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Friday, July 27, 2012 WAIKATO TIMES,
FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012
1
SUPER SEMI
May the great ride continue It’s just the right mix of knowledge and talent, writes Evan Pegden.
It all started for the Chiefs in April last year when Manawatu Turbos coach Dave Rennie was appointed to the head coaching job. Now they hope the great ride does not end in tonight’s semifinal against the Crusaders at Waikato Stadium and the Chiefs can get to just their second final in 17 years of Super Rugby. A previous Hurricanes assistant coach, Rennie had probably the best coaching pedigree and most comprehensive apprenticeship any New Zealand Super Rugby head coach has ever had coming into the job for the first time. He had head coaching success with New Zealand Under-20, Wellington and Manawatu, as well as various club sides in the capital. Rennie had already approached the former Waikato pair of Tom Coventry and Andrew Strawbridge who were plying their trade with Hawke’s Bay and Auckland respectively, and when enormously experienced former All Blacks coach and assistant coach Wayne Smith threw his hat into the ring they suddenly had arguably the best coaching team going around. They recruited extensively from outside the Chiefs region – mostly from the Hurricanes area Rennie and Coventry knew so well as Manawatu and Hawke’s Bay coaches respectively – and while that risked the ire of home fans if it did not bring success, they targeted players with strong work ethic and character. Using a mix of statistics and video footage they did their homework well on players to fit a certain game plan, ranking all the available players throughout the
HEAD TO HEAD Chiefs v Crusaders head to head record in Super Rugby:
country in various positions. The new Chiefs back room team did not get everyone they wanted and we will never know which high profile players they missed out on, but they were still pretty happy with who they did get, working within the confines of the players already contracted by predecessor Ian Foster’s regime. With a total of 15 new players, including a mix of superstars like Sonny Bill Williams and Aaron Cruden, grizzled veterans like Kane Thompson and Mahonri Schwalger, raw youngsters like Brodie Retallick, Sam Cane (wider training group the previous season) and Ben Tameifuna, and youngish talent looking for a fresh start like Robbie Robinson and Andrew Horrell, they got it right. From that material they moulded a team with strong core values and set about putting in a lot of hard work on fitness before and after Christmas with a view to playing a fast-tempo ruck and run game, but with the forwards being asked to carry the ball much more to break down opposition defences before going wide. Smith was put in charge of the defence, as well as having input on a number of other fronts, and he set about turning around what had certainly been an Achilles heel in previous Chiefs teams. Chiefs fans were cautiously enthusiastic about what they saw, but wondered whether they were still going to have a Rolls-Royce backline behind a Mini Minor forward pack with several of the new names not familiar to them. The team impressed through three pre-season games with wins over the Rebels in Geelong and Highlanders in Queenstown and a narrow loss to the Hurricanes in torrential rain in Taupo, but such games have never been a great guide to what will happen when the season proper gets under way.
2012 Hamilton Crusaders 28-21 2012 Napier Chiefs 24-19 2011 Napier Crusaders 25-19 2011 Tauranga Crusaders 34-16 2010 Hamilton Crusaders 26-19 2009 Christchurch Crusaders 19-13 2008 Hamilton Chiefs 18-5 2007 Christchurch Chiefs 30-24 2006 Hamilton Crusaders 25-19 2005 Christchurch Crusaders 50-18 2004 Hamilton Crusaders 36-15 2003 Christchurch Crusaders 36-29 2002 Hamilton Crusaders 34-27 2001 Christchurch Crusaders 40-11 2000 Hamilton Crusaders 27-24 1999 Christchurch Crusaders 48-3 1998 Albany Chiefs 25-23 1997 Timaru Crusaders 24-15 1996 Hamilton Chiefs 27-26
The wizard: New Chiefs coach Davie Rennie melded together a team based on strong work ethic and character. Photo: Fairfax NZ So a first-up loss to the Highlanders at home brought out the doubters when the official season kicked off on February 25. The Chiefs had been beaten badly at the breakdowns by the abrasive Highlanders forwards and several serious injuries, including to props Ben Afeaki and Toby Smith, as well as halfback Brendon Leonard, left many staring at a half-empty glass. Then they went on a ninematch winning streak, including all three on their overseas tour to Perth and South Africa, which made everyone sit up and take notice.
Players like 20-year-olds Retallick and Tameifuna stood up to and often got on top of the best in the competition. Similarly aged Cane was used more sparingly but, like the other two, looked an All Black in the making. Behind a pack doing the basics well Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 21, was another youngster to thrive on the regular starts and also went from strength to strength, while Cruden kicked the goals as well as igniting a backline where Williams and Richard Kahui proved too hot to handle for defences. A loss to the Reds in Brisbane
just before their second bye was a timely wake-up call, but the loss of Kahui in that match to a shoulder dislocation that in the end required surgery was a major blow. The Chiefs won their next three including a shaky one against the Highlanders in Dunedin after the momentum-breaking threeweekend international window, but the latter was followed by losses to the Crusaders and Hurricanes to end the regular season. So can the earlier momentum be regenerated and the Chiefs go all the way to the final, whether in Cape Town or back here if the Sharks upset the Stormers? There was plenty of soulsearching and analysis done during the Chiefs’ week off last week and they set about putting things right, getting back to what worked for them through the bulk of the season. Their set-piece needs to front and at the very least get some parity with that of the All Blacksladen Crusaders pack if they are to get enough quality ball to unleash their strike moves and get their phase play rolling forward. They need to be direct in their approach before they can go wide or a lateral attack will again provide easy pickings for the high-intensity Crusaders defence. Let the ride continue.
