after the huge bitch slap the chiefs got from the brumbies team containing nearly a third of NZ born players in their starting XV, questions need to be asked about the chiefs abilities to win the comp away from NZ.
they have no more games away from NZ, having played their last one away from NZ match against the brumbies.
but their away from NZ record is pretty poor with draws vs the bulls and cheetahs in SA, and losses to the force and brumbies in SA.
u could always take the soft route and say that at least the chiefs walked away from those zero wins with 7pts, after all thats not exactly nothing.
buuuuuuut they are the current champs and more importantly, a NZ rugby team who represnts the NZ rugby empire.
IMO we dont do always a bridesmaid, leave that conciliation prize for others who are use to embracing mediocrity.
rennie and the chiefs need to take a good hard look at themsleves, cos in 2014 they might have to win the comp away from home, a feat i think that only the crusaders have ever done.
there have been plenty of doubts about rennies rotation policy, and while the chiefs do have a number of injuries, the rotation policy has been a part of the chiefs 2014 cycle from the very beginning.
its fair to say that it hasnt worked, and rennie should now stick to playing his best team every game.
as tough as this mid season form slump is for the chiefs, i still cant help but think they will win the spXV, albeit not as easy once did.
i have a sneaky suspicion that come finals time, chiefs might get a little lucky, they might not defend their crown in hamilton, but they still have a good chance of defending it in NZ given how strong all our teams are playing at the moment.
they had a little luck go their way in 2012 for their maiden title, stormers capitulated in the semis and lost to the sharks, which meant the chiefs got to play in hamilton for the final, instead of the less favourable and before the semi favourite outcome of match against the stormers in newlands.
2014 could be an all NZ final, still miles away of course, but i doubt theres a single person anywhere who would write off the chiefs right now, even with their current issues.
and at the end of the day the chiefs still have their best weapon in dave rennie calling the shots, he is the best spXV coach by far with his insane two years head coach at super rugby level and two super rugby titles, pheeeeeew, o_O
