SQUAD

Sosene Anesi
Position:  Wing  Province:  Waikato
Height:  1.87m  Weight:  90kg  Birthdate:  03.06.81
A brief All Black last season, before injuries and lack of form saw him drop below the radar.  Will want to remind the selectors that he is still pretty handy, and if he plays well, should be pushing for a Junior All Black jersey.  Can't really see him raising above that level though with the talent the All Blacks have on the wings at the moment.

Steven Bates
Position:  Number 8  Province:  Waikato
Height:  1.92m  Weight:  110kg  Birthdate:  16.01.80
The journey continues.  Another Waikato number eight who gives everything on the field week in and week out, but is just lacking the final top up to become a genuine international player.  Still a good leader to have on the field, and will be a vital component in the Chiefs pack in 2006.

Full stats from the 10 seasons will be posted here shortly - until then, go here
http://old.thesilverfern.co.nz/super12/chiefs/2005/team.htm

Ben Castle
Position:  Prop  Province:  Bay of Plenty 
Height:  1.85m  Weight:  112kg  Birthdate:  13.01.80
The newly named Bay of Plenty captain has a royal chance to become anchor of the Chiefs scrum this season.  Had a good season for the Bay in the NPC, was selected for the junior All Blacks.  Coincide that with the fall of form of Manu, and this just could be Castles' season.  Not the biggest prop on the field these days, but a powerful man who seems hard to bend.

Loki Crichton
Position:  Utility Back  Province:  Waikato
Height:  1.80m  Weight:  88kg  Birthdate:  14.03.76
So much for last seasons career ending injury!  The talented utility is back and training with the Chiefs, ready for 2006. Form?  Well, not having played since the injury, there is none!

Simms Davison
Position:  Prop  Province:  Bay of Plenty  Super 12 Caps:  11
Height:  1.85m  Weight:  112 kg  Birthdate:  20.06.79
Not in as good a form in 2005 as he was in 2004, but still a strong season, but his push for higher honours was curtailed by injuries, and he saw his propping mate Castle make the grade in the junior All Blacks.  Will be wanting to play some strong games and push his claims for that team too, a team he is good enough to play for, so long as he strings some matches together.

Stephen Donald
Position:  First Five  Province:  Waikato
Height:  1.88m  Weight:  94kg  Birthdate:  03.12.83
The time has come, said the Walrus to someone or other...  Donald needs to direct play, control events, and exert his will on the games he plays in 2006 if the Chiefs are to make a serious challenge to the finals this season.  Has all the potential in the world, and has been starting to tap that in the last 12 months.  If that continues, the hard tackling, hard running ten just may lead this Chiefs team to undreamed of heights.

Jono Gibbes (c)
Position:  Lock / Flanker  Province:  Waikato 
Height:  1.94m  Weight:  109kg  Birthdate:  22.01.77
Struggling to overcome a foot injury that he has been carrying for the last 12 months.  I think it is quite vital that Gibbes is fit and firing on all six cylinders for the Chiefs to perform to their capabilities.  And there capabilities are pretty good if they can get all hands on deck.  Gibbes though, at lock or flanker, will lead the much needed hardness the forwards will need.  One of the best lineout exponents in the country, and an honest toiler for 80 minutes of rugby.  A genuine leader of men.

David Hill
Position:  First Five / Second Five  Province:  Waikato 
Height:  1.88m  Weight:  100kg  Birthdate:  31.07.78
Has pretty successfully transformed from a first to a second five in the last couple of campaigns, for the Chiefs, and for Waikato. This has opened the way for the promising Donald to fill the ten shirt, and to form a pretty handy partnership at first and second receiver.  He will have his work cut out for him this season though, with Sammy Tuitupou being drafted into the squad, and dead keen to make a claim for higher honours in 2006 too.  His goal kicking is generally pretty handy, and an extra string to his bow.

Sean Hohneck
Position:  Lock  Province:  Waikato
Height:  2.02m  Weight:  119kg  Birthdate:  08.01.79
Proved to a few doubters that he does have what it takes to compete at Super rugby level, but that is about it.  Should be warming the bench behind the much improved in 2005 Upton and captain Jono Gibbes.  A fantastic lineout target, and starting to get through some work in the tight about the field.  About as effective as an half starved preying mantis with ball in hand, a very unfortunate site on the rugby field...

