View photosKEY POINTS:
When they sit down for their post-Super 14 review this week, the Chiefs will balance positives against negatives and figure they come out in the black.
They reached 40 points - the first year in 12 that's not been enough to make the semifinals - won seven of their last eight games to rattle home with a rousing rails run; were invariably entertaining (only the Bulls, 388, and Crusaders, 382, scored more than their 373 points; only those two bettered the Chiefs' 43 tries); and got good value out of players who might, in other circumstances, not have seen as much game time as they did.
The big red mark was missing the semifinals, and it won't take long to work out why they aren't in the semifinals - losing their first four games put them in chasing mode for the last two months, and the absence of several key players in that period hurt.
Sosene Anesi broke his neck in the second game; senior locks Keith Robinson and captain Jono Gibbes, No 8 Sione Lauaki, and backs Richard Kahui and Tasesa Lavea were all absent for critical chunks of the campaign, not to mention All Black backline trio, the reconditioning Mils Muliaina, Byron Kelleher and Sitiveni Sivivatu.
The flipside is the progress made by the likes of fullback-cum-centre Dwayne Sweeney, wing Lelia Masaga, halfback Brendon Leonard, and forwards Nathan White, Toby Lynn, Liam Messam and Tanerau Latimer.
"Their growth has been a real positive for the franchise," coach Ian Foster said.
The Chiefs went to Christchurch needing to beat the defending champion Crusaders on Friday night, which they've never done, to stay in the semifinal hunt. They did so on a memorable night, 30-24, but it wasn't enough.
Technically, when Brumbies lock Mark Chisholm rumbled across for their fourth, bonus point try against the Highlanders early on Saturday night, that ended the Chiefs hopes.
However, their shoulders slumped round midnight on Friday when the Blues were on their way to victory over the Force in Perth.
"We went in thinking realistically it was going to be us or the Blues," Foster said. "They took their chances and good on them. The pleasing thing is we did what we had to do."
Foster took heart from the Chiefs being part of a top six, who were demonstrably superior to the rest of the competition, and by the end of the weekend had worked an eight-point gap back to rest.
"It's encouraging for us particularly after the early rounds when we had significant disruptions.
"We developed a game people became quite excited with. I think we played good rugby."
At various stages, several players were substantial figures in the Chiefs season.
Lauaki's form in the final weeks was terrific; White, Tom Willis and Simms Davison were rarely bested in the front row; Messam had plenty of eye-catching moments, as did halfback Leonard. Lock Kristian Ormsby, who appeared in every match, was good value, wings Masaga and Roy Kinikinilau were among the most effective pairings for much of the campaign.
But first five-eighths Stephen Donald's contribution over the whole competition - he ended the round robin as leading points scorer with 164 - notable for his increasing authority in the pivotal role marked him as perhaps the standout Chiefs player.
The injury toll aside, the Chiefs will rue lost opportunities in the first month, particularly the defeats on the final hooter to the Hurricanes and Bulls. The swag of bonus points showed they were invariably competitive, but the bottom line is they were one win shy. Focus will turn this week to next season, with several players' contracts up at the end of this year.
Then there's assistant coach Warren Gatland, who has offers to consider after he steers Waikato in their bid to retain the Air New Zealand Cup.
"Warren's like a number of players, it's become a worldwide market at the moment," Foster said. "It's a matter of looking at Warren's role and what he wants to do. We're very keen to keep him."
* Chiefs and All Black wing Sitiveni Sivivatu's damaged hamstring will be assessed today.
He hurt it scoring the decisive, match-winning try against the Crusaders on Friday.
So near, so far
Chiefs' record:
* Finished sixth, two points off semifinals.
* Collected 10 bonus points, matched only by the Crusaders. Beat Crusaders in final round robin for first time in Christchurch, ending their 26-game home unbeaten run.
* Lost first four games, then won seven of their last eight.
