Behind the scenes with the Chiefs (+video)

 

 

The Chiefs get their 2012 Super Rugby campaign underway tonight when they take on the Highlanders at Waikato Stadium. Senior sports reporter Greg Taipari gets an exclusive

behind the scenes look at the team.

``It's a hard life being a sports reporter,'' _ well that's what I tell my mates and anyone else who will listen to me. I mean basically I get paid to go and watch sport and tell everybody what it was like.

So you could imagine how sympathetic friends were for me _ especially those of the female persuasion, when I told them I'd be spending the day ``hanging'' with Sonny Bill Williams, Richard Kahui and the rest of the Chiefs' boys _ when they played their last preseason match against the Hurricanes in Taupo last weekend.

Right now the quote from a Tui commercial pops into my head _ ``yeah right.''

The plan was, to meet up with Chiefs' coach Dave Rennie and the team at 10am, the morning of the match as they built up to the game.

You'd think it wouldn't be hard to find a bus full of rugby players but what Dave had forgotten to mention, as we talked on the phone, he and the team would be spread throughout the entire Taupo CBD.

I found player after player at various locations some having coffee some doing a little shopping but all making sure they were also spending time signing autographs and having pictures taken with Chiefs' fans.

Several members of the public did a double take and couldn't believe they had just bumped into SBW, Robbie Robinson and Lelia Masaga walking down the street together. As I continue my search for Dave, I start to get the feeling the Chiefs boys are leading this sports hack on a wild goose chase. They send me from one shop to another and when I bump into another player they tell me I'd just missed Dave and I need to go back the way I came.

When I eventually tracked Dave down, he was sitting at the Bodyfuel Cafe on Tongariro St, a cafe I'd passed several times, with some of the team drinking coffee and trying cafe owner Chrissy Juno's famous cheese scones.

The first thing that strikes you about the Chiefs is how close they are _ they're a tight unit, it maybe hard to believe but there are no stars in the team _ just a bunch of good buggers as Dave describes them.

Sure you've got one of the biggest names in world rugby playing for the Chiefs but there are no prima donnas here, just a bunch of blokes all wanting to achieve the best they can for themselves, their team and their fans.

``In the end, all the guys have a common goal, if they want to be successful as a group and if guys have aspirations to play at a higher level. Then you've got to perform within a group,'' Dave says.

``Ultimately if we have a group of guys striving to play at the next level, then we're going to get pretty good performances out of them and so it's about creating a culture, where the boys enjoy each others company, they're challenging of each other and demanding more, both training and playing.

``A number of guys we've brought into the team are good buggers with a solid work ethic. It's important to get them out in front of people too and I think the response from the boys has been great and the response from the communities has been really great as well.''

Spending just over an hour in town pressing the flesh, the team head back to their motel to prepare for the game. The mood amongst the team is jovial and relaxed. The team's popularity has only been boosted by the trip into town if Chrissy Juno's comments are anything to go by.

``I just can't get over how accommodating they were. They are really nice and had plenty of time for anyone who came up to them. I'm definitely a big fan of theirs and I'll be going to some of their games.''

Back at the motel the team split up, some go off to their rooms to rest before the big match, while others get taped up or rub downs from the trainers. Dave finds a quiet corner to go over some notes, preparing for his team talk _ those last few words before his team hops on the bus to go to the field. A mixture of inspiration, hope and ideals. Something to perhaps lift his players to another level, because when it comes to Super Rugby, there are no easy games.

``It's bloody tough at this level and the new format means, we play every New Zealand side twice, which all those games are test matches and are brutal.''

Dave is a stern looking man, articulate but looks like he doesn't take crap from anyone. Perhaps these traits come from he past exploits as a strong running midfielder who played 59 games for Wellington, a former teacher and former bar owner. However, once you get past that first appearance, he's just a great guy, forthright, polite but

passionate about what he does.

Two hours before kickoff the team meet back up to do some drills. The team splitting up into two groups, forwards and backs. The forwards go through lineout and scrummaging drills while the backs go through a few backline moves. Although there is still some bantering between the boys, the mood has become a bit sombre with the odd player becoming a little edgy.

After the drills the team head off for a meal together. As the team eat, Dave slips away to go over his notes, one last time. He tells me, he's speech will focus on what the jersey means to each player and how they wear

it not only for them but for their fans.

As it draws near to the time to deliver his team talk and despite the fact Dave and the team have welcomed me with open arms into their realm. It doesn't feel right to be with these gladiators prior to them going into battle and to listen to that final talk.

I step away from the team and watch from a distance as the huddle together arm in arm. It's clear now, I've made the right decision as the look on these warriors' faces show, they are now in game mode. There is no joking about _ they are professionals here to do their job. The team hop onto the bus and head to Owen Delany Park.

Although the team won their first two preseason games _ the Chiefs would eventually go down to the Hurricanes losing the match in the dying minutes 23-19. The Chiefs open their 2012 season tonight against the Highlanders at Waikato Stadium with

kickoff at 7.35pm.