Chiefs
Is Mike Delaney off to Japan?
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Despite being the Chief’s first choice at fly half by the end of the 2010 super rugby season, Bay of Plenty number 10 Mike Delaney has been on the outer since returning from surgery to his injured shoulder in the middle of last year.
We voiced our concerns about Delaney’s future in New Zealand rugby back in October. Now it seems to have come to fruition as he looks to secure his financial future with a lucrative contract in Japan.
He was overlooked for All Black selection on the end of year tour to Hong Kong and the UK last year. Despite indifferent super rugby form, Stephen Donald was preferred as Dan Carter’s backup after a strong NPC season.
At the time of selection All Black coach Graham Henry talked of Aaron Cruden and Colin Slade as potential options in the first five eighth position. Delaney did not rate a mention.
As it happened, Donald did not have a great tour. He came on against Australia in Hong Kong and made several critical errors and was crucified in the press.
But is seems Delaney is not waiting around and you can’t blame him. The marketplace will be a different scene in the aftermath of the World Cup where there could be a lot of international class players looking for deals.
We believe it will be one of the main reasons why the Super 15 will struggle to gain New Zealand interest in 2012.
Chiefs dismal in 2010
0The Chiefs’ early season form has proven to be all they had to offer the 2010 Super 14 competition.
After making the final last year, the Chiefs started 2010 with a hiss and a roar winning three from three on the road including a victory in Durban over the 2008 runners up.
Things looked very promising at that point with 7 of the next 8 games at home. All Black fullback Mils Muliaina was about to make his return from a prolonged break at the end of the 2009 season and exciting wing Lelia Masaga was also making his first start of the season. With All Black Sitivini Sivivatu on the other wing, the Chiefs’ potent back 3 were re-united.
But a string of injuries and a solitary victory (against the Highlanders) is all they have to show from there.
[I don't think the draw with the Cheetahs is really worth anything]
| Beat the Sharks by 1 point (19-18) |
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| Beat the Lions 72-65 |
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| Comfortable win against the Force 37-19 |
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| Lost to the Reds 18-23 |
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| Lost to the Crusaders 19-26 |
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| Lost to the Brumbies 23-30 |
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| Beat the Highlanders 27-21 |
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| Lost to the Bulls 19-33 |
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| Lost to the Stormers 15-49 |
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| Drew with the Cheetahs |
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| Narrow loss to the Hurricanes |
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| Failed badly against the Warratahs |
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| Finale against the Blues |
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Injuries
Richard Kahui - Disappointing in 2010
The Chiefs’ injury concerns started before play began. Prop Ben May is one of the best scrummagers in New Zealand. At a time when the country’s propping stocks have been brought into question, this could have been Ben May’s year to shine but he didn’t feature at all.
Also failing to appear this to appear this year was the Chiefs’ other prop, James McGoogan. He tweaked his neck early on and it never got to 100%.
Mid season injuries to All Blacks didn’t help either with Masaga, Sivivatu, Muliaina, Donald and Delaney all out for the latter part of the season. Delaney and Donald had only just started what was shaping up to be a highly effective combination in the five eighths.
Form
All Black Richard Kahui had a poor season. His handling let him down on several occasions and in crucial games.
Add the occasional defensive lapse and on form Kahui will be lucky to retain his All Black jersey.
Greame Henry has only used Kahui on the wing where he played well enough but with specialists Hosea Gear and Joe Rokocoko playing well and Corey Jane in good form for the Hurricanes, it will be difficult to see Kahui making the starting lineup.
He may have some respite with injuries to Sitivini Sivivatu and Leilia Masaga, and the departure of Tamati Ellison.
Sione Lauaki - unlikely to be back
Sione Lauaki had a worse season and it’s difficult to see him coming back.
Coach Ian Foster made him captain which was always going to be a make or break move. Off-field incidents caught up with him and inconsistency on the field made him a liability in the end.
The positive
Tim Nanai-Wiliams did very well in Muliaina’s place – one of the few bright lights in a poor season. He consistently made the advantage line and created scoring opportunities. He had good positioning and looked threatening whenever he got the ball.
