Such has been the quality of performance the Chiefs have produced in Investec Super Rugby this year, their efforts are attracting world-wide attention.
Lynn McConnell Getty Images
Notably English critics have been laying on the praise and while that won't be on the minds of the Chiefs as they prepare to play the Sharks in New Plymouth on Friday, it is amazing to so many that while they have a horrendous injury toll, the spirit of the Chiefs is such that they continue to produce results.
RECOMMENDED SURE BET:
SOCCER PREDICTIONS FOR THURSDAY
28-04-2016
Bolivia » Liga de Futbol Prof
2015/2016:
Petrolero de Yacuiba - U. Sucre 1win
Bulgaria » A PFG 2015/2016:
Levski - Cherno More (0:2)2 Alternative Handicap.
Cyprus » First Division 2015/2016:
APOEL - AEK Larnaca 1x
Estonia » Esi Liiga 2016:
Flora II - Tallinna Kalev (0:2)2 Alternative Handicap.
Europa League 2015/2016:
Shakhtar Donetsk – Sevilla 10minutes
x
Villarreal – Liverpool 10minutes
x
Russia Premier League 2015/2016:
Ural - CSKA Moscow (2:0)1
Alternative Handicap.
Zenit Petersburg – Kuban 1win
The latest frustration being the broken hand suffered by Tawera Kerr-Barlow.
Japan captain and No.8 Michael Leitch is well-placed to understand the reasons for both the overseas interest and the way the Chiefs cope with adversity.
"The way we train is one key factor. No-one's spot is guaranteed, the way we train the whole squad needs to know the plan of attack, the moves we are using each week and when guys do slip up and have a bad performance they always get someone new in there.
"So just around that everyone is on edge and the guys in the team don't know when they're going to get their chance, so they're always ready to go. Andrew Horrell was a good example of that in place of Charlie Ngatai last week. He hadn't started for five months but slipped straight in," he said.
So far as the overseas interest was concerned, his role with Japan meant there was a ready fan base following him in Japan and he often got texts and emails enquiring how the Chiefs did it. He also gets the odd phone call from his former coach Eddie Jones, now the coach of England.
"Even Eddie Jones rings me up and we talk about how the Chiefs train and how we attack and stuff like that so there's a lot of good feedback from around the world. He's not stealing any secrets but he loves the attacking mindset and what we do around our countering and things like that," Leitch said.
The results the side was producing this year had also been helped by the change in coaching personnel.
"I think the introduction of some new coaches, we've got Kieran Keane up from Tasman, he's bought some new ideas in and we've got some young talent as well with Shaun Stevenson, Anton Lienert-Brown and Taleni Seu. I think it's a mixture of things but this year we have stuck to a bit more structure whereas last year we played to what was in front of us. And a lot of that is around Kieran's job," he said.
Leitch said he enjoyed being part of the Chiefs, especially after playing so much in Japan. The rigidity required by the Japanese could be frustrating so the Chiefs offered some balance to his game with a base structure at the core, and the ability if that broke down, to adapt to playing what they saw in front of them.
While the side had lost a key leader in Liam Messam, who opted to play Sevens this year, Leitch felt Sam Cane and Aaron Cruden were doing 'a fantastic job' in leading the side.
"Without Liam being there they have groomed some of the young leaders, especially Sam, to fill his space and I think they're doing a very good job.
"Tactically we're pretty sound and in terms of getting our heart back in look at Sam's performances. He puts his body on the line every week it doesn't matter who we're playing against and he's got a load of respect behind him.
"We saw a little bit of his leadership ability at the World Cup. He's a natural captain and it would be good to see him, come 2019, take over that captaincy role," he said.
RECOMMENDED SURE BET:
SOCCER PREDICTIONS FOR THURSDAY
28-04-2016
Bolivia » Liga de Futbol Prof
2015/2016:
Petrolero de Yacuiba - U. Sucre 1win
Bulgaria » A PFG 2015/2016:
Levski - Cherno More (0:2)2 Alternative Handicap.
Cyprus » First Division 2015/2016:
APOEL - AEK Larnaca 1x
Estonia » Esi Liiga 2016:
Flora II - Tallinna Kalev (0:2)2 Alternative Handicap.
Europa League 2015/2016:
Shakhtar Donetsk – Sevilla 10minutes
x
Villarreal – Liverpool 10minutes
x
Russia Premier League 2015/2016:
Ural - CSKA Moscow (2:0)1
Alternative Handicap.
Zenit Petersburg – Kuban 1win
Scrummaging had been an issue against the Hurricanes at the weekend and Leitch felt that had been due to adapting to changes they were trying to implement after All Blacks scrum coach Mike Cron had been working with the side in the week before the game.
"We were still in the learning phases around that but we've had a good scrum session this week and obviously coming up against the Sharks, one of the biggest packs in the competition, there's been a lot of work done around how we're going to deliver our ball and how we're going to stop them from getting momentum. So it should be a good test this weekend for us," he said.
The Sharks, after their win over the Highlanders, would be a tough proposition.
"There's not much deception in their attack. They're strong ball carriers and they can get gain-line pretty much from anywhere so it's a big challenge for us on defence to stop their momentum. Compared to the last couple of years they have been more expansive so it should be a good challenge for us this week," he said.
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