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Commiserations: The Bulls mascot consoles Sione Lauaki after the Super 14 final - Source: Photosport -
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They were once considered the perpetual under-achievers of New Zealand Super rugby: A team brimming with talent but always incapable of stitching a consistent season together.
In the history of Super rugby their success had been meagre. They had qualified for just one semi-final before last season, a record even the Highlanders could better.
However the Chiefs put all that to bed in 2009 with a breakthrough campaign. After another characteristically bad start, where they dropped three of their first four matches, the Waikato based franchise charged into the semi-finals by winning eight of their next nine regular season matches.
They followed that up by memorably beating the Hurricanes in their first ever home semi-final before - literally - running into the most brutal of blue brick walls in the Super 14 final.
The 61-17 hiding to the rampant Bulls in Pretoria was the biggest final thrashing in Super rugby history and Chiefs stand-in skipper Sione Lauaki says that the pain still remains.
"At the beginning of pre-season we had a little debrief about (the final)," Lauaki told tvnz.co.nz.
"It's something that I know still hurts a lot of guys inside but in saying that the boys are building up for that opportunity again."
It's a prospect that the Chiefs have the potential to deliver on. While they have for some time possessed a dangerous backline and punishing loose-forward trio, led by Lauaki and All Blacks Liam Messam and Tanerau Latimer, it was their unheralded tight five that laid the foundation for their X-factor players - Richard Kahui, Sitiveni Sivivatu and Lelia Masaga - to prosper last season.
Aled de Malmanche, Sona Taumalolo and Craig Clarke were all little known journeymen last season but with Hika Elliot and Kevin O'Neill they became a more than adequate unit.
That core group is again the key for the Chiefs this season and coach Ian Foster believes his pack is no longer a weakness.
"In 2009 we developed a good tight five," Foster says.
"It is now great to welcome in the likes of Nathan White and Ben Afeaki, both specialist tighthead props into the frame.
"With regard to our locks, both Romana Graham and Culum Retallick were part of our Chiefs Wider Development squad in 2009 and it's great to see us developing depth in this area."
The Chiefs also have a positive dilemma in the inside backs. All Blacks Stephen Donald and Mike Delaney are two quality first five-eight options at this level and it seems that the former, after a commanding campaign in 2009, has the inside running for the opening part of the season at least.
However with captain Muliaina taking an extended holiday (he won't be back until round four) there is every indication that Delany will start as the Chiefs fullback in their tough away trip to South Africa and beyond.
Indeed the opening month shapes as a watershed month for the Chiefs' title ambitions. The traditionally bad starters face away fixtures against the Sharks, Lions and Force.
Yet Foster is confident that his charges - despite losing all three of their pre-season hit-outs to the Highlanders, Blues and Hurricanes - are in good shape.
"It has been pleasing to come through the pre-season with no more significant injuries and having shown good progression through our three preseason games," he says.
"A number of new players have had a lot of game time and that will prepare them well for what is a tough but exciting start to this year."
The Chiefs' match against the Sharks kicks-off on Sunday morning at 6:10am (NZT).
Chiefs Squad:
Nathan White, Ben Afeaki, James McGougan, Sona Taumalolo, Aled de Malmanche, Hika Elliot, Kevin O'Neill, Craig Clarke, Callum Retallick, Romana Graham, Jarrad Hoeata (D), 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.
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