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.
Angus Scott-Young in preparations on the Gold Coast. Photo: ARU Media
Harley Fox played both Rugby League and Union as a junior. Photo: ARU Media
Room for improvement: Jones said England's lineout was 'shaky' against Italy
