 11, they have four games at home - Highlanders, Bulls, Stormers and Cheetahs - during which they can get on a hometown roll. That includes their only home game outside Hamilton, at Mt Maunganui for the Stormers. They end with a decent local dust-up at Eden Park.

The big challenge? Maintaining consistency and making sure they win at home. No slip-ups, such as the Reds last year, and get at least one win in the first three weeks on the road. If they reach round four without a win, even allowing for a longer competition, the chances are the pacesetters will be far off in the distance.

Chiefs squad:

Backs: Mils Muliaina, Sosene Anesi, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Anthony Tahana, Lelia Masaga, Loki Crichton, Mark Ranby, Niva Ta'auso, Sam Tuitupou, David Hill, Stephen Donald, Jamie Nutbrown, Byron Kelleher.

Forwards: Steven Bates, Nili Latu, Marty Holah, Liam Messam, Kristian Ormsby, Jono Gibbes, Sione Lauaki, Sean Hohneck, Bernie Upton, Ben Castle, Simms Davison, Deacon Manu, Nathan White, Tom Willis, Aleki Lutui.

New arrivals: Muliaina, Tahana, Masaga, Tuitupou, Nutbrown, Messam, Ormsby, White. Ta'auso joined the Chiefs midway through last season as replacement for Crichton.

Departures: Adrian Cashmore, Sailosi Tagicakibau, Keith Lowen, Derek Maisey, Grant McQuoid, Kevin Senio, Wayne Ormond, Keith Robinson, Michael Collins.

Pre-season: bt Highlanders 38-21; bt Hurricanes 27-26.