Jackson-Willison had some early starts and then came into his own towards the end of the season, being one of few potent attacking weapons.
Delaney and Donald looked good when they played together at first and second respectively.
Young Ben Afeaki looked useful around the field when he got on and hopefully his scrummaging improved with the experience.
It was good to see Bendan Leonard back to full fitness. His running game gives the All Black squad another dimension that they may need in 2011.
Looking ahead
Coach Ian Foster is moving on and a fresh approach may be what the Chiefs need.
It would be nice to see a stable backline led by Delaney at first and Donald at second; a rejuvenated Richard Kahui in the middle with the back 3 of Masaga, Sivivatu and Muliana or Nanai-Wiliams. A great lineup playing week in-week out in world cup year.
Then up front, Ben May anchoring the scrum with capable support on the other side and a hooker who can throw the ball in. The loosies are dynamic but without Lauaki will need to generate some go forward – no reason this can’t be a team effort.
Top 4 reasons why the Chiefs just don’t have it to win the Super 14
01. Scrum
The weak scrum can be excused for the moment. Injuries have taken 2 top performers out of action. James McGoogan’s neck isn’t right and big Ben May is only now back in training from injury.
Sona Taumalolo is very strong and good around the paddock but neither Ben Afeaki nor Toby Smith are up to scrummaging at this level. Both are young and no doubt growing from the experience but coach Foster would not have dreamed he would be using these guys as his front line as early as the 4th week of the competition.
Joe Savage from the Bay of Plenty has more experience (and presence) at this level. Samoan International Simon Lemalu from Counties would also be more effective. He was in the Chiefs in 2008 and his exclusion is likely to be down to a choice of blooding young New Zealand players over those aligned with Samoa.
There may have been some arrogance in the front row selections this year. There is always room for a young guy in the mix but the Chief’s current scrummaging record shows that a second rate front line is easily pushed around at this level.
2. Lineout
Hika Elliot is normally reliable but he missed with several key throws against the Bulls.
Unfortunately All Black team mate Aled de Malmanche is worse in this area of the game so this is down to concentration of the whole lineout.
John Pareanga fromt eh Bay of Plenty NPC team is one of the most consistent throwers of the ball in New Zealand rugby. He does not have the field-presence of Elliot or De Malmanche but when are we in New Zealand going to start focusing on hookers who can actually throw the ball in.
3. Dropped ball
It wasn’t just Sione Lauaki this week. Unusually it was All Black Richard Kahui who dropped the ball the most. It was uncharacteristic from the All Black who has been resolute in defense but was the culprit in attack this time.
Dropped ball was one key area against the loss to the Crusaders.
4. General Mental Toughness
The most disappointing aspect is that the Chiefs are packed with talent and work very hard but when it counts most in matches, they are wanting.
Dropped ball, missed opportunities, inconsistent lineout, weak scrum and inability to convert field position.
They do not seem to have gained in collective mental toughness from their semi-final appearance last year in Pretoria.
This has been the theme of the Chiefs’ performances losing 3 out of 4 since their trip to South Africa that started their season on a high.
Good teams don’t let you away with not scoring when hard on attack.
The Chiefs are still a way to go to get to the level of the Crusaders and the Bulls.
They will bounce back and win more games toward the end of the round and they may even make the semi-finals but they will never win a Super 14/15 without addressing the cliched ‘top 2 inches’ – as a team.
Chiefs make way too many mistakes
0The Crusaders are not a team that forgives mistakes by the opposition. They hurt teams who turn the ball over and they keep possession for long periods, forcing more mistakes.
The Chiefs dropped too much ball, made too many bad line out throws and were too inaccurate at rucks.
They had opportunities and made breaks but a lacked focus and discipline when it counted. An alarming theme that is relevant to the Hurricanes as well.
Broader issue – can a New Zealand team win the Super 14?
At this stage, the answer is no – I have not seen a team who are capable of winning at Loftus and that’s what will be needed.
Canterbury are building but they were vulnerable at times in this match.
All Black hard man, Brad Thorne
Two of New Zealand rugby’s hard men were opposing each other in Chief’s hooker Aled De Malmanche and Crusader’s lock, Brad Thorne.