Marty Holah
Position:  Flanker  Province:  Waikato 
Height:  1.84m  Weight:  98kg  Birthdate:  10.09.76
Played his heart out last season, as he always does, and was rewarded by being dropped from the All Blacks.  Needs to work on his front on defence, the Henry Cartel want it more offensive.  So look for that feature in his play this season.  Everything else more than up to scratch in his game.  Expect a big season as Holah strives to take a black jersey back.

Byron Kelleher
Position:  Halfback  Province:  Waikato
Height:  1.75m  Weight:  95kg  Birthdate:  03.12.76
A disjointed 2005 season, thanks to one Victor Matfield swinging arm to his jaw.  Will need to have a big season if he wants to keep the All Black jersey off the fast improving Piri Weepu.  Has all the attributes, the experience, now just needs to add a little bit of maturity and consistency to his game.

Nili Latu
Position:  Flanker  Province:  Bay of Plenty
Height:  1.80m  Weight:  95kg  Birthdate:  19.02.82
Non stop worker for the Bay of Plenty in the 2005 NPC, Latu is a more than able back up for Holah in the seven shirt, and in his second season of Super rugby.

Sione Lauaki
Position:  Loose forward  Province:  Waikato
Height:  1.94m  Weight:  110kg  Birthdate:  22.06.81
A make or break season for the exciting, but lazy All Black loose forward.  His work rate on the end of season All Black tour was not of international standard, and that is being polite.  He was lazy.  Needs to bring a hunger to his game that he showed in Waikato's game against Canterbury in last seasons NPC.  Was everywhere that day, in both attack and defence. 

Aleki Lutui
Position:  Hooker  Province:  Bay of Plenty
Height:  1.79m  Weight:  115kg  Birthdate:  01.07.78
With Tom Willis back, and likely to be playing most of the games, Lutui will be relegated to an impact player, and that is a good thing!  Lutui in full flight with ball in hand, a tiring defence, the mouth just waters thinking of it!  Never the fittest player on the field, this should suit his play, and the Chiefs will get the best out of two quality hookers.

Deacon Manu
Position:  Prop  Province:  Waikato
Height:  1.83m  Weight:  118kg  Birthdate:  18.02.78
Has fallen a long way from grace, since trailing for the All Blacks in 2004, and making a real mess it.  His play last season was not very good at all, and he was in fact dropped for the last Waikato game of the season, for White and Sam Biddles.  Will need to push hard to claim some game time, and may even be currently ranked 4th in the Chiefs pecking order.

Lelia Masaga
Position:  Wing  Province:  Counties Manukau
Height:  1.80m  Weight:  91kg  Birthdate:  30.08.86
I saw this guy play for Counties Manukau against Thames Valley last season, and against Bay of Plenty, and in both games, he was just lightning on legs.  Dangerous every time he got the ball, and hungry for work all thorough.  May not get too many chances behind Anesi and Sivivatu, but if he does get on the field, watch him closely, otherwise you'll miss him.  Not a giant bloke, but slippery as an eel.  Poached all the way from, wait for it, Wellington.

Liam Messam
Position:  Flanker  Province:  Waikato
Height:  1.90m  Weight:  108kg  Birthdate:  25.03.84
Hopefully will not be overdosing on angry pills during this Chiefs season, as he did during the Waikato NPC campaign.  Was just plain stupid through the NPC, which is below the talented footballer.  Needs to just get out there and play, show his skills, and then the real footballer will emerge, instead of the plonker we were watching.

Mils Muliaina
Position:  Fullback  Province:  Waikato
Height:  1.83m  Weight:  85kg  Birthdate:  30.07.80
The latest All Black signing for Waikato, and should form a lethal partnership with Sivivatu and Anesi at the back.  Perhaps a new environment will be the spur the Mils needs to reach the heights of 2003.  Still been playing well, but not having the edge that he possessed in '03.  Still extremely dangerous entering the line, and he should be judged on the amount of tries his wings score, as opposed to the tries he scores.  His centre abilities come into play there with his distribution skills.  So look for more tries to the Chiefs wings this season, and Mils to be back to his best.

