Waikato Chiefs

Chiefs prop and one-time All Black Ben Afeaki has announced his retirement from rugby after suffering multiple concussions in recent years, as was reported by the New Zealand Herald.

At just 27 years old, Afeaki's decision is not insignificant, as he had plenty of rugby left in him. It comes just weeks after NFL player Chris Borland retired for similar reasons after his rookie season.

Afeaki played his last game of Super Rugby in February 2014, a game in which he left the field with concussion. After returning to practice he sustained another one and has not made his way back to the field.

Today he stated that he will not return, feeling that this was the best decision for his "long-term health."

Just as Borland's retirement acted as a wake-up call for the NFL, this will be an eye-opener for the world rugby community. Of course, concussion has been an issue for a long time in rugby, but while measures have been put in place to limit its impact, there is still the feeling it is not being taken as seriously as it could be.

Afeaki's retirement should sent out a message: Talented players are leaving the game early because they see it as a risk to their health. If teams are not going to start taking the concussion protocol seriously, there needs to be stricter procedures put in place. Players should not be returning to the field after an obvious head knock. Otherwise more players like Afeaki will decide to opt out of the game.

There was a time when Afeaki was being touted as a potential All Black regular. A big, mobile prop, Afeaki was a dynamic player capable of making big impact plays. He was strong at set-piece time, too, and had a reasonable work rate in the open.

After some impressive form in 2011, many were expecting big things from him in 2012. A broken arm in the first game of the season saw him miss a long period and by the time he returned, Sona Taumalolo and Ben Tameifuna had impressed so much he could not regain his spot in the starting lineup.

He had some good performances off the bench over the ensuing two seasons, providing impact which was important in the Chiefs' championship wins of 2012 and 2013.

In 2013 he won his only All Black cap, but he never quite fulfilled the promise he showed as a youngster. He potentially had his best years ahead of him, too; props often do not peak until around the age of 30. 

You cannot fault him for his decision, though. At the end of the day, we all have to put our health first.

The proposed match to pit the Super Rugby-winning Chiefs up against Heineken Cup champions Toulon will not go ahead, according to New Zealand's 3 News. It was always something of a long shot, as Chiefs CEO Andrew Flexman had claimed the match was only to happen if the Chiefs could take a fulll-strength squad, which was not possible.

While many fans would have no doubt loved to see the champion club sides from the two hemispheres going up against each other, in reality the game would have been far less than it seemed.

For starters, it would have been a pre-season game for the Chiefs, meaning their players would be underdone and still be developing combinations. It is also not the same team as the one from last year, which can be said about Toulon too, which means it is not really a case of champion vs. champion.

And at the end of the day, there is only so much you take from a pre-season match. You see it all the time in rugby league, where the NRL champion takes on the Super League champion. The match always acts as a pre-season game for the NRL team, and consequently they are not match fit, look a touch slow and, having not gelled to the extent they will after a few more games, normally lose.

There was also the question of where the game would be played. Clearly the team playing away from home would have been at a major disadvantage, and as we have seen in recent years in Super Rugby, that could have been enough to determine the outcome of a game.

Ultimately though, it comes down to the question of whether it really means anything. Toulon were 2013's best team in Europe, and the Chiefs were 2013's best team in Super Rugby. Is it really necessary to go any further than that?

There has been all sorts of talk regarding expansion of the competitions and looking to include more of the world, as 3 News reported. But a lot of it is unnecessary, as at the end of the day, this is not a world championship. Keep international matches for special occasions; that way they mean more.

Regardless of all of this, it is not happening, not this year at least, and maybe that is the right decision.

In the climax to this season’s southern hemisphere action, the Chiefs will seek to become the first team since the 2010 Bulls to win consecutive Super Rugby titles.

By contrast, the Brumbies are more of a re-emerging franchise looking to get back to the heights previously reached in the early 2000s.

However, going into Saturday’s Waikato clash, it’s the hosts who stand out as decisive favourites and appear to have the weapons necessary to tie up their third championship title.

But Dave Rennie’s men will still need to make certain things happen on the pitch, factors they’ve promoted for great stretches of this term, in order to emerge triumphant.

