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'I've seen how social media gets to some of the younger players and we've had that happen here'

(Photo by Michael Bradley/Getty Images)

The Chiefs have had very little thought about anything other than themselves during their recent winning run.

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Remarkably, the Chiefs are the in-form team in Super Rugby Aotearoa after a run of four straight closely fought victories against their Kiwi rivals in the last month.

With a place in the final suddenly not far out of grasp, the Waikato-based franchise is grimly determined to focus on nothing other than themselves and listening to none of the chatter.

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Shutting out the media noise, being wary of social media, and keeping focus on each individual nailing their role with a high level of accountability is the approach within the confines of the Chiefs.

According to Chiefs assistant coach Neil Barnes, the destiny this team could have ahead will rest within their own hands, not the views or arguments presented by those on the outside.

“It’s not the external noise that we respond to,” Barnes told media on Monday.

“We respond to the noise within our room in terms of what we expect from each other and we expect that every week so it’s no change for us because we have a job to do and its about going out there and applying it.”

In the past there has been issues with players being too aware of what’s being said by fans and journalists on social media platforms such as Twitter.

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“I’ve seen how social media gets to some of the younger players and we’ve had that happen here,” Barnes admitted.

“They’ve had to learn how to deal with it as this level but if you can block all that out and go do the job that everyone in this franchise expects you to do then you’ll be in a good place.”

Asked if the Chiefs will continue to hold the underdog status in Super Rugby Aotearoa, Barnes argued that a good team culture has kept the belief within the franchise alive through a difficult period of 11 straight defeats.

“We’re only underdogs because of the results last year but not a lot has changed about what we’re doing,” he said.

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“Culture is important but it’s built on actions because you can talk it up in a room about what and who you think you are but it’s really about how you behave”.

A true rugby man of old-school mentality, Barnes saw much of the Chiefs’ ill-fortunes in the past year coming down to experience and the inability to win the key moments in games.

Against the Crusaders, explained Barnes, a few important moments in the final stages were the major factors as the Chiefs got themselves on the right side of the ledger.

“There were two or three things that happened in the last five minutes which is about players doing their job during the week, learning their detail and applying it on the paddock under pressure.

“We’ve been winning those moments this year whereas last year when we had a bucket load of 20-year-olds in their first season of Super Rugby. They’re all now a year older and know what its about so it’s starting to come to them.”

No injuries have been reported in camp following the win over the Crusaders and sights are now firmly focused on a dominant performