After two injury-ravaged campaigns that saw them bow out in the qualifying finals, can Dave Rennie’s new-look Chiefs bring back the glory days of 2012 and 2013?
The squad
Sonny Bill Williams and Liam Messam have fully committed to Sevens, and a further 15 players, including most of their entire 2015 tight five, have moved on or been released. Calling this a new-look squad is almost an understatement.
It doesn’t help that two key signings, former Crusaders and fringe All Black prop Nepo Laulala and live wire Auckland flanker Mitch Karpik, have already been ruled out for the season. Dominic Bird, also signed from the Crusaders, will likely miss the opening six rounds and Gus Pulu as many as ten after breaking his arm while on Sevens’ duty. It’s the same arm he broke last year so his rehab could easily be longer.
Aaron Cruden – back in the saddle for the Chiefs
On the plus side they have Aaron Cruden back from his long-term injury. Before he was hurt last year the Chiefs were 7/9 and looking good for the New Zealand conference title: afterwards they won just 3/6 to finish third in the Conference and fifth overall. Cult hero Stephen Donald also returns after a stint abroad.
New recruits to watch include former NZ Warrior Glen Fisiiahi, impressive Waikato fullback Shaun Stevenson, and former Hurricane Sam McNichol.
Shaun Stevenson v Tahs trial – Mooloo recruit will be worth watching
Chiefs 2016 squad
Props: Mitchell Graham, Pauliasi Manu, Atu Moli, Siate Tokolahi, Hiroshi Yamashita, Siegfried Fisiihoi.
Hookers: Hika Elliot, Rhys Marshall, Nathan Harris.
Locks: Michael Allardice, Dominic Bird, Brodie Retallick. James Tucker, Taleni Seu.
Flankers: Johan Bardoul, Sam Cane, Sam Henwood, Tevita Koloamatangi, Tom Sanders.
No. 8s: Michael Leitch, Ma’ama Vaipulu.
Half backs: Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Augustine Pulu, Brad Weber.
First fives: Aaron Cruden, Stephen Donald.
Midfield: Anton Lienert-Brown, Charlie Ngatai, Seta Tamanivalu, Sam Vaka.
Wingers: Glen Fisiiahi, James Lowe, Toni Pulu, Chase Tiatia. Latu Vaeno
Fullbacks: Andrew Horrell, Sam McNicol, Damian McKenzie, Shaun Stevenson.
Out for the season: Nepo Laulala, Mitchell Karpik.
Best XV: Manu, Marshall, Tokolahi, Allardice, Retallick, Kolomatangi, Cane, Leitch, Kerr-Barlow, Cruden, Fisiiahi, Ngatai, Tamanivalu, Lowe, Stevenson.
Co-captain Sam Cane – key Chief
The Draw
After opening away to the Crusaders, home to the Lions and away to the Kings comes a brutal three weeks in which they travel from Port Elizabeth to Buenos Aeries (via Brazil, apparently), back to Hamilton for the Force, then to Canberra, and back to Hamilton for the Blues.
By the time they take their first break in Rd.8 we’ll probably have a fair idea how their campaign will end. Their second bye falls in Rd.12.
As well as Canberra there’s also trips to Sydney (Rd. 14) and Brisbane (Rd. 16). The Rebels visit in Rd. 13, the Sharks in Rd. 10. The Kiwi sides they’ll play twice are the Crusaders (Rds. 1 one and 15) and Highlanders (Rds. 11 and 17).
Overall they have seven away matches and eight home; albeit one home game (Crusaders, Rd. 15) will be in Suva.
Brodie Retallick – one of the best locks in the world
The prospects
Much will depend on the ability of senior players such as co-captains Cruden and Cane, plus Kerr-Barlow and Retallick, to get the best out of a playing group that is long on talent but short on experience at this level.
Injuries to key players pretty much wrecked their 2014 and 2015 seasons and depth, especially up front, will again be an issue for them when injuries inevitably occur.
The prediction
Regular season: no better than third in the New Zealand conference and sixth-to-eighth overall.
Playoffs (assuming they qualify): beaten quarter finalists.
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