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SUPER SEMI
Schwalger: We must believe we can win Attitude is everything tonight, according to Chiefs hooker Mahonri Schwalger. Waikato Times sports editor Evan Pegden reports.
Attitude is everything for the Chiefs’ forwards this week, according to one of the wily campaigners in their pack, hooker Mahonri Schwalger. They were shaded for attitude and organisation at the set-pieces in their loss to the Crusaders three weeks ago and in the rematch at Waikato Stadium on Saturday they again face an All Blacks-laden front eight even if All Blacks No 8 Kieran Read is missing. But that is not the most important factor according to last year’s
Samoa World Cup captain. ‘‘It doesn’t matter if you have All Blacks in your team,’’ said Schwalger. ‘‘If you have a team that front up with the right attitude you can beat any team.’’ The man known to his team-mates as ‘‘Mo’’ said it was now or never for the Chiefs this week and they had to throw everything at the Crusaders in a bid to reach the final. The Chiefs finished three points clear of the Crusaders at the top of the New Zealand conference. However, it is the visitors that will take momentum into the semifinal, having won their last three games while the Chiefs lost their last two. But none of that counts this week, according to Schwalger, and getting all the players in the right frame of mind and believing in themselves and their team is more important. ‘‘At this level of rugby you’ve got to make sure these young guys are in the right frame of mind.
Mind games: Mahonri Schwalger says winning tonight will depend on a state of mind, not the number of All Blacks. Photo: Peter Drury/Waikato Times ‘‘The Crusaders play a few mind games and that’s why they’ve been doing really well in the last few seasons. ‘‘They go on the field and they know they’re going to win and that’s what we need to do. We need to go on the field believing we can win
and are not just there to make up the numbers. ‘‘If we want to win this championship we have to make sure we front up and have the right frame of mind. It doesn’t matter if they have a lot of All Blacks or where you are from, if you have the right attitude, work together as a team and have that belief as well, you can beat any team.’’ Schwalger said the team had been building towards this for the last two weeks, making sure the younger players had the right mental approach, and it had been heartening to see everyone hungry and ready to go at training at the start of this week. ‘‘Having that week off [from playing] was good, mentally and physically. Guys have really recovered and [are] ready to go for this big game,’’ he said.
‘‘At this level of rugby you’ve got to make sure these young guys are in the right frame of mind.’’ Mahonri Schwalger
evan.pegden@waikatotimes.co.nz
Tikoirotuma in top form for battle with Crusaders Evan Pegden Three years ago, Asaeli Tikoirotuma was playing Heartland rugby for Wanganui and now he faces his first Super Rugby semifinal. It is a giant chasm to cross, but the flying Fijian wing says doing his homework has made it all possible. The man, who also made his mark playing centre for Manawatu in last year’s ITM Cup, turned 26 today, but he hasn’t forgotten his school days when it comes to preparation. ‘‘Every afternoon you do your homework before you come and train the next day,’’ Tikoirotuma said. ‘‘If you do your homework, you’ll be sweet on game day. That’s a big thing for me. ‘‘That’s how I’m getting in the starting lineup. Just doing my homework helps me a lot on game days.’’
By homework, he means writing down everything the coaches ask him to do in weekly one-onone reviews and then taking that away, studying it and applying it to training and games. This week there is no game to review from last weekend and the man they call Tiks didn’t start in the last game of the regular season against the Hurricanes, but that makes no difference – Tikoirotuma’s work-ons still revolve around what happened in his last appearances on the field. ‘‘At the moment, it is nothing different [despite it being semifinals week]. I’m just looking at my last performance and for me that was the Crusaders, as I didn’t get to play last week’s game.’’ The homework has paid off because Tikoirotuma is the Chiefs’ second top try scorer behind prop Sona Taumalolo, with seven touchdowns to Taumalolo’s eight, including a record-equalling four against the Blues in Albany.
Wing in flight: Asaeli Tikoirotuma, right, in action. He scored a record-equalling four tries against the Blues. He has played both left and right wing this season and is feeling fresh and confident about getting his chance this week. As the Chiefs’ most consistent performing wing this season, that looks highly likely.