Both men are all muscle and commitment. They will be key to All Black success at the World Cup on 2011. The tight 5 is a place for hard men and the way New Zealand rugby has developed, there are more athletes than there are tough guys. But when it comes down to wire – when the huge South African pack are standing in the way of World Cup glory, we must have men who can knock them over.
De Malmanche will need to work on his lineout throwing. This is the only area of his game that needs work but as a Hooker, it is the most important.
Crusaders Halfback, Kahn Fotoualii
Kahn Fotoualii had a great game for the Crusaders. He scored their first 2 tries and dominated a lot of the early play. He has a crisp pass and takes his moments well. He created the Crusaders’ second try taking the blind side from a Chiefs’ turnover. He passed nice and early to Jared Payne so that he had options to left and right. With only one defender and it was Fotoualii who benefitted, backing up on his inside.
With more game time, he may just feature in World Cup plans. His performance puts real pressure on coach Todd Blackadder when Andy Ellis comes back from a minor injury.
Stephen Donald, back on track
Stephen Donald came back well after a poor night with the boot last week.
He took out 2 defenders to create a try for Richard Kahui after Colin Bourke made a break up the middle.
He made the kick that got them the bonus point.
He gave the Chiefs a chance to score with 5 minutes to go with a massive drop-kick that bounced out on the Crusaders 5 metre line.
The Crusaders loose trio played very well together.
Mcaw was on the blindside with George Whitelock at 7 and Keiran Reid at 8. They are not flamboyant but work extremely hard and operate smoothly as a unit. Canterbury always operate with clearly understood game plans.
The Franks brothers give good accounts of themselves.
The Crusaders are well served by the Franks brothers
These guys are very honest. Good work rate around the paddock, ability to play both sides and solid in scrums – almost tailor-made for the Crusaders.
Tasman are an up and coming NPC union and their rise is off the back of the likes of Owen Franks and Fotoualii. They set high standards and the rest of the team follows.
Chiefs scrum not quite there
I think the Chiefs are missing James McGoogan. McGoogan has a niggling neck injury. It is frustrating him as he is back to full running fitness but necks are not this kinds of things you want to go into a game when they are less than 100% – especially if you are a prop.
Nathan White may be the next cab off the rank but he is just a little weak.
If Sonny Bill were to come back, he should play for Canterbury
Their playing style suits backs so he would get opportunities. He would get the support of his outsides and loose forwards. He could really shine.
Personally, I’d like to see him play Sevens but in Super 14, I’d pick the Crusaders for the obvious reasons.
Did the Chiefs run out of puff?
0I was on the sideline at the Chiefs v Reds match on Friday night in Hamilton (4th round of the 2010 Super 14).
It was a perfect evening for footy
- The pitch was in pristine condition – it looked like a carpet. One of the ground staff told me that it had just been laid the week before
- The sun was out and it was warm
- The Chiefs had won 3 from 3 on their season-opening road trip
- The chicken and chips before the game was perfect (chicken was boneless thigh fillets, chips well-drained) – worth the $8.50 price tag
Waikato Stadium is shaping up as an excellent World Cup venue.
The Reds form was patchy and they had suffered an unfortunate amount of injuries in their 3 games. The casualty list includes James Horwill, Richard Kingi, Digby Ioane and Rod Davies.
So the scene was set: nobody gave the Reds a chance.
Turinui at Hamilton Stadium after the win
I had never really rated Morgan Turinui, thinking that he would never have gone as far had he stayed in New Zealand.
This was probably a typical (but completely unfair) blinkered Kiwi rugby view.
Turinui was very vocal when the Reds ran out, looking to fire up his team. I figured it was right that a senior player step up when needed.
Ex-All Black, Daniel Braid was the other voice that could be heard in the Reds huddle.
I had always thought Braid was a bit light weight for big time rugby. He was tough but not a real stand out at the highest level due to an inability to make a significant physical impact. Well, that night he had a blinder.
The Chiefs boasted one of the quickest loose trios in the competition in All Black Tanerau Latimer, Ex-Sevens Captain Liam Messam and ex-backline player, Colin Bourke yet it was Braid who prevailed in the end.
