The Super 15 2011 Preview’s are well in full swing now, after previewing the Cheetahs I will now focus on the Chiefs, a side which should be better equipped than in 2010…
This Season
The Chiefs should be in much better shape this campaign, after the side finished the 2010 season in a miserable 10th place. The side from Hamilton, New Zealand should come into this Super 15 with a confident set-up as coach Ian Foster knows, that his side are better than there 2010 league position.
The Chiefs have made some decent changes to their side, Isaac Ross and Hayden Triggs will be an all new second row partnership for the Chiefs this season. Scott Waldrom has also signed from the Hurricanes, aswell as All Black legend Tana Umaga who Chiefs fans will be hoping can perform a terrifying centre partnership with Richard Kahui. Many players in the Chiefs set up will be looking to get into the New Zealand World Cup side later this year; players such as Isaac Ross, Liam Messam, Stephen Donald and Lelia Masaga are all on the fringes of the All Blacks squad.
Key Players
Nearly all of the backs will be the focus of attention at the Waikato Stadium in 2011, The Chiefs have so much quality going forward they could scare any defence in the league. At Fly-Half Stephen Donald and Mike Delany will yet again compete for the number 10 jersey, while Richard Kahui and 37 year old Tana Umaga will play a huge part at 12 and 13, but it will most likely be Donald who fits in at inside centre.
But it’s on the wings and at full-back where the Chiefs look most dangerous, Lelia Masaga on one wing and the ever impressive Sitiveni Sivivatu on the opposite side, will most likely be hitting the try line week in week out. The competition at full-back however is the really important part, Mils Muliaina needs no introduction as he can count himself as one of the best full-backs in World Rugby, but there is a new star on the block in speed king Tim Nanai-Williams, expect the 21 year old to take the Super 15 by storm this season so fans best keep a close eye on him.
Overall Thoughts
The Chiefs in my view can’t do any worse than last year when they finished 10th, Ian Foster has made some vital tweaks to his side and the signing of Isaac Ross could be the big one. The loose forward pairing of Liam Messam and Tanerau Latimer, will try and stake their claim for a place in the New Zealand national side, ahead of this year’s World Cup, and if the backs hit speed then they could run in try’s galore, on paper I would say the Chiefs could make a real statement, and a place in the finals wouldn’t be a long shot, even though they will probably just miss out.
