The art of the whaiwhai, literally translated as ‘the hunt’, is something that the Maori were particularly adept at throughout history, although British historians, when dissecting the success the New Zealand indigenous people had against the Empire, quickly discovered that it was the ability to absorb punishment that led to so many victories in battle.
The Chiefs, defending champions and just the fifth side in history to go back-to-back (the Crusaders have achieved it twice), will be the hunted team in 2014 like never before, and any concept of relying on friends in their own backyard will be put aside.
There is a significant bullseye hanging over the Waikato, but like the Maori warriors that became so adept at setting up fortifications to act as natural defences, the holders of the Super Rugby trophy have proven to have resilience and belligerence that would make many of the local iwi proud.
While champions are by nature able to overcome most obstacles lobbied in their direction, kitchen sinks will become full blown commercial kitchens as all franchises will throw everything and anything at the Chiefs this year.
And if there was one country that is synonymous with damaging firepower, it is New Zealand, and the collective arsenals of the Blues, Crusaders, Highlanders and Hurricanes will be levelled at the highly regarded defensive barricades of the Chiefs.
They will not face their closest rivals, geographically at least, until Round 13.
By then, Sir John Kirwan will know if his troops have the goods to knock off the benchmark for the last two years.
The roster assembled by the three-time former champions is nearly as good as it gets, with the high profile ‘conversion’ of Benji Marshall combining with the return of All Blacks Tony Woodcock and Ma’a Nonu – while the grim cyborg (on the field at least) that is Jerome Kaino returns, two years after leaving New Zealand as many pundit’s best player in the game.
For a team that has never been short of howitzers, potentially the Blues trump cards lie in the likes of Charles Piutau, Francis Saili and Frank Halai, newly minted Test players who showed enough on the highest of stages last season to promise plenty.
There have been blue chip attacking Blues teams in the past however, and when it comes to raw offensive power, one cannot help but muse about the Hurricanes.
Assuming jaunts around the world during his period of extended leave haven’t dulled perhaps the greatest centre produced by the All Blacks, Conrad Smith will lead a team hoping to finally breakthrough.
After all, the Canes have looked good enough in previous years to win the whole thing.
For those unbelievers that refer to history as a mocker against the Hurricanes, they will, fitness permitting, boast a rear division with TJ Perenara, Beauden Barrett, Smith, Cory Jane and Julian Savea.
Titles have been won with far inferior backs, but with a supporting cast including kicking genius Marty Banks, the ever reliable age-grade representative Tim Bateman, untapped diamond Cardiff Vaega, and 2012 sensation Andre Taylor – there is no reason to dismiss the team’s status as a dark horse.
Such a tag, referring to a side that rises from nowhere to shock, would be gladly accepted by the Highlanders.
They have promised a return to the glory days in recent years, but such potential meant little in a less than ideal campaign that received some relief from the efforts of the Otago provincial team, who briefly tasted Ranfurly Shield success as well as a semi-final appearance against eventual ITM Cup championship runners-up Hawke’s Bay.
Recruitment isn’t like it was a year ago, with All Blacks off the menu, and with some internationals departing, the signing of players like Matias Diaz, Willie Ripia and Kurt Baker suggests that a fair amount of unexpected is to be expected from the Southernmost Super Rugby franchise in the world.
Expected?
It is a word that not too long ago meant a fair bit to the faithful who wore red and black, who after seven titles in 13 years believed that word had become scripture pre-season as Super Rugby trophies seemed to reside in Christchurch with regularity.
In the rugby world, 2008 might as well be The Book of Genesis, and the long absence of the crown, with the added layer of Chiefs rule, will result in a fired up – if not slightly desperate – Crusaders outfit.
If call-ups to the national squad were counted, then the seven-time champions boast 17 players who have tasted the All Blacks environment.
Conservatively however, the side has five first choice internationals in Owen Franks, Sam Whitelock, Richie McCaw, Kieran Read and Israel Dagg, and conventional rugby wisdom suggest that two to three (not five) world class players are essential to winning a title.
Such pedigree has fallen to the likes of the Chiefs on more than one occasion, but the promise of the Blues and the Hurricanes, alongside the relatively unknown quantity of the Highlanders, will guarantee that no Super Rugby team in one of the great rugby countries can assume anything.
SANZAR News Service
