KEY POINTS:
He never quite mentioned the dreaded R word, but Chiefs coach Ian Foster was careful to dampen down expectations as he named his sixth Super squad yesterday.
That R-word isn't rotation - the Chiefs will have little chance to indulge in such luxuries. It is, of course, rebuilding.
This time last year an exuberant Foster spoke about having assembled the strongest squad yet in his time as coach. There were to be no excuses, no talk about hoping to punch above their weight. The Chiefs were ready to shoot for the stars, or at least the playoffs.
There proved to be some justification for Foster's optimism, too, with his side dispatching both eventual finalists and at one stage stringing together a run of five consecutive victories that took them to within spitting distance of the semifinals.
But a rash of injuries to key players saw that all fall apart in spectacular fashion in the final three weeks of the season
Watching a lack of depth fatally derail his side last season must have been a chastening experience for Foster.
This year, with his tight five having departed en masse, prompting a serious raid on the draft, Foster knows his talent pool is even shallower. Sure, he didn't quite mention rebuilding. But it didn't take much reading between the lines to know exactly what he was getting at.
"We are happy," Foster said. "When you look at where we have come from, losing six out of 10 of our tight five from last year, it was always going to be a challenge to get the formula right."
There may be good cause for Foster's healthy dose of realism but there is also some cause for genuine optimism. In snaring Hawkes Bay hooker Hikawira Elliot and Wellington flanker Serge Lilo, the Chiefs have captured arguably the best two players available in the draft. Another Hurricanes discard, Taranaki lock Craig Clare, is a ready-made starter, while the signing and loan-back arrangement of Hawkes Bay tight head Zona - short for Arizona - Taumalolo also appears another sound move.
The departure of Tom Willis meant Elliot's capture was particularly important, Foster said.
"To be honest Hika was absolutely vital for us, he was a key signing."
Experience had been a core selection criteria, with both other loan players, Otago halfback Toby Morland and Southland fullback James Wilson, having played at Super level before.
As expected, the Hurricanes were the major contributors to the draft. The franchise's decision to select highly promising Wellington hooker Dane Coles for the first time resulted in Elliot's availability. More surprising was their decision to select Hawkes Bay openside Karl Lowe ahead of Lilo as back-up to Scott Waldrom. Victor Vito will play his first Super Rugby campaign, while flanker Josh Bradnock was the sole Manawatu representative selected by this year's beaten semifinalist.
The Hurricanes took just one player from the draft, Southland midfielder Jason Kawau.
The Crusaders also opted for just one draftee, Otago hooker Jason Macdonald. Midfielder Hamish Gard was the most notable absentee from the defending champion's roster, while there was also no place for injured No 8 Mose Tuiali'i.
Given the recruitment of assistant coach Peter Russell, the strong Hawkes Bay presence in the Highlanders was no surprise. Magpies fullback Israel Dagg was plucked out of the draft, as were first five-eighths Matt Berquist, centre Jason Shoemark and loose forward George Naoupu.
The Highlanders have also continued to re-stock through transfers to Otago, with Clint Newland, Manawatu captain Hayden Triggs and centre Johny Leota, Northland's Fetu'u Vainakolo and Taranaki's Jayden Hayward all heading south.
