The Chiefs: Can they make a run at back-to-back titles in 2013?
With the new Super Rugby season looming large on the horizon we take a look at each of the 15 competitors. Next up, the Chiefs!
Last Year: Champions! The Chiefs, with only a handful of experienced players in their squad, were largely written off at the start of the season but proved the pundits wrong by winning the New Zealand conference and finishing second on the table. They had lost some momentum in their last couple of Conference games when the long season started to tell, and were underdogs heading into their semi-final clash with the Crusaders. In a thrilling encounter, the hosts managed to win by a slim three-point margin. Getting ready to travel to Cape Town, they got the good news that they would host the final as the Sharks beat the Stormers. A week later, the Chiefs capped an exceptional year to be crowned the Super Rugby champions for the first time ever after trashing the Sharks 37-6 in a one-sided final. They became only the sixth different side to win the crown in the 17-year history of the tough championship.
This year: The challenge for the defending champions will be dealing with the expectation created by last year's magnificent championship win. The Chiefs have lost keys players in the backs (Sonny Bill Williams) and forwards (Sona Taumalolo), but they start the tournament as favourites and need to deliver in order to prove that last year's title win as not a one-hit wonder. It's an epic feat to win this tournament, let alone in consecutive seasons. However, the Chiefs have the brains and brawn to do it. They also have a very good draw which should aid them in their title defence.
Players to watch: Offering crisp service, an educated boot and an eye for the gap, Tawera Kerr Barlow is the all-round scrum-half. His partnership with playmaker Aaron Cruden - last season's top scorer with 251 points - will once again be one of the vital cogs in this Chiefs machine. Also keep an eye on Gareth Anscombe when Cruden is given a breather. Unwanted by the Blues this season, the Aucklander will want to make a name for himself in Hamilton. In the Chiefs engine room, they are blessed with quality loose forwards in the form of Liam Messam and Sam Cane - the two All Blacks are scavengers on the deck, and make contesting rucks an art.
Noteworthy signings: Charlie Ngatai (Hurricanes), Gareth Anscombe (Blues), Nick Crosswell (Highlanders), Patrick Osborne (Canterbury), Rhys Marshall (Hawke's Bay colts), Ross Filipo (Hurricanes), Solomona Sakalia (Wellington Lions).
Noteworthy losses: Sonny Bill Williams (Sydney Roosters), Sona Taumalolo (Perpignan), Kane Thompson,
Prospects: Outsiders last season, favourites this season. That's the only difference heading into 2013. The bulk of the squad remains intact, and with coaches Dave Rennie and Wayne Smith still pulling the strings, it's hard seeing them crash and burn. It's going to be a real arm-wrestle to end the regular season in first or second place as they did last year. But a top six finish has to be on the cards for the Chiefs. Anything less than that has to be seen as a failure for the reigning champions.
Fixtures:
22 Feb: v Highlanders - Away
2 March: v Cheetahs - Home
9 March: v Stormers - Away
15 March: v Kings - Away
22 March: v Highlanders - Home
30 March: v Blues - Home
13 April: v Reds - Home
19 April: v Waratahs - Away
27 April: v Sharks - Home
3 May: v Rebels - Away
10 May: v Force - Home
17 May: V Hurricanes - Away
24 May: v Crusaders - Home
28 June: v Hurricanes - Home
5 July: v Crusaders - Away
13 July: v Blues - Away
Comments
ferdie says...
carpelone - ha ha you may be on to something - maybe that's why Quade is still a NZ passport holder/citizen - his criminal record was not good enough for the locals!!
Posted 11:02 14th February 2013
mikeyj9 says...
Ok, so Quade comes to Australia when he's 13, and Kiwi's claim we've pinched him, yet Kerr Barlow goes from Aus to NZ at the same age, yet he's not an Aussie?
I dont understand the rules, please explain them to me.
Posted 02:54 14th February 2013
ferdie says...
Trinats2 - Tawera Kerr-Barlow went to Hamilton Boys' High School from age 13 as a boarder in Hamilton, NZ (the region where both his parents are from); played high school rugby in Waikato, he went on to play for NZ U-20s in 2010, Waikato in ITM Cup.
I know facts have never been your strong point, whereas utter bs is. When Gregan retired TKB was just 16 years old - what are you on about? and why did Nucifora offer him a Qantas Wallabies position?
Posted 23:05 13th February 2013
olepete says...
Hey trinats2, Kerr-Barlow went to school in Hamilton NZ.
Posted 22:27 13th February 2013
carpelone says...
Anyone travelling to Australia can become a potential Wannabe, according to Trinats.
Do not forget the criminal record, though.
Chiefs from heroes to zeros, to collect Kiwi Wooden Spoon.
Posted 19:05 13th February 2013
mew2000 says...
The chiefs had the injuries last years but they had there main men on the field for most of the comp... Losing SBW who played alot of matches last year will make alot of difference with cruden , some of the miracle balls that sbw got to cruden made the difference between winning or not.... Lets see how there luck holds out this year for the comp is too long and I am sure the aussie teams will be weak per usual, NZ and SA have the toughest bunch.... Aussie don't deserve 5 teams!!!
Posted 18:00 13th February 2013
capedcrusader says...
Haha If Mike Harris can make the wannabies then you have to look long and hard @ the state of rugby in Oz....
Lets see how many points the OZ conference winner attains - if they didn't play each other twice it would likely be single figures. 5 teams is a joke
Posted 13:10 13th February 2013
Trinats2 says...
Hi birdie
Show me the love bro! It is after all Valentines day tomorrow.
But I'll be spending it with the war office, taking her (hint) out ( I let her once a year) hope you have a great day with your "Partner"
Not sure Kerr Barlow had ever been to NZ until last year !
Freddie,
With Gregan and now Giena there was never a chance for KB to ever play for the Wallabies, hence looking elsewhere.
Posted 12:53 13th February 2013
ferdie says...
tn2, as ever in your little fantasy world
"The Qantas Wallabies chased him, Western Force (under John Mitchell) wanted him, but Super Rugby's hottest halfback Tawera Kerr-Barlow has had only one dream since the age of three - an All Blacks jersey, having turned down an offer from Qantas Wallabies high-performance manager David Nucifora".
Posted 10:50 13th February 2013
hybrid187 says...
I love you Trinats. I love reading your stuff. I have never in my life read so much bullsh*t. And this is majority of your posts. I know you do it just to ruffle up some feathers so its ok.
Chiefs lucky ? Reds finished 7th and got the pity home playoff ! Talk about luck ! Also, Aussie Kerr Barlow, yet hes Maori. Strange one that.
Keep it up !
Posted 10:42 13th February 2013
olepete says...
Oh dear! I find myself agreeing with Trinats2.... but one of the important factors in the Chiefs' success is Wayne Smith - when he did defence for the ABs they could go through us in the NH without having a try scored against them. Look how many they leaked in 2012, even to Scotland!
Posted 10:25 13th February 2013
Trinats2 says...
Interested to see how Aussie Kerr Barlow goes. Not sure he would ever have made a Wallaby, hence his move to NZ !!!
Can't see the Chiefs been as lucky as they were last year, top team on ladder get knocked out to gift them a home final. they also got trashed by a second string Reds side and went on to win the play offs.
Posted 09:37 13th February 2013