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How the gutsy Chiefs have turned their season around
By Campbell Burnes
Fair play to those Chiefs.
Battling injuries and mediocre form early in the season, they somehow hauled themselves up off their bootlaces and not only scraped into the Super Rugby playoffs, but made major recent statements in Suva and Melbourne.
They were 0-4 when the inevitable calls for head coach Colin Cooper’s head sounded. But New Zealand employment law is not like it is in the UK and USA when you can sack someone by lunchtime. Thank goodness we are not knee-jerk like some critics would have us be.
Admittedly, the Chiefs were terrible against the Brumbies, Sunwolves and Crusaders early doors. But once they accepted that Damian McKenzie was out, Sam Cane was still weeks away, and worked out which side of the scrum Angus Ta’avao should not operate (loosehead, as it turns out), they started to turn the corner.
Relying on consistent performers such as Anton Lienert-Brown, Brad Weber, Lachie Boshier and Tyler Ardron, the Chiefs started to make their way up the ladder. It was not without heartache. The Lions, Hurricanes (easily) and the Blues all lowered them. After labouring to a 19-13 win in Hamilton over the Reds, few but the most ardent Chiefs fans would have backed them to make a withering rails run to the playoffs.
Those same fans would have turned their hopes to 2020 when the Crusaders put 20 on them in the first quarter in Suva. But they did not reckon on Jack Debreczeni suddenly finding his feet at this level, Shaun Stevenson rediscovering his mojo on the right wing after a poor start to the season at fullback, and Cane proving that you can return from a neck injury just as tough and just as effective over the ball.
To cap off the regular season, with Big Brodie Retallick back in the nick of time from a wrist injury, they blitzed a Rebels side (59-8) that had everything to play for in front of their home crowd. Not only did the Chiefs hurtle into the playoffs, but they placed seventh, thus avoiding having to meet the Crusaders in Christchurch, usually a dead-end for visiting teams.
In 2018 we gave the Chiefs credit for overcoming a propping crisis to finish fifth, only narrowly losing their quarter-final to the Hurricanes in the capital. This year they have not seen two loosehead props – Kane Hames and Reuben O’Neill – and have had to do without their three best players for large tracts of the competition. Up have stepped Jesse Parete and Luke Jacobson, among others. ALB has acted as the backline rock.
Contrast that to the Blues, who were making confident noises after beating the Chiefs 23-8 at Eden Park a month ago. They collapsed after that, failing at their best chance to beat a tired and mentally battered Crusaders in Christchurch, only drawing with the Bulls in a game they should have won, somehow contriving to lose to the Reds in Brisbane and then blowing a 24-5 halftime lead to the Hurricanes B last weekend.
They have more talent than the Chiefs, and should have had more depth. But the Chiefs are smarter and play with more nous and commitment. They are more than capable of tipping over the Jaguares and reaching the semifinals.
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Latest Comments
Excellent points Mz. Because of other commitments I have just watched the game.
Interesting watching it after reading all the news reports especially in the English media. I was expecting to see a game that the ABs were very lucky to win. What I saw was a game that England showed their tactical incompetence and their inability to construct any try scoring opportunities.
They can go on deluding themselves that they were unlucky to lose ( as Borthwick said post match ) but until they stop relying on rush defence and goal kicking to win I feel they're doomed to be ranked 4 or 5 in the world.
Can't wait until the weekend to see how the Wallabies go against them
Though I dare say Walter will be hoping for an England win.
Go to commentsIF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.
As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.
Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).
This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.
If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.
Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.
After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.
Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.
Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)
Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.
Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.
Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.
Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:
Seeding Band 1
IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG
Seeding Band 2
SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO
Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6
Strongest pool opponent: FIJI
1/8 final opponent GEORGIA
Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond
Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6
Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA
1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND
Prognosis: You know the prognosis
I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?
Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.
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