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After two weekends off, he is itching to play again, but did not expect that break to be enough to rob him of vital match fitness. That was something that he found a problem after the threeweek break for the international
window last month. ‘‘We trained pretty hard last week and had good training runs on Thursday and Friday, so I’m ready,’’ Tikoirotuma said. evan.pegden@waikatotimes.co.nz
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WAIKATO TIMES,
FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012
3
SUPER SEMI
Chiefs primed to make amends Evan Pegden Brodie Retallick might hail from Crusaders country originally but he has one mission when he lines up for the Chiefs in tonight’s Super Rugby semifinal at Waikato Stadium. The young giant, who has gone from little-known New Zealand Under-20 lock to All Blacks second rower in little more than 12 months, is intent on helping the Chiefs make amends for their set-piece hiccups against the Crusaders three weeks ago. Originally from Amberley in North Canterbury, Retallick was recruited to Hawke’s Bay by current Chiefs assistant coach Tom Coventry when Canterbury did not show any immediate interest in him after he left Christchurch Boys’ High School. From there Coventry had no hesitation in getting him into the
Chiefs this year. The 2.04 metre, 121kg youngster, who only turned 21 at the end of May, certainly had the frame to succeed in Super Rugby and he quickly showed he had the ‘‘motor’’ to go with it. His huge work rate and his skills were immediately obvious and soon those in the know were murmuring ‘‘All Black’’. The new All Blacks selection panel agreed and he was whisked into the squad for the June test series and started twice against Ireland. Retallick’s aerial play and his work around the field again proved top notch, but three weeks ago the Chiefs’ set-piece generally, and lineout specifically, disintegrated in the face of some blow-torch heat applied by the Crusaders intent on shutting down the home team’s attack at source. With the Chiefs missing Retallick’s locking partner,
captain and lineout caller Craig Clarke, who fell ill on match day, the tactic worked and the visitors won 28-21, holding out at the end against a prolonged and desperate siege of their goal-line. ‘‘Most people know our setpiece didn’t work so well a few weeks ago, so if we can get a good set-piece and give some good front-foot ball for the backs to play off then that will go a long way towards a good performance,’’ Retallick said. The Chiefs followed that loss with another narrow one at the hands of the Hurricanes in Wellington to end the regular season. ‘‘The Hurricanes was a tough one in that they had nothing to lose and ran at us all day, but we’ve put a lot of emphasis on the set-piece last week and coming into this week. ‘‘We’ve done a lot of work on it
and hopefully it operates well on Friday.’’ Retallick believed the Chiefs definitely had the set-piece to match the Crusaders and had just not reacted well enough to the latter’s tactics when they met. ‘‘We’ve come up with a few strategies and done a lot of work towards making it operate well.’’ A stable scrum was just as important as an efficient lineout in that respect, he said. While the prospect of playing in his first Super Rugby semifinal was exciting he had tried not to think too much about it. ‘‘We think we’ve done our homework and with another quality week this week we’ve got nothing to lose.’’ Retallick and Clarke will be up against All Blacks Sam Whitelock and Luke Romano at lineout time and they can’t wait for another chance.
Locked and loaded: Brodie Retallick’s aerial play and work rate this season had him quickly earmarked as a potential All Black. ‘‘It’s been an awesome season so far. Some people don’t even get to experience a Super Rugby playoff, let alone in your first year so it’s pretty exciting.’’ evan.pegden@waikatotimes.co.nz
Horrell reminisces on Carter as his coach Richard Knowler One of Andrew Horrell’s earliest memories of Dan Carter was being ordered about by him around the cricket block. Horrell, now 24, first met Carter when, along with his teammate Doug Tausili, they returned to Christchurch Boys’ High School to coach the third-form cricket team. It proved the start of a sporting relationship that will continue tomorrow night, when the Crusaders meet the Chiefs in the Super semifinal at Waikato Stadium. Back then he was a promising wicketkeeper and middle-order batsman, but now Chiefs centre Horrell will be determined to prevent the Crusaders first fiveeighth Carter taking control. Yet when Carter, a former Boys’ High 1st XI cricket representative, was his cricket coach, Horrell was content to
watch and listen. Yesterday, Carter reflected on his early encounters with Horrell with some clarity. ‘‘Doug and I had just left school and were asked to do some coaching. They were pretty sharp,’’ Carter said. ‘‘I remember Andrew growing up because he is from out my way – out Ellesmere way – so I followed him after he finished at Boys’ High and played country rugby in the Ellesmere competition. He’s a huge talent and has performed well this year.’’ Horrell represented the school’s first XV in 2005-06 at fullback alongside Owen Franks, Colin Slade, Tim Bateman, Nasi Manu and Matt Todd, and also played in the 1st XI and the Canterbury under-17 cricket side. Involved with the Canterbury rugby academy in 2007, Horrell failed to get elevated to Rob Penney’s Canterbury team and
Aiming high: Dan Carter played cricket, but chose a career in rugby. when he missed the academy in 2008, he signed with Hawke’s Bay. ‘‘I kind of felt they were kind of pushing a few younger guys in a ahead of me into the academy. ‘‘ I was pretty gutted about that and Hawke’s Bay gave me an opportunity,’’ Horrell, who studied environmental science at Canterbury University for two years, said. ‘‘With Canterbury, though, there are no hard feelings. They had some great youth coming through – guys like Tom Taylor and obviously he has been performing well.’’
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WAIKATO TIMES, FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012
Chiefs’ man: Andrew Horrell wants to clip the Crusaders’ wings. Despite his Canterbury heritage, Horrell will not be swamped with guilt if he proves instrumental in knocking over the Crusaders. ‘‘We are just going to look to take it to them this week.’’
Having impressed in his firstever start at centre against the Crusaders in Hamilton on July 6, won 28-21 by the visitors, Horrell has been awarded the No 13 jersey again and will start alongside Sonny Bill Williams.
SUPER SEMI
With one eye seeing red (and black) Maryanne Twentyman
A colleague once told me that the only difference between a Canterbury and Waikato rugby fan is a lick of yellow paint – I beg to differ. The difference between a Canterbury and Waikato fan is passion. I should know. For the past four years I have been subjected to the constant ring of cowbells, the annoying growl of a chainsaw and the incessant newsroom chatter about the godlike greatness of Richard Kahui and Sonny Bill Williams. But still I remain true to my personal crusade to back the mighty red and blacks – no matter how much the natives try to sway my steadfast allegiance. Many believe the Chiefs would have been inspired by this week’s historic ANZ Netball Championship final win by the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic. But surely if either side can draw inspiration from that result, wouldn’t it be the Crusaders?