Jamie Nutbrown
Position:  Halfback  Province:  Bay of Plenty
Height:  1.75m  Weight:  85kg  Birthdate:  04.07.81
The trade off - Nutbrown for Senio.  Both the Bay and the Chiefs, in a direct swap.  A gutsy little halfback who will probably get plenty of game time if Kelleher remains true to form and keeps getting injured!!

Kristian Ormsby
Position:  Utility Forward  Province:  Counties Manukau
Height:  1.94m  Weight:  116kg  Birthdate:  30.08.86
The big ox is back in the Chiefs franchise area, after spending a season or three with Wellington and the Hurricanes.  Listed as a lock, but more suited to 6, but like at the Hurricanes, will get little chance to shine there, behind Lauaki, Gibbes, and probably Messam.  With his ability to play lock / loose forward, may find himself on the bench most games, or not at all, if the Chiefs selectors think Gibbes is cover enough for the tight loose, and carry a genuine lock on the bench.

Mark Ranby
Position:  Midfield  Province:  Waikato
Height:  1.78m  Weight:  86kg  Birthdate:  01.06.77
Coming back from injury, again.  (That last piece was a cut and paste, from last season, and the one before, and the one before)...

Sitiveni Sivivatu
Position:  Winger  Province:  Waikato
Height:  1.74 m  Weight:  92 kg  Birthdate:  19.04.82
Will want to recapture the form that saw him thrown into the All Black first XV against the Lions.  Hopefully, with his knee injury cleared up, this should be no problem for the flying winger.  Needs to up his workrate off the ball though, both on attack and defence, as he can and does get a bit lazy.

Niva Ta'auso
Position:  Midfield  Province:  Counties Manukau
Height:  1.85 m  Weight:  102 kg  Birthdate:  115.04.80
Was the find of last seasons Chiefs campaign, and a deserving selection from the start this season.  Should form a lethal combination with Tuitupou, should the Waikato, I mean the Chiefs selectors see past their Hill / Ranby thoughts...

Anthony Tahana
Position:  Winger  Province:  Bay of Plenty
Height:  1.78 m  Weight:  93 kg  Birthdate:  09.12.77
The 'feel good' selection of the Chiefs for me this season.  Have watched Tahana playing and training, and giving his left nut for the team for two seasons now, it is great to see that hard work rewarded.  Not built along the lines of the standard wingers today, he is more of a Craig Green, nuggety type player.  Fast enough to finish off a nice movement, and strong enough to mix it up in the close quarters.  May struggle for game time behind the All Black laden back three, but if given a chance will not let the side down, and will surprise many with his ability.

Sam Tuitupou
Position:  Midfield  Province:  Auckland
Height:  1.76 m  Weight:  86 kg  Birthdate:  01.02.82
A long fall from grace for 'Slammin Sammy' in 2204.  He will want to fight back into the spotlight, and show the Henry Cartel that he is still worthy of consideration for that black jersey again.  Will be interesting to see what sort of partnership he forms with Donald at ten, or if he is shunted out one further to centre.  What is certain, he should be playing, not warming the bench for the Chiefs this season.  The best XV should be fielded, not provincial bias in the mix.

Bernie Upton
Position:  Lock  Province:  Bay of Plenty
Height:  1.98m  Weight:  110kg  Birthdate:  22.09.81
A landmark season last year for the hard working Bay lock.  Will want to push further, and a full cap for the All Blacks is not unrealistic.  Made huge strides in last seasons Super rugby, and was rewarded with selection in the Junior All Blacks.  A hard working lineout forward with fantastic ball skills in the air.  Strong scrummager too, and gets thorough more than the required amount of work about the field.  Effective close quarter defender.

Nathan White
Position:  Prop  Province:  Waikato
Height:  1.88 m  Weight:  115 kg  Birthdate:  04.09.81
A first season at this level for the big Waikato prop.  Showed some form for the poorly performing Waikato side during the NPC, and will be itching to get on the field and show his wares for the Chiefs.

Tom Willis
Position:  Hooker  Province:  Waikato 
Height:  1.83m  Weight:  105kg  Birthdate:  20.04.79
Back from the dead.  After trying to come back from injury late in the 2004 NPC, Willis took the rest of that season, and the 2005 season off, to give his back a genuine chance to repair.  It has, and the talented front rower is back.  The Chiefs will be looking to Willis to display the same sort of leadership that saw them charging during the 2004 season.  Willis will be looking to that too, as he starts the long haul back to wearing black again.

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