Attack Is The Best Form Of Defence

Having finished top of the Super Rugby table after 20 rounds, it’s no coincidence that the Chiefs were the best attacking team in the running.

Finishing the season with a total of 458 points scored, 10 ahead of the Bulls, Rennie has managed to craft an offence as fearsome as the one which operated in 2012’s successful hunt.

On the other hand, the New Zealand franchise have only the ninth-best defence across all three conferences, with Western Force conceding just two points more than the Chiefs.

It would appear that as long as his side finish as victors, Rennie cares less about how they go about it.

But defence may not be too much of an issue this weekend. Against the Crusaders in their semi-final, the Chiefs did well to hold out against one of the more imperious sides in the competition, with the loose forwards particularly impressive at the breakdown.

So the league leaders are likely to be concentrating on their attack, and it’s a good job they’re so proficient—this season the Brumbies conceded just 295 points as the second strongest defence in Super Rugby.

Familiar Territory

In pressure situations such as the final, it helps to know your surroundings and be comfortable with the occasion so it does not affect you on a mental level.

Having won last season, the Chiefs are familiar with the demands of a Super Rugby final and what’s needed to make the most of the event.

Aaron Cruden, Brodie Retallick, Liam Messam, Lelia Masaga and others were all present for 2012’s success, and will be looking to recreate that winning formula this weekend.

It was Cruden who was tweeting his preparations for the almighty clash—this time regarding his culinary skills:

Having Rennie’s experienced mind in such situations will be a boon to the New Zealand hosts too.

The New Zealand Factor

New Zealand rugby is enjoying a successful run in terms of the world’s power distribution, at club and international level.

The All Blacks are current World Cup champions and a number of 2011’s victorious squad will line up for the Chiefs on Saturday.

With the Chiefs’ standing as current Super Rugby champions, the New Zealand conference also can claim to be the current strongest of the three.

The Brumbies no doubt will put up an almighty battle, but there’s an aura of dominance around the Chiefs right now, which lends itself to their favourites tag. 

The Chiefs model themselves on that which makes New Zealand such a successful side.

With their hard running, penchant for flair, and steadfast defence, the Chiefs can win the final if they recreate the standards from Canterbury last weekend, where victory over the Crusaders established them as New Zealand's finest.

Saturday marks the pinnacle of the Super XV season as the Chiefs host the Brumbies in the 2013 Grand Final at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton.

Having topped the regular season table, the Chiefs are firm favourites to retain the title they won so convincingly 12 months ago.

That victory came against the Sharks and was the New Zealanders' first triumph at their second attempt in a final.

Although the Brumbies have enjoyed more success, claiming two Super Rugby titles after reaching five finals, the Australian outfit haven't reached this stage since their 2004 win over the Crusaders.

Here's a look at some last-minute predictions for the showpiece event.

Christian Lealiifano's Kicking Keeps Brumbies Close

With 200 points to his name, mostly via the boot, Christian Lealiifano has been hugely instrumental to the Brumbies' form this season.

He was third top points scorer during the regular season and the Brumbies' best hopes for the final rely on his ice-cool kicking and their forwards shutting down the Chiefs' expansive brand of attack.

To do this, they must play in their opponents' half, dominate the set-piece—especially the Chiefs' sometimes fallible lineout—and stay in position for Lealiifano to keep the scoreboard moving. 

The longer they keep this a tight, nervy affair, the greater the chance of an upset.

Chiefs Pull Away in the Second Half

There's no doubting which side possesses the greater flair and attacking nous in this final, as the statistics on SuperXV.com fully reveal. With Aaron Cruden pulling the Chiefs' strings at fly-half, his side made more clean breaks (148) by the end of the regular season than any other side.

They also scored the most tries (50) and scored more points (458) than any other team, highlighting the task facing the Brumbies this weekend.

After a cagey opening, expect the game to become more fragmented in the second period, during which the Chiefs will have more chance to express themselves.

This was the case in their semifinal, and broken play is where the likes of Asaeli Tikoirotuma and Lelia Masaga—fitness permitting—are at their most lethal, with the extra time needed to make the decisive breaks.

Chiefs to Retain Title

If the Brumbies succeed with their game plan and stifle the Chiefs until the latter stages, there are still several other factors that may prevent them crossing the line.