Like the Magic, the Crusaders have peaked their run of form to absolute perfection – like the fast finishing thoroughbred that knows exactly where the winning post is. The Chiefs, however, have struggled to recapture the scintillating early season form that saw them bag the top spot far from the finish. And look what a week off did for the Melbourne Vixens. Just saying. But I digress. Let’s not waste time dwelling on the man in the middle. In my humble opinion Craig Joubert is the best in the business and will ensure a fair contest. At the end of the day it’s up to the players to ensure the whistle is kept out of the contest. Period. I’m in no doubt that the Crusaders will miss the reliable services of No 8 Kieran Read courtesy of a broken rib, while the Chiefs will be celebrating the return of cool, calm and collected lock Craig Clarke. But the structured nature of the Crusaders’ battlelines led by captain Richie McCaw will be turned into more points than the ad-lib style of Chiefs play. The lineouts, scrums and setpieces will ensure an enthralling contest between two of the best forward packs in the business.
Charging the bull: The Chiefs can expect more charges like this one from Crusaders captain Richie McCaw in tonight’s big semifinal. And while many Chiefs fans believe the game could turn on a little SBW magic, I say he could be out of his league at the hands
of a Crusaders side that prides itself on defensive domination. This match will be a close, hard-fought encounter worthy of
a Super 15 final – I only wish it was. In closing, I wonder how comfortable columnist Mark Reason is this week after thrusting a knife into the heart and guts of the Crusaders’ legion of fans recently. In a column picked up – far too quickly for my liking – by publications around the country, Reason took cheap shots at the Crusaders whom he claimed ‘‘intimidate referees, take cheap shots at the opposition and serially cheat around the ruck and maul’’. Thankfully, despite his cutting words and the Bulls game plan to lie on the ball and infringe around rucks and mauls all night last week, the Crusaders came home on the right side of the ledger. His closing shot: ‘‘I hope the Crusaders lose and come back next season with a proper respect for referees’’ has been laughed off the park by the men in the middle. Who’s the loser now? I’m happy to show my hand and say while I’m cheering home the Crusaders, I feel satisfied knowing that one of the teams in the Super 15 final will be wearing red and black, and maybe, just maybe, a lick of yellow too.
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WAIKATO TIMES,
FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012
5
SEMIFINAL 1
SONA TAUMALOLO 1.85m 112kg 13/11/81
6
11
2
MAHONRI SCHWALGER
LIAM MESSAM
7
ASAELI TIKOIROTUMA
12
1.90m 108 kg 25/03/84
1.87m 91kg 24/06/82
1.80m 106kg 15/09/79
TANERAU LATIMER 1.83m 101kg 06/05/86
SONNY BILL WILLIAMS 1.91m 108kg 03/08/85
3
BEN TAMEIFUNA 1.82m 134kg 30/08/91
4
8
KANE THOMPSON
9
13
ANDREW HORRELL
14
1.98m 113kg 09/01/82
1.82m 93kg 18/07/88
CRAIG CLARKE (C) 2.00m 114kg 01/08/83
TAWERA KERR-BARLOW 1.87m 89kg 15/08/90
TIM NANAI-WILLIAMS 1.82m 90kg 12/06/89
RESERVES: 16. HIKA ELLIOT, 17. BEN AFEAKI, 18. MICHAEL FITZGERALD, 19. SAM CANE, 20. BRENDON LEONARD, 21. JACKSON WILLISON, 22. LELIA MASAGA.
5
VS 1
BRODIE RETALLICK 2.04m 121kg 31/05/91
WYATT CROCKETT 1.93m 112kg 24/01/83
10
AARON CRUDEN
6
15
ROBBIE ROBINSON
11
1.78m 84kg 08/01/84
1.81m 88kg 22/08/89
GEORGE WHITELOCK 1.90m 106 kg 27/03/86
ZAC GUILDFORD 1.82m 96kg 08/02/89
2
3
COREY FLYNN 1.84m 108kg 05/01/81
BEN FRANKS 1.83m 115kg 27/03/84
7
MATT TODD
8
RICHIE MCCAW (C)
12
RYAN CROTTY
13
ROBBIE FRUEAN
1.85m 104kg 24/03/88
1.79m 91kg 23/09/88
1.87m 106kg 31/12/80
1.90m 104kg 13/07/88
4
9
14
LUKE ROMANO 1.99m 110kg 16/02/86
5
SAM WHITELOCK 2.02m 114kg 12/10/88
ANDY ELLIS
10
DAN CARTER
ADAM WHITELOCK
15
ISRAEL DAGG
1.82m 89kg 21/02/84
1.85m 95kg 17/04/87
1.79m 91kg 05/03/82
1.86m 95kg 06/06/88
RESERVES: 16. QUENTIN MACDONALD, 17. OWEN FRANKS, 18. TOM DONNELLY, 19. LUKE WHITELOCK, 20. WILLIE HEINZ, 21. TOM TAYLOR, 22. SEAN MAITLAND.
