Super 14

In 2009 the Chiefs enjoyed their best ever season of Super Rugby. They scored their most consecutive victories, their defensive record was their best ever, their second position on the table was their highest to date, and it was only their second appearance in a semi-final. Just one point prevented their finishing top of the log, which would have meant hosting the final.

In the final they were well beaten by an unstoppable Bulls outfit playing close to the limits of their potential, but it was a memorable season for the Waikato-based franchise.

Could this be the year the Chiefs win the championship for the first time?

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Coach Ian Foster has retained 20 players from his 2009 squad and is happy with this consistency in personnel. He has drafted only player, with a few additions from the Chiefs wider group. The class of 2009 showed they can win impressively and consistently and will be determined to go all the way in 2010 after going so close last year.

Crucial to their success will how they perform without skipper Mils Muliaina, who will miss the first three rounds of the competition as he enjoys a brief, hard earned, richly deserved sabbatical.

It's a tough start too, with Muliaina missing the games in Durban, Johannesburg and Perth. The Chiefs may find themselves playing catch-up on the ladder when he returns to lead the team.

Strengths: When at full strength they boast a potent backline. With Muliaina at full back, Sitiveni Sivivatu and Lelia Masaga on the wings, Richard Kahui and Callum Bruce at centre, either Stephen Donald or Mike Delany at 10 and Brendon Leonard at 9, they will take some stopping. And there is no lack of skill and aggression in a loose forward trio comprising any of Liam Messam, Tanerau Latimer, Sione Lauaki, Luke Braid or Colin Bourke.

Weaknesses: Nothing obvious, other than a tendency to be slow starters in the competition, but would they have some concern about being a bit thin on heavyweight class and depth in their tight five?

Noteworthy signings: Tight-head Nathan White returns after being injured for most of the 2009 campaign. Locks Romana Graham (from Waikato) and Culum Retallick (Bay of Plenty); loose forwards Luke Braid (Bay of Plenty;) lock or flank Jarrad Hoeata (Taranaki, the only draft selection); scrum half Junior Poluleuligaga (Bay of Plenty); from Counties Manukau Tim Nanai-Williams (full back or wing); Craig Clarke (Taranaki lock); Ben Afeaki (tight-head prop, from North Harbour); Hikawera Elliot (Hawke's Bay hooker).

Noteworthy losses: Scrum half Toby Morland has moved to Munster. Tight-head Ben May (knee ligament surgery). Sosene Anesi crosses the Tasman Sea to join the Waratahs.

Coach: In his seventh season now as Chiefs coach, Ian Foster has the experience and acumen to guide his men at least as well as any Super 14 coach. With Foster in charge, the Chiefs will offer intelligent structure and a game plan designed to win consistently. Craig Stevenson returns as assistant coach, with Keith Robinson as line-out coach.

Captain: Mils Muliaina - but only from game four onward. Muliaina is more than one of the world's premier full backs; he is a class act as leader and will be much missed in weeks one to three. Loose forward Sione Lauaki was a surprise appointment as captain for the first three rounds. Though Lauaki has never captained any team at first class level, coach Foster speaks highly of his leadership ability and especially of his off-field contribution to the Chiefs build-up to the Super 14 play-offs last season.

Potential bolters: 24-year old loose forward Tanerau Latimer returns to the Chiefs for his fourth season, and with 40 Super 14 matches and five All Black games now behind him, he has developed into one of New Zealand's most effective openside flanks, physically combative but more accurate at the break-down than most. He is also highly rated for his leadership, youthful though he may be. Luke Braid, a 21-year old specialist openside flank, played for the New Zealand team which won the IRB Junior World Championship in 2008 and was named IRB Junior Player of the Year that year. Much is expected of him.

2009 Position: 2nd (beat Hurricanes in semi-final, lost final to Bulls)
Best finish: 2nd in 2009
Worst finish: 11th in Super 12 in 1996
Home Venue: Waikato Stadium, Hamilton (capacity 26,350)

2010 Prospects: The Chiefs have sometimes been slow out of the blocks, and with Muliaina not available for the first three games, this may compound the problem.They may well struggle to build another winning streak and perform as impressively this year as they did last year, but then again, it would take a brave rugby follower to bet against their doing themselves proud for the second consecutive year.

Chiefs squad: 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 Nanai-Williams, Mils Muliaina.

Schedule:
Saturday, February 13: v Sharks, away
Friday, February 19: v Lions, away 
Saturday, February 27: v Western Force, away
Friday, March 5: v Reds, home
Friday, March 12: v Crusaders, home 
Friday, March 26: v Brumbies, away
Saturday, April 3: v Highlanders, home
Friday, April 9: v Bulls, home
Friday, April 16: v Stormers, home
Friday, April 23: v Cheetahs, home
Saturday, May 1: v Hurricanes, away
Saturday, May 8: v Waratahs, home
Saturday, May 15: v Blues, away

By Len Kaplan