All Black flanker, Tanerau Latimer
The speed over size equation had worked in Perth and with the way things were going, there was no reason to believe it wouldn’t work again.
With Braid’s younger brother, Luke on the bench for the Chiefs, I wondered how many of the loose forwards had Bay of Plenty connections.
- It’s where Ex-All Black Gary Braid raised his sons
- Messam went to Rotorua Boys High
- Latimer went to Tauranga Boys College
- Colin Bourke is the captain of the Bay of Plenty NPC team (although he came from the Hawkes Bay)
- Like a lot of his teammates, I knew Reds number 8 Leroy Houston had New Zealand connections but it turns out he was born in the Horowhenua
So 5 in total but only 4 actually from the Bay.
I wanted to see Quade Cooper’s new kicking style up close for KiwiRugby.com. It reminded me of the 70′s cartoon character, Snagglepuss (‘Exit stage left’).
Back to the game … The Chiefs were all over the visitors in the first 20 minutes.
All Black, Sitivini Sivivatu scores the Chiefs first try
Sivivtu scored the Chiefs first try, which was a bit soft. He waltzed over almost untouched. The Reds players looked somewhat dejected and I thought the writing was on the wall.
5 minutes later, Lelia Masaga went over for the Chief’s second try. He looked sharp on the right side in a full-strength All Black back three rounded out with the return of Mils Muliaina.
Hawkes Bay and Tonga prop, Taumalolo barged over for the Chief’s third try.
Donald missed all three conversions but the score was still 15-0.
Then Reds wing, Brando Va’aulu made a poor decision to lift Sivivatu in the tackle. It was dangerous and linesman Garrett Williamson advised a yellow card. The Reds were down to 14 men and really steering down the barrel.
But they came back … It started with a soft try to Will Chambers under the posts. To a supporter focusing on the home side and their dominance to that point – rather than the ebb and flow of the game and the all-important scoreboard – it still seemed like the Chiefs had this one.
But they would only score 3 more points. Donald had kicked very well in the frst three games of the Super 14 but his touch deserted him.
Queensland continued their comeback. Relentless attacking, committed defense and focused kicking by Quade Cooper got them in front.
A significant moment came from a kick through by Daniel Braid in broken play. Liam Messam had the advantage chasing back but Reds full back Luke Morahan showed real pace to beat him to the ball, toe ahead and then score in the tackle of Masaga.
I was close to the pitch a the time and remember thinking that Masaga should probably have won the race to the ball. I may have been mistaken but it looked like he was just cruising, expecting Messam to get their first and when this didn’t happen, he hauled it back to make the tackle but it was fractionally to late.
[[Update: Watching replays of the build up to this try leaves me convinced that man of the match Masaga was not running at full pace in the initial chase for the ball from the kick through - very disappointing. This try won the match for the Reds.]]
The Chiefs had enough ball and field position in the last 10 minutes to win the match. The game finished after a poor line-out throw on the Reds 5metre line.
The Chiefs failed in what was a poor second half effort - in fact the performance from the end of the first quarter was poor.
In the after match press conference, Reds captain Will Genia said it was their tactic to stay as close to the Chiefs as possible early on because the Reds were confident the Chiefs would tire in the second half.
Reds coach Ewen McKenzie with captain, Will Genia
The Chiefs had flown from South Africa to Perth for their match last week and then flew home via Sydney from there. Perhaps it is a known thing that teams who travel that route will struggle for fitness in their first match on home soil. It seems the stats support this hypothesis.
The Chiefs arrived back in New Zealand on Monday and were required to play on the Friday night – so just 3 and a half days to recover and prepare.
There is an idea that the time-zone change from Perth to New Zealand (6hrs) is more difficult to adjust to than the 12 hour difference from the Republic.
I don’t think there is any doubt that the Chiefs were mot 100%.
But if that is true, what does it mean for the rugby consumer?
- That they can expect something less than value for money from their teams the week after they fly long distances
With a bye in the draw, should it be used for situations when teams have made the longest travel journeys?
Perhaps the rugby consumer should have been asking that question right from the beginning of the Super 12 when South African teams were required to make the longest and most arduous journeys of any teams …
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