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2 dream alive in 2012 alive in 201the amKeeping
7
SUPER SEMI
Chiefs ready for ultimate test For someone whose weekly employment requires casting an analytical eye over the Australian conference and specifically the Waratahs, the Chiefs v Crusaders encounter in round 17 was like watching rugby with the handbrake taken off. The pace and intensity was unrelenting. The aficionado’s request for tomorrow night is simple. More of the same please. The likelihood of the same result? Much less certain. The Chiefs can win this game. They have pace at halfback, vision at five-eighth and brilliance at No 12. Only weeks have passed since a proud test nation was reduced to rubble at the hands of the latter duo on the same turf. Harder evidence, courtesy of statistics man Simon @ruckingoodstats, also exists for optimism in the Waikato. They top the competition for offloads and clean line breaks. They are third in the list for tackles broken, shredding through 19.9 in each match. That number looks even more significant when you consider the Crusaders miss 18.6 tackles per game. Surprisingly, only three sides miss more than Todd Blackadder’s side. No wonder they were hell-bent on destroying the Chiefs’ primary possession last time out. There was ferocity in that performance, especially at scrum time, but it was borne out of respect as well as a lust for revenge. The Crusaders well understand what misery can ensue if a gifted opposition secures quick, clean ball. Last year their nemesis was Will Genia. This week Blackadder identified Tawera Kerr-Barlow as the key man. But if the Crusaders are a team
that gives respect, they also demand it. It is impossible to discuss the Crusaders without a reference to the work at the ruck – and that would have been the case even before Fairfax columnist Mark Reason’s acidic observations about their alleged unpunished illegalities. In this crucial facet of play the numbers paint a gloomier picture for the Chiefs. The Crusaders have an average of 5.7 steals per game, taking only three minutes, 24 seconds to do so. On both counts they are the best in the competition. Yet they manage to do it without unduly alerting the authorities, conceding 6.1 ruck/ maul penalties a game. There are six worse offenders, the Chiefs highest among them. These are the sort of numbers that promote angst among the Crusaders’ critics, but it is possible to hold a nuanced position – they are both streetwise and skilful. Against the Chiefs, Luke Romano came charging in from the side to prevent a scoring opportunity. Had it been later in the game, it might have attracted a yellow card. But earlier in the season, against the Waratahs in Sydney, Kieran Read tackled, jumped to his feet and stole the ball with such pace and precision the referee and commentators immediately assumed foul play was involved. Replays showed him to be innocent. What opportunities for doubt they must create in officials’ minds. So the Chiefs’ task is large but well signposted – parity at the set piece, ferocity mixed with discipline at the contact area. It’s inconceivable that their sharp coaching panel won’t have
Bring on the intensity of the last encounter. The same winner is far from certain, writes Paul Cully.
them prepared. The return of Craig Clarke will improve a lineout that was so dysfunctional in the recent loss that it was a surprise the sides finished so close. At the scrum already a small victory may have been won thanks to the respective selection panels. A combination of Ben Franks and Wyatt Crockett is the least terrifying the Crusaders can muster. Owen Franks might not been in last year’s form, but Sona Taumalolo will find life much easier against his elder brother. On the other side, the Chiefs will be hoping some stricter policing of Wyatt Crockett’s angles might assist raw giant Ben Tameifuna. There is, of course, another factor that favours the home side. For all our attempts to forensically dissect the game, sport runs on emotion. It fuelled
Yes we can: Parity at the set piece and discipline around the contact area are vital tonight, and if the Chiefs can harness the emotion surrounding the departure of Sonny Bill Williams, they can win this game.
the Magic’s past two victories and was in the voice of Sonny Bill Williams as he announced a departure that appeared tinged with regret. Harness that, in front of a home crowd, and the Chiefs’ journey can go into a final week. ■ Paul Cully is a rugby columnist for the Sydney Morning Herald, a new Hamiltonian and the owner of a ticket in the Greenzone tomorrow night.
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SUPER SEMI THE SQUADS: A LOOK BACK AT THE CHIEFS’ PLAYERS 2012 SQUAD Toby Smith, Sona Taumalolo, Ben Afeaki, Shane Cleaver, Ben Tameifuna, Hika Elliot, Mahonri Schwalger, Romana Graham, Craig Clarke, Mike Fitzgerald, Brodie Retallick, Kane Thompson, Liam Messam, Scott Waldrom, Tanerau Latimer, Sam Cane, Fritz Lee, Alex Bradley, Brendon Leonard, Tawera KerrBarlow, Aaron Cruden, Andrew Horrell, Jackson Willison, Sonny Bill Williams, Richard Kahui, Asaeli Tikoirototuma, Lelia Masaga, Maritino Nemani, Declan O’Donnell, Tim NanaiWilliams, Robbie Robinson. 2011 SQUAD Finished 10th Ben Afeaki, Colin Bourke, Craig Clarke, Mike Delany, Aled de Malmanche, Stephen Donald, Hikawera Elliot, Romana Graham, Richard Kahui, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Tanerau Latimer, Fritz Lee, Brendon Leonard, Lelia Masaga, Ben May, Liam Messam, Taniela Moa, Mils Muliaina, Tim Nanai-Williams, Dan Perrin, Culum Retallick, Isaac Ross, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Toby Smith, Dwayne Sweeney, Sona Taumalolo, Save Tokula, Hayden Triggs, Tana Umaga, Scott Waldrom, Nathan White, Jackson Willison. 2010 SQUAD Finished 11th Nathan White, Ben Afeaki, James McGougan, Sona Taumalolo, Aled de Malmanche, Hika Elliot, Kevin O’Neill, Craig Clarke, Culum Retallick, Romana Graham, Jarrad Hoeata, Liam Messam, Tanerau Latimer, Luke Braid, Sione Lauaki, Colin Bourke, Brendon Leonard, Junior Poluleuligaga, Stephen Donald, Mike Delany, Callum Bruce, Jackson Willison, Richard Kahui, Lelia Masaga, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Dwayne Sweeney, Tim NanaiWilliams, Mils Muliaina. 2009 SQUAD: Finished 2nd Ben May, James McGougan, Joe Savage, Arizona Taumalolo, Aled de Malmanche, Hikawera Elliot, Mark Burman, Craig Clarke, Toby Lynn, Kevin O’Neill, Colin Bourke, Sione Lauaki, Tanerau Latimer, Serge Lilo, Liam Messam, Brendon Leonard, Toby Morland, Stephen Donald, Mike Delany, Callum Bruce, Richard Kahui, Dwayne Sweeney,
Duggan, Danny Lee, Deon Muir, Hare Makiri, Koula Tukino, Glen Marsh, Isitolo Maka, Chresten Davis, Glenn Taylor (captain), Royce Willis, Michael Collins, Simon Kerr, Paul Mitchell, Greg Smith, David Briggs, Paul Martin
Power: Sione Lauaki on one of his trademark bullocking runs in 2009.
