Where the Chiefs lost the Aotearoa final and need to improve if they hope to knock off the Crusaders in their potential Trans-Tasman rematch
Super Rugby Aotearoa is done and dusted for another year.
The Crusaders have, unsurprisingly, taken out the title for a second straight season – making it five championships on the trot for Scott Robertson.
The Chiefs mounted an admirable challenge during the season, winning five on the trot, but couldn’t pull out their best work when it really counted and will be left licking their wounds, thinking about what could have been.
But all is not lost for the men from the Waikato.
Super Rugby Aotearoa, after all, was really just a precursor to the main event: Super Rugby Trans-Tasman.
Perhaps the matches won’t be quite as fierce nor the contests quite so close, but the first set of matches between the Australiasian neighbours in over a year should keep many a fan interested – and there’s still the possibility of one last intra-nation clash at the end of the season to really whet everyone’s appetites.
At the end of the five regular rounds of Trans-Tasman rugby, the top two sides will go head to head to crown the overall champion, and SANZAAR have made no indications that one team from each nation must be represented in said grand final.
That means on June 19, the Crusaders and Chiefs could once again go hammer and tongs to decide the continent’s top franchise for 2021.
Of course, that’s entirely dependant on both sides maintaining their form and momentum.
Few would expect the Crusaders to self-destruct, given their unprecedented success over the past five years but the Chiefs are still a bit of a wild card.
"If you need someone to create a hole in the opposition midfield, you give the ball to Leicester Fainga’anuku. If you’re looking for someone to glide through one, then David Havili is your man."#SuperRugbyAotearoa #CRUvCHI #AllBlacks
?? @TomVinicombe https://t.co/jFJ1DwW0kR
— The XV Rugby (@TheXV) May 8, 2021
They’ve been the most consistent side in Super Rugby Aotearoa this year, especially after shaking off the impact of two early losses, but it’s not that long ago that they were staring down the barrel of a record losing streak.
Clayton McMillan has helped turned the side from zeros to heroes, regardless of how much of the groundwork was laid by Warren Gatland last year, but all of that could be unravelled if the season goes downhill from here.
The Chiefs start with three tough assignments – the Western Force in Perth, the Brumbies in Hamilton and the Reds in Queensland.
Given the Force’s rejuvenation in 2021, the fact that the Brumbies comfortably outplayed the Chiefs last time the sides met in Hamilton, and that the Reds are the Super Rugby AU champions, all three of those matches are very losable.
But if the Chiefs do hold it together for the remainder of the season, they’ll still have to tick three key boxes if they are to challenge the Crusaders come the Trans-Tasman final in six weeks’ time.
1. Fix the lineout woes
For whatever reason, the Chiefs’ reserve hookers always struggle to hit their lineout targets.
It was Samisoni Taukei’aho last year while both Bradley Slater and Nathan Harris have struggled for accuracy off the bench in 2021, and it kills momentum in the final quarter of any match.
Taukei’aho has never been an accurate deliverer of the ball but he appeared to have put those woes behind him during last year’s Mitre 10 Cup, while he was largely dependable in the formative stages of this year’s competition.
Things started to unravel in the final weeks, however, contributing to an overall disappointing return for the Chiefs’ lineout.
Samuel Whitelock was a man possessed. #CRUvCHI #SuperRugbyAotearoa @CrusadersRugbyhttps://t.co/trqwlwRiJI
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) May 9, 2021
Those issues came to the fore on Saturday evening, with the Crusaders sniffling three of the Taukei’aho’s deliveries.
Throughout the past two seasons, Taukei’aho and Slater have collectively made 31 lineout delivery errors. Taukei’aho, with 18 to his name, has made the most errors of any hooker in the competition and averages one mistake every 43 minutes.
For comparison, his All Blacks counterpart on Saturday night, Codie Taylor, makes one mistake just every 76 minutes.
In this day and age, there’s no excuse for a hooker not being able to at least throw the ball in straight, but it’s something that the Chiefs have struggled with since Hika Elliot and Mahonri Schwalger left the side.
Whether McMillan needs to bring in a specialist coach or needs to change up his cattle is anyone’s guess – but something needs to give.
2. Settle on a playmaking combination
The Chiefs trialled three players at No 10 through this year’s Aotearoa campaign: Bryn Gatland, Kaleb Trask and Damian McKenzie.
Each of the three has their strengths when playing at first receiver while there are also deficientcies to their game – but that’s not something that any of the trio will be able to truly fix unless they’re afforded minutes in the saddle.
Having started the season with Gatland at first five, McMillan seemingly lost faith with the son of last year’s coach but even Trask’s opportunities were limited, before McKenzie was given a run against the Crusaders and, ultimately, Gatland was reinstated.
There’s obviously a strength to operating with a ‘horses for courses’ approach but has inconsistent selection ever really benefited a No 10?
Richie Mo'unga was sublime in the #SuperRugbyAotearoa final but Mo'unga's excellence for the Crusaders has never translated into the test arena. What gives?
Here's an early-season read from Gregor Paul that's just as relevant today ? #CRUvCHIhttps://t.co/GzMkEJyZf6
— The XV Rugby (@TheXV) May 8, 2021
Despite his ability to step in at first receiver, McKenzie still appeals best as a fullback who can take over the reins at will throughout a game and permanently later in the piece.
While Trask challenged the line regularly when selected at first five, there’s a feeling that Gatland is the better game controller and it’s no coincidence that the Chiefs played their worst on Saturday night once he left the field.
