Ample Brain Power
Every team goes through player changes during the off-season. But while that's the case, the Chiefs have done well to keep their core quartet of Cane, Weber, Anton Lienert-Brown and McKenzie together over the years.
They're now rewarded in a vast pool of experience at the international level as well as club level. Having that feel for the club can’t be overstated as these are the kind of players who teammates rely on as they're learning the ropes or trying to find their own places in the club.
While they lose the veteran presence of Cruden this year, there are still a number of players who can and will double as sources of inspiration through tough times, led by their captain Sam Cane, who leads by example whenever he steps on to the pitch - be it for the All Blacks, Chiefs or Bay of Plenty.