The Brumbies upset the Bulls in Pretoria in the semifinal, but no team has lifted the trophy after making the long journey back from South Africa. As well as the considerable physical exertions from playing the Bulls, the players will be trying to rid their body of the additional fatigue caused by this travel.

On top of that, winning the final on foreign soil has only been achieved on one occasion, by the Crusaders in 2000. If the game stays close, expect Waikato's fervent home support to prove influential.

Final Prediction: Chiefs 27-18 Brumbies

The Ian Foster era of Chiefs rugby is best represented by their former five-eighth Stephen Donald. The polarizing five-eighth was beloved in the Waikato, but he was known throughout the country for his glaring lack of consistency. One day he'd play like the best pivot in the country, the next he'd commit some blunders and be blamed for the loss. Ask most kiwis and they'll tell you they cringed when they saw him take the field in that World Cup Final.

That's how the Chiefs have been in recent years: very inconsistent, following great wins with shocking losses.

Ian Foster has now left the Chiefs to join Steve Hansen in the All Blacks coaching team. His replacement is Dave Rennie, the former coach of the always dominant New Zealand Under-20 team and last year's ITM Championship finalists, the Manawatu Turbos.

Long-time starters like Mils Muliaina, Sitiveni Sivivatu and Stephen Donald have all departed for overseas contracts. But in their place comes the likes of Aaron Cruden, Sonny Bill Williams, Sam Cane and Mahonri Schwalger, giving Chiefs fans a reason to be excited for the coming season.

Can these Chiefs get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2009? Since being destroyed by the Bulls in the final (which I totally regretted waking up early to watch), the Chiefs have followed their second-place finish with mediocrity. In fact, they have as many wins in 2009 (nine) as they have had since then (10).

The biggest questions surrounding the team are in the set-pieces. They have always been known for having an exciting back line, and this year is no different. Their tight forwards, while a solid group featuring World Cup players, need to show they can compete at the scrums and lineouts with the other teams in their conference.

North Harbour import Ben Afeaki impressed last year with his work in the loose and his solid scrummaging. Tongan international Sona Taumalolo will be looking to pick up where he left off after having a promising World Cup. At hooker, Samoan captain Mahonri Schwalger will bring leadership and physicality. Behind him is three-test All Black Hikawera Elliot, who is probably the most mobile hooker in the country.

At second row, Taranaki captain Craig Clarke and Samoan international Kane Thompson will probably be leading the way. Behind them are NZ Under-20 player Brodie Retallick, Waikato man Romana Graham and one of Rennie's Manawatu imports, Michael Fitzgerald. These men will have to compete with the four other New Zealand second rows that all feature All Blacks.

Behind them will be a number of great loose forwards. Captain Liam Messam and former All Black openside Tanerau Latimer will hope to regain the form that led them to their All Black caps. Joining them are Under-20 player of the year Sam Cane, hardman Fritz Lee, uncapped All Black Scott Waldrom and the bulldozing runner Alex Bradley. All of these men are quick to the breakdown and solid with ball in hand.

The Chiefs' back line has never been short of excitement. At halfback, former All Black Brendan Leonard will be trying to regain his starting position against the man who replaced him, Tawera Kerr-Barlow. But perhaps the most exciting addition for the Chiefs this season is that of Aaron Cruden. Until being injured against France in the World Cup Final, Cruden was looking like the player he was supposed to be, making great decisions, attacking the line and not shying away from tackling bigger men.

At his disposal is a back line featuring World Cup winners Sonny Bill Williams and Richard Kahui. Sonny Bill brings the offloading ability while Kahui will be looking to stay healthy and pick up where he left off. On the outside are the slippery Lelia Masaga and Sevens superstar Declan O'Donnell.

At the back, taking over from longtime starter Muliaina is the exciting Tim Nanai-Williams, who will be looking to make the most of his new starting opportunity with the Chiefs. In space he is hard to catch, and he also brings goal-kicking ability to the table, in case Cruden struggles. Behind him is Southland pivot Robbie Robinson, coming up from the Highlanders.

With a potent back line like this, the Chiefs will be exciting to watch, providing their forwards can help them out. If the Chiefs can find some consistency, they could be in the running for a playoff berth. Can they become relevant again in Super Rugby?