Feisty: Byron Kelleher in action against the Blues in 2007.
Early days: Roger Randle and Bruce Reihana in action in 2002.
Jackson Willison, Sosene Anesi, Lelia Masaga, Mils Muliaina, Sitiveni Sivivatu, James Wilson.
Lauaki, Marty Holah, Nili Latu, Liam Messam, Jono Gibbes (captain), Bernie Upton, Sean Hohneck, Kristian Ormsby, Ben Castle, Deacon Manu, Nathan White, Simms Davison, Tom Willis, Aleki Lutui.
Duggan, Isaac Boss, Paul Miller, Scott Couch, Wayne Ormond, Marty Holah, Jono Gibbes, Steven Bates, Glenn Taylor, Reece Robinson, Keith Robinson, Chresten Davis, David Briggs, Michael Collins, Tony Philp, Greg Smith, Shane Carter, Tevita Taumoepeau.
2008 SQUAD: Finished 7th Sosene Anesi, Lelia Masaga, Mils Muliaina, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Dwayne Sweeney, Viliame Waqaseduadua, Callum Bruce, Richard Kahui, Stephen Donald, Tasesa Lavea, Brendon Leonard, Jamie Nutbrown, Tom Harding, Hayden Hopgood, Sione Lauaki, Tanerau Latimer, Fafili Levave, Liam Messam, Jono Gibbes, Toby Lynn, Kevin O’Neill, Kristian Ormsby, Ben Castle, Simms Davison, Ben May, Craig West, Aled de Malmanche, Tom Willis. 2007 SQUAD: Finished 6th Dwayne Sweeney, Mils Muliaina, Sosene Anesi, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Roy Kinikinilau, Lelia Masaga, Anthony Tahana, Richard Kahui, Niva Ta’auso, Tane Tu’ipolotu, Stephen Donald, Tasesa Lavea, Murray Williams, Byron Kelleher, Jamie Nutbrown, Brendon Leonard, Sione Lauaki, Steven Bates, Liam Messam, Marty Holah, Tanerau Latimer, Jono Gibbes (captain), Keith Robinson, Kristian Ormsby, Toby Lynn, Nathan White, Simms Davison, Ben Castle, Craig West, Tom Willis, Aled de Malmanche. 2006 SQUAD: Finished 7th. First Year of Super 14 Mils Muliaina, Sosene Anesi, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Lelia Masaga, Anthony Tahana, Niva Ta’auso, Mark Ranby, Sam Tuitupou, David Hill, Stephen Donald, Loki Crichton, Byron Kelleher, Jamie Nutbrown, Steven Bates, Sione
2005 SQUAD: Finished 6th Adrian Cashmore, Loki Crichton, Sosene Anesi, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Sailosi Tagicakibau, Keith Lowen, Derek Maisey, Grant McQuoid, Mark Ranby, Stephen Donald, David Hill, Byron Kelleher, Kevin Senio, Steven Bates, Marty Holah, Nili Latu, Sione Lauaki, Wayne Ormond, Sean Hohneck, Keith Robinson, Bernie Upton, Jono Gibbes (captain), Ben Castle, Michael Collins, Simms Davison, Deacon Manu, Aleki Lutui, Tom Willis. 2004 SQUAD: Finished 4th, lost to Brumbies in semi Steven Bates, Isaac Boss, Ben Castle, Michael Collins, Scott Couch, Loki Crichton, Simms Davison, David Duley, Lome Fa’atau, Jono Gibbes (captain), David Hill, Sean Hohneck, Marty Holah, Glen Jackson, Byron Kelleher, Regan King, Sione Lauaki, Scott Linklater, Keith Lowen, Derek Maisey, Deacon Manu, Todd Miller, Wayne Ormond, Mark Ranby, Roger Randle, Keith Robinson, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Tom Willis. 2003 SQUAD: Finished 10th Todd Miller, Loki Crichton, Roger Randle, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Shayne Austin, Regan King, Keith Lowen, Mark Ranby, Glen Jackson, David Hill, Rhys
CASE IH
2002 SQUAD: Finished 8th Loki Crichton, Todd Miller, Roger Randle, Bruce Reihana, Karl TeNana, Keith Lowen, Mark Ranby, Nick Collins, David Hill, Glen Jackson, Rhys Duggan, Danny Lee, Deon Muir (captain), Koula Tukino, Marty Holah, Wayne McEntee, Jono Gibbes, Kristian Ormsby, Mark Cooksley, Royce Willis, Keith Robinson, Chresten Davis, David Briggs, Deacon Manu, Michael Collins, Tony Philp, Guy Coleman, Keven Mealamu. 2001 SQUAD: Finished 6th Grant McQuoid, Todd Miller, Loki Crichton, Bruce Reihana, Roger Randle, Scott McLeod, Keith Lowen, Mark Ranby, Glen Jackson, David Hill, Danny Lee, Rhys Duggan, Deon Muir (captain), Marty Holah, Duncan Blaikie, Koula Tukino, Jono Gibbes, Royce Willis, Keith Robinson, Mark Cooksley, David Briggs, Deacon Manu, Daniel Godbold, Denis Hazelton, Guy Coleman, Paul Mitchell. 2000 SQUAD: Finished 10th Todd Miller, Bruce Reihana, Roger Randle, James Kerr, Scott McLeod, Mark Ranby, Keith Lowen, George Leaupepe, Loki Crichton, Glen Jackson, Rhys
