Star-studded Chiefs loom as favourites

Astar-studded Chiefs Manawa have been handed a licence to thrill in Super Rugby Aupiki.

The maiden edition of the women’s competition starts this weekend, and while there are four teams involved in this groundbreaking venture, the Chiefs shape as the clear team to beat, such is the talent dripping from their roster.

On the back of a year when Waikato were crowned first-time Farah Palmer Cup champions, among the Chiefs squad of 27 are a whopping 16 who have represented the Black Ferns, while the Hamilton-based franchise boasts 12 of the 34 players from New Zealand’s tour to England and France at the end of last season.

At the forefront will be national skipper Les Elder, the gritty openside flanker also handed the captaincy reins for this campaign, on the back of having already led the women in pink in their debut outing against the Blues at Eden Park last May.

But it’s in the backline where Chiefs fans can lick their lips at the prospect of what can be unleashed.

In partnership with promising new Black Ferns halfback and Waikato team-mate Ariana Bayler, highly experienced international Chelsea Semple (nee Alley) will be a big driver, and then good luck to opposition defences facing up to Black Ferns Sevens stars Portia Woodman, Ruby Tui, Stacey Fluhler and Kelly Brazier.

A huge bonus for the team is that, with such minimal time to prepare for this competition, coach Allan Bunting already has plenty of rapport with that quartet from his time in charge of the national side, which became an allpowering force on the world stage.

The squad had only six days together before its pre-season match against the Blues was cancelled and the squads headed into camp in Taupō, where Saturday’s opening round and the March 20 final will be played (at Owen Delany Park).

‘‘We’re happy with where we’re at at the moment. We’ve made the most of our time to connect as a group and hopefully they feel like they’re proud Chiefs Manawa ladies,’’ Bunting told Stuff.

‘‘We’re ready to go and play now.’’

Now, as Bunting says, it’s time for the on-field work to begin. And, coming back into the 15s game, he’s already found that things can look a bit too structured, so will be fully embracing all that sevens background for the Chiefs’ game.

‘‘We’ve got a lot of flair and exciting potential out on the field, and we just want to set that free and bring that to life, ’’ he said. ‘‘If we don’t see that then I’d probably say that’s the coaches’ fault.

‘‘I don’t want people running around like robots having to go somewhere and do something because we’ve told them.

‘‘If they’re thinking about that too much they’ll forget about what they’ve got to bring to the field. And hopefully we can unleash some of that.’’