Rugby: Polwart ready to fire for Chiefs

Sean Polwart. Photo / Getty Images

If the strength of a Super Rugby franchise is through its squad depth, then the Chiefs should be on to a winner in Sean Polwart.

It is fair to say that 2014 was moving year in the career of the 24-year-old openside flanker. He was called up as cover for the Chiefs, won a long-overdue Gallaher Shield title with his beloved Auckland University club, took the honour of Auckland's ITM Cup player of the year, cracked the Maori All Blacks, and won a fulltime Super contract.

A fine fetcher, and strong over the ball, Polwart expanded his game last season, carrying well for Auckland, and he admitted he needed to.

"My game improved a lot over the course of the year. I knew it had to. I had to focus on the weaknesses in my game ...

"We've got a great coaching staff who have got a lot of time for me," he said.

He has worked under most of that coaching staff, Dave Rennie and Tom Coventry with the 2010 NZ Under 20s, and Andrew Strawbridge with Auckland in 2010-11.

Coventry liked what he saw from Polwart in 2014, but he was already on the Chiefs' radar: "He was involved a lot more - he's always been good over the ball - but his handling and general play was quality, too."

It is astonishing that Polwart has played just a handful of Super games - off the Blues bench - since his 2011 debut, but the way to his "home" franchise was blocked by Luke Braid and Brendon O'Connor. Polwart is philosophical about the dead-end at the Blues.

"The competition will help me stay focused," he said. "This year I really have to take any opportunity I can get."

That competition is All Black No7 Sam Cane and 38-test Japan loose forward Michael Leitch, who arrives late next month, not to forget Tevita Koloamatangi.

If Polwart can replicate his club and provincial form in the Super Rugby arena, then the Chiefs will have once more signed an under the radar, unheralded gem.