1999 SQUAD: Finished 6th Todd Miller, Bruce Reihana, Jonah Lomu, Roger Randle, Scott McLeod, Walter Little, Mark Ranby, Matthew Cooper, Glen Jackson, Blair Feeney, Rhys Duggan, Danny Lee, Deon Muir, Aaron Hopa, Dylan Mika, Glen Marsh, Nick Holten, Apisai Naevo, Ian Jones, Royce Willis, Chresten Davis, Paul Martin, Michael Collins (captain), Lee Lidgard, Greg Smith, John Akurangi. 1998 SQUAD: Finished 7th Todd Miller, Glen Osborne, Bruce Reihana, Roger Randle, Matthew Cooper, Frank Bunce, Walter Little, Scott McLeod, Leon MacDonald, Ian Foster, Mark Robinson, Brett McCormack, Errol Brain (captain), Deon Muir, Aaron Hopa, Glen Marsh, Nick Holten, Justin Collins, Ian Jones, Mark Cooksley, Blair Larsen, Paul Thomson, Michael Collins, Jason Barrell, Greg Smith, Jason Hammond. 1997 SQUAD: Finished 11th Matthew Cooper, Bruce Reihana, Glen Osborne, Eric Rush, Frank Bunce, Caleb Ralph, Walter Little, Scott McLeod, Blair Feeney, Ian Foster, Mark Robinson, Rhys Duggan, Deon Muir, Errol Brain, Dean Anglesey, Richard Coventry, Duane Monkley, Blair Larsen, Glenn Taylor, Ian Jones (captain), Richard Loe, Michael Collins, Lee Lidgard, Greg Smith, Paul Mitchell. 1996 SQUAD: Finished 6th Glen Osborne, Norman Berryman, Eric Rush, Peter Woods, Frank Bunce, Walter Little, Scott McLeod, Ian Foster, Warren Burton, Simon Crabb, Boyd Gillespie, Dean Anglesey, Liam Barry, Duane Monkley, Blair Larsen, Glenn Taylor, Steve Gordon, Mark Cooksley, Ian Jones, Craig Stevenson, Joe Veitayaki, Steve Simpkins, Slade McFarland, Paul Mitchell, Richard Turner (captain).
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FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012
9
SUPER SEMI
Road to semifinal On the ball: Aaron Cruden kicked seven out of seven in the Chiefs’ win over the Brumbies at Mt Maunganui.
Week 1 Lost Highlanders 23-19 It quickly became obvious the resurrection of the Chiefs was not going to happen quickly. The Highlanders’ typically resolute, grinding victory came as a result of outmuscling the home side, in front of 12,000 Chiefs faithful who turned up to Waikato Stadium in support, and showing far more composure. Add to that serious injuries to key players Ben Afeaki, Lelia Masaga, Brendon Leonard and Toby Smith and the blowtorch was on the Chiefs very early in their campaign.
Week 2 Beat Blues 29-14 Hammered by injuries from their first-up loss, the Chiefs ignored the situation and rebounded with a stunning victory over the Blues at Waikato Stadium. The damage was done in the first half, with the home side scoring four unanswered tries for a 29-6 halftime lead despite the rain pouring down throughout. Where the Chiefs were outplayed at the breakdown area six days earlier and couldn’t hold on to the ball, they were totally dominant against the Blues, while playing brilliant attacking rugby.
Week 3 Beat Crusaders 24-19 The Chiefs dominated possession and territory for the second week running, although they had to withstand a typically determined Crusaders fightback after taking a 16-6 lead to the halftime break. In the end they scored two tries to the Crusaders’ one at Napier’s McLean Park, emerged
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WAIKATO TIMES, FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012
Unstoppable: Prolific try-scoring prop Sona Taumalolo scored two more in the Chiefs win over the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein. triumphant again from the physical battle, stood up and at times dominated in the set pieces and for the third week in a row defended outstandingly. People were realising they were the real deal.
Week 4 Beat Brumbies 29-22 The Chiefs went into their first bye on the back of three successive victories after this cliffhanger at Mt Maunganui and, more importantly, with the confidence they could win close games from anywhere on the field. With another scoreboard clock debacle threatening to confuse the players in the dying stages, the try-scoring drought in the match at Baypark Stadium was shattered by two sevenpointers in the last 10 minutes before a last-minute try in the corner by centre Jackson Willison gave the home side victory. Aaron Cruden, who did not miss a kick all night in a seven-out-of-seven performance, calmly slotted the touchline conversion for extra insurance.
Week 5 Bye
Week 6 Beat Waratahs 30-13 The Chiefs continue to sit pretty following a splendid second-half performance at Waikato Stadium. The home side came off the bye and stuttered at times, before producing a fine display to take the match comfortably, making it four wins from five in the competition and putting them level with the Highlanders at the top of the NZ conference. It’s not the start to a campaign Chiefs fans are used to and the 11,643 at the ground went home buoyed about prospects to come.
Week 7 Beat Force 20-12 Wayne Smith’s defence is winning games for the Chiefs, but attack still needs work after the Chiefs get their overseas tour off to a winning start in Perth. This win took them to the outright lead in the NZ conference and second overall to South African leaders the Stormers. While the Chiefs’ stingy record of allowing opposition tries and points overall has carried them to their current streak of five wins on the trot, they have to get much more accurate on attack.