Then there’s Rivez Reihana – whose only reward for a season of training and toil was a handful of minutes off the bench against the Blues last weekend. With some more game time under his belt, Reihana could be the long-term successor in the No 10 jersey – but he’s unlikely to be afforded those changes against Australia’s big wigs.
Whoever the best man is to take the Chiefs forward, he should be starting at No 10 in next week’s clash with the Force and kept on for the remainder of the campaign.
Richie Mo’unga has started all nine matches for the Crusaders this year – and he looked pretty handy in the Super Rugby Aotearoa final, didn’t he?
3. Bank enough points for a home final
There’s a reason why the Crusaders have won all 25 of their knockout matches played at home since Super Rugby’s inception in 1996.
The Christchurch faithful are as one-eyed as they come and they push the Crusaders to heights they’ll never be able to achieve when playing outside the region.
Whether that’s primarily because they have an influence on the referee or simply because they help galvanise their hometown heroes is up for debate, though coach Scott Robertson was certainly appreciative of their work on Saturday night.
“We felt like everyone was on Ben O’Keeffe’s shoulders there a few times, [we heard] a few calls [saying] ‘come on, give us one,’” he said following the 24-13 win.
“We got some well-deserved ones there at the end that took the momentum back to us.”
Penalties, yellow cards or something more permanent… Were the referees on the money in the #SuperRugbyAotearoa final? #CRUvCHIhttps://t.co/Mj50aOQDsU
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) May 9, 2021
And while the Crusaders are undefeated in home finals, the same goes for the Chiefs – although there’s a much smaller sample size to pick from.
The two times the teams met in knockout games in Hamilton, in 2012 and 2013, the Chiefs emerged triumphant and subsequently went on to record their first Super Rugby two titles.
If they’re to have any chance of crowning themselves Trans-Tasman champions this year, they’ll likely have to do it from the comforts of Waikato Stadium because when the chips are down and the game’s not going your way, it’s the hometown support that will buoy you on to victory.
That’s what happened on Saturday evening – and it’s what could happen on June 19, if the Chiefs can bank enough points throughout the upcoming competition to have home advantage for the grand final.
Of course, that would mean no early-season slip-ups, as was the case against the Highlanders this year.
If the Chiefs can stay consistent and keep the wins coming then a home final is very much achievable and it’s the type of advantage that could swing the battle in their favour.
Comments on RugbyPass
Exciting place to be for the young fella. I expected he was French Polynesian when I saw him included in the France 6N squad (after seeing him in NZs), and therefor be strong grounds we might loose him to rugby down here. Good, in that he is good enough to warrant such a profile, and from a journalism’s fan interaction aspect, to finally get a back ground story on the fella. Hope he has settled into NZ OK and that at least one rugby country will fit with him to help his development, which, if so, he should surely continue for a few years, and then that he can experience France to it’s fullest with a bit more maturity and less reliance on family than you would have at his current age. A good 3 or 4 years before he would be ready for International duty if he wanted to wait. Of course he already sounds good enough to accept a call up, and to cap himself, in the more immediate future (he’d have to be very very good in the case of the ABs), and he’ll get a great taste of that being with the Canes who have a bunch who are just a few years further into their career and looking likely Internationals themselves.
11 Go to commentsI remember towards the end of the original broadcasting deal for Super rugby with Newscorp that there was talk about the competition expanding to improve negotiations for more money - more content, more cash. Professional rugby was still in its infancy then and I held an opposing view that if Super rugby was a truly valuable competition then it should attract more broadcasters to bid for the rights, thereby increasing the value without needing to add more teams and games. Unfortunately since the game turned professional, the tension between club, talent and country has only grown further. I would argue we’re already at a point in time where the present is the future. The only international competitions that matter are 6N, RC and RWC. The inter-hemisphere tours are only developmental for those competitions. The games that increasingly matter more to fans, sponsors and broadcasters are between the clubs. Particularly for European fans, there are multiple competitions to follow your teams fortunes every week. SA is not Europe but competes in a single continental competition, so the travel component will always be an impediment. It was worse in the bloated days of Super rugby when teams traversed between four continents - Africa, America, Asia and Australia. The percentage of players who represent their country is less than 5% of the professional player base, so the sense of sacrifice isn’t as strong a motivation for the rest who are more focused on playing professional rugby and earning as much from their body as they can. Rugby like cricket created the conundrum it’s constantly fighting a losing battle with.
3 Go to commentsOh wow… “But as La Rochelle proved in winning in Cape Town this season, a cross-continental away assignment need not spell the end of days.” La Rochelle actually proved quite the opposite. After traveling to Cape town and back they (back-to-back and current champs) got mercilessly thumped the next week. If travel is not the reason, why else would a full-strength powerhouse like La Rochelle get dumped on their @r$e$ one week later?
26 Go to commentsYou know he can land a winning conversion after the full time siren is up. (Even if it takes two attempts.)
5 Go to commentsA very insightful article from Jake. I would love to know how South African’s feel about their move to Europe. Do you prefer playing in Europe or want to go back to Super Rugby?
3 Go to commentspure fire
1 Go to commentsA very well thought out summary of all the relevant complications…agree with your ”refer the Cricket Test versus 20/20 comparison”. More also definitely doesn't necessarily mean better!
3 Go to commentsMust be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
11 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
5 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
5 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
5 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
26 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
2 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
26 Go to comments