One person shouldn’t make a team. But in the case of the Chiefs, Aaron Cruden does.

Even just a small glimpse, as we got at Pukekohe last Friday night, showed what a different prospect the Chiefs are when he’s running the cutter.

Cruden’s return off-sets the loss of Liam Messam; a man who is the embodiment of what they call at Ruakura “Chiefs Mana”, and paired with Sam Cane in the co-captaincy provides the leadership stability that Messam also provided.

During the championship years of 2012 and 2013, the side was built around a leadership triumvirate of Craig Clarke, Liam Messam and Aaron Cruden.

This year’s trio will have a similar feel to it with Brodie Retallick also a key leader alongside Cruden and Cane.

The Chiefs recruited well in all areas this year, though they have lost two of those players in Nepo Laulala and Mitch Karpik to season-ending knee injuries and don’t get Dominic Bird back until round six or there abouts.

Also securing the services of the wily Kieran Keane and the under-stated Neil Barnes to replace Messer’s Coventry and Smith was another fine piece of business by the franchise.

The loss of the Laulala will place big pressure on Siate Tokolahi, Atu Moli and Hiroshi Yamashita to sure up the tighthead side of the scrum that Ben Tameifuna has anchored so rigidly for the last four seasons, while Brodie Retallick’s lineout calling will need to improve as he takes over those duties from Matt Symons, who’s ability to see and call to space was as key as Hika Elliot’s throwing last year.

The only question in a first choice back line that appears to pick itself – 9 TKB, 10 Cruden, 11 Lowe, 12 Ngatai, 13 Tamanivalu & 15 McKenzie – is who starts on the right wing?

Dave Rennie has options a plenty there in Glen Fisi’iahi, Shaun Stevenson and Chase Tiatia or he could even push Anton Lienert-Brown out to the right.

Overall the balance of the squad is very similar to the one that Dave Rennie selected when he took over at the franchise in 2012.

Aside from the standard challenge for all teams – that being injuries - the away draw for the Chiefs is a beast.

Getting points on the road at the Jaguares, Brumbies, Waratahs, Hurricanes and Highlanders won’t be all beer and skittles, so they need to make the most of a very favourable home draw, to the point where I don’t think that can afford to drop any games in Hamilton, New Plymouth or Suva.

But as they always have under Dave Rennie’s stewardship, the Chiefs line up for 2016 as a contender and a team that should be well in the mix when the playoffs start in mid-July.

Prediction:  2^nd in NZ conference; 4^th in Australasian Conference; 6^th overall

Another ten win season for the Chiefs will see them into the playoffs as a wildcard from the Australasian conference; they will make it past the opening week of sudden death rugby for the first time in two years, but fall a week later in the semi-finals.

• Following a yearlong apprenticeship last season, Seta Tamanivalu will make the most of his increased minutes in the centre jersey, thriving outside Cruden and Ngatai.
• During the initial absence of Hika Elliot, Nathan Harris will shine and remind all and sundry was he was an All Black in 2014.
• Sam Cane will get penalised at the first breakdown in the first game just like a certain R H McCaw always did to start the season; Teleni Seu will become a key member of the Chiefs bench in the lock/six role and Stephen Donald will barely feature if at all.

2015 Regular Season Record

Won 10 Lost 6 (5th overall; 3^rd New Zealand conference)

Scored 372 points (7th best)  

Conceded 299 points (3rd best)

2015 Playoff Record

QF – Lost 24-14 vs. Highlanders at Dunedin

Finished: Beaten Qualifying Finalists

Coaches

Coach: Dave Rennie

Assistants: Kieran Keane, Neil Barnes & Andrew Strawbridge

2016 Squad

Props: Mitchell Graham, Hiroshi Yamashita, Pauliasi Manu, Atu Moli, Siate Tokolahi

Hookers: Hikawera Elliot, Nathan Harris

Locks: Michael Allardice, Dominic Bird, Brodie Retallick

Loosies: Johan Bardoul, Sam Cane ©, Sam Henwood, Tevita Koloamatangi, Michael Leitch, Tom Sanders, Teleni Seu, Maama Vaipulu

Halfbacks: Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Augustine Pulu, Brad Weber

First fives: Aaron Cruden ©, Damian McKenzie

Midfield: Andrew Horrell, Anton Lienert-Brown, Charlie Ngatai, Seta Tamanivalu

Back Three: Chase Tiatia, Glen Fisi’iahi, James Lowe, Sam McNicol, Toni Pulu

Wider Training Group: Ziggy Fisi’ihoi, Rhys Marshall, James Tucker, Stephen Donald, Shaun Stevenson, Latu Vaeno, Sam Vaka

Schedule Breakdown

7 games – BYE (Round 8) – 3 games– BYE (Round 12) – 2 games - INTERNATIONAL WINDOW – 3 games

Home Games                                                      Away Games

Sat 5 March vs. Lions (Hamilton)                      Sat 27 February vs. Crusaders (Christchurch)

Sat 26 March vs. Force (Hamilton)                    Sat 12 March vs. Kings (Port Elizabeth)

Fri 8 April vs. Blues (Hamilton)                         Sat 19 March vs. Jaguares (Buenos Aires)

Fri 29 April vs. Sharks (New Plymouth)            Sat 2 April vs. Brumbies (Canberra)          

Sat 7 May vs. Highlanders (Hamilton)               Sat 23 April vs. Hurricanes (Wellington)

Sat 21 May vs. Rebels (Hamilton)                     Fri 27 May vs. Waratahs (Sydney)

Fri 1 July vs. Crusaders (Suva)                           Fri 8 July vs. Reds (Brisbane)

                                                                            Sat 16 July vs. Highlanders (Dunedin)

** Do not play Stormers, Bulls, Cheetahs & Sunwolves in regular season **

Pre-Season Results

Fri 12 February – won 17-12 vs. Waratahs in Rotorua

Fri 19 February – lost 24-12 vs. Blues in Pukekohe

Nigel Yalden is the Rugby Editor for Newstalk ZB & Radio Sport

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