SUPER SEMI Take that: The Hurricanes’ Motu Matu’u celebrates after his side beat the Chiefs when a dubious try was awarded by the TMO. securing them a certain place in the playoffs in Dunedin. But they had to hang on at the end as the home side sensed a late chance indoors at the Forsyth Barr Stadium. It finished two tries-all in what turned out to be a highly entertaining match, both teams guinea pigs for what to do coming off the new three-week break to accommodate the international window. The Chiefs got their tries in the first half and the Highlanders in the second, although ironically possession and territory statistics would have suggested it should have been the other way around. Tryfest: Wing Asaeli Tikoirotuma scores one of his four tries against the Blues at North Harbour Stadium.
Week 8 Beat Cheetahs 39-33 Chiefs prop Sona Taumalolo lays claim to being the most prolific try-scoring front rower in Super Rugby after scoring two tries to propel the Chiefs to victory over the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein, taking them to the top of the table. The irresistible force proved too much for the Cheetahs’ defence as he notched up his fifth and sixth tries of the campaign, which made him Super Rugby’s top try-scorer for 2012 to date. It was the Chiefs’ second win in a row away from home and came from five tries and another fine goal-kicking display from Aaron Cruden.
Week 9 Beat Sharks 18-12
efficiency that kept them at the top of Super Rugby and Aaron Cruden was the man to provide it. Cruden’s goal kicking kept his team in front for the first half (12-8) at Waikato Stadium, but it was his clever running game that found holes in the visitors’ defence and, particularly in the second spell, put the Chiefs in the right places to grab a 33-14 victory. The scrum was again a key launch pad for the Chiefs on attack.
Week 11 Beat Lions 34-21 Andrew Horrell sees it all from fullback and he rated the defensive effort from the Chiefs at Pukekohe as again top-notch. But in beating the 14th-ranked Lions
While a weary Chiefs team finished with a flourish, replacement halfback Augustine Pulu scoring a cheeky try after the final hooter to give them two in the 6-point victory over the Sharks at Kings Park, Durban, it was the fact they kept their line intact that again was the key in their last game on tour. The Chiefs’ defence remains the best, conceding just eight tries from eight games.
Week 10 Beat Hurricanes 33-14 The Chiefs needed a spark to complement the grinding
from Johannesburg 34-21 the Chiefs let in three tries for the first time this season, and there was definitely a drop in intensity. The fact all three were the product of lineout drives was not lost on the coaches, nor were a few other flaws in an otherwise dominant effort.
Week 12 Lost Reds 42-27 The Chiefs’ golden run ended in Brisbane, but ironically they increased their lead in the New Zealand Conference. The Chiefs’ loss to the defending champions at Suncorp Stadium in front of a crowd of 36,479 ended a record nine-match winning run and meant South Africa’s Bulls ended week 12 with a two-point overall lead on them. But the Chiefs stayed ahead of the Crusaders, who were upset by the lowly ranked Rebels in Melbourne. The bad news was the season-ending shoulder dislocation suffered by centre Richard Kahui.
Week 13 Bye Week 14 Beat Bulls 28-22 Oh no: Chiefs midfield back Richard Kahui’s disastrous luck with injuries continued when he sustained a season-ending shoulder dislocation against the Reds.
The Chiefs took a huge 11-point lead in the New Zealand conference with a crucial victory over the Bulls in Hamilton – their 10th of the season which became a new franchise record. The hard-
fought 3-tries-to-1 victory over the powerful South Africans at Waikato Stadium also gave the Chiefs a temporary overall lead in the competition ahead of the Stormers’ match against the Sharks. The Sharks, coached by Kiwi John Plumtree, duly obliged with a 25-20 upset win, leaving the Chiefs three points ahead of the Stormers with four rounds to go.
Week 15 Beat Blues 41-34 The Chiefs put scoring tries for a bonus point ahead of defence, by their defence coach Wayne Smith’s own admission. Smith has been in charge of a smothering Chiefs defence this season that had only really faltered badly in the loss three weeks earlier to defending champions Reds in Brisbane where they conceded five tries. But the Blues managed four tries to the Chiefs’ five at North Harbour Stadium in a cliffhanger won 41-34 by the Chiefs to put them in charge of their spot at the top of the Super Rugby table. Wing Asaeli Tikoirotuma was the star turn, scoring a recordequalling four tries.
Weeks 16-18 International Window Week 19 Beat Highlanders 27-21 The Chiefs’ defence did it again,
Week 20 Lost Crusaders 28-21 A desperate Crusaders team stole the Chiefs’ thunder and a chance for the home side to sew up a home semifinal with a standout set-piece forward effort at Waikato Stadium. The Chiefs started the match without their captain, Craig Clarke, the big lock ruled out late with a bout of flu and the lineout proved a major Achilles heel for the home side as they mucked up at least eight of their own throw-ins. The Crusaders hung on by their fingertips and some outstanding defence at the end as the Chiefs hammered their line well after the final hooter.
Week 21 Lost Hurricanes 28-25 It all came down to a television match official’s call and for the third time in as many games the Chiefs had a dubious try awarded against them by the off-field official. This time it was hugely costly for the Chiefs, as the Hurricanes snatched a 28-25 victory from them and left the way open for South Africa’s Stormers to now take top seeding and home advantage throughout the playoffs. TMO Mike Fraser took an age to make a decision after the Hurricanes had stormed the Chiefs’ line long after the final hooter, but finally gave referee Jonathan Kaplan the go-ahead to award the winning try to hookerturned-No 8 Dane Coles.
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