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Form from 2007
The Chiefs had a 'too little too late' season in 2007. They had a 5 match winning streak coming into the end of the season and had they made the finals they had the momentum to notch a first championship. This was not to be but a positive they will take from 2007 is a remarkable ability to score bonus points (when the Stormers beat them in round 3 despite no wins they were ahead on the ladder). If they can start '08 firing there is no stopping them. That said their performance in the ANZC was well below the previous years' standards failing to make it out of the quarter finals after a last gasp loss to Hawkes Bay. Its experience though for a young squad and that is always valuable.
Comings and Goings
The Chiefs lose some hardened campaigners this year in Marty Holah, Steven Bates and Keith Robinson. The trio have gone leaving a sizeable hole in the forward pack. The former two are off to Europe while Robinson has retired after yet another injury. Kevin O'Neill comes into the side as a lock/blindside from the Crusaders and will be building on a very solid 2007 season.
All Blacks scrum-half Byron Kelleher and try-scoring machine Roy Kinikinilau are on their way out from the backs. Kelleher's experience will be missed but his talent is more that made up for in young Brendan Leonard. As for Roy (makes him sound a bit like a dog doesn't it? Roy), the Chiefs will miss a strike weapon such as himself but still have Mils and Sivivatu to tear the other teams apart.
Keep an eye on
With incredible acceleration making him a dangerous running halfback, Brendan Leonard is a threat on both attack and defense. It was painful to see him burn a hole in the Force's defense in this year's match and really show up Jon McGrath. More painful still is the knowledge that John Mitchell almost convinced him to join the Force (having an Aussie grandmother qualifies him for the Wallabies) and he could have been doing the damage for us.
The Chiefs are grooming a set of props that could well be the next All Blacks stars. Names like Craig West, Ben Castle and Aled de Malmanche may not ring many bells with most but they are powerful props who will either fight for a Carl Heyman sized spot in the All Blacks front row or put a lot of pressure on the incumbent on the other side. Ignoring rugby skills you can't look past a guy like Craig West simply because of his awesome stash that makes him look like a 80s cop (although looking like an 80s cop is a bad thing if your from around the Bay of Plenty). Castle and de Malmanche are also both as solid as a rock and will make up a pretty formidable front row for the Chiefs.
Prospectus for 2008
The Chiefs have what it takes for 2008: An ability to score bonus points, a young and dynamic pack and a 10/12 combination in Stephen Donald and Tasesa Lavea that is really working for them. The only questions are over how well they can start and get wins early and how well players can be managed to reduce injuries. Having learnt a lot from last seasons disappointment, I think the Chiefs will knock it up a notch and take the title. It took me a long time to decide this but I'm giving the Chiefs my number 1 spot.
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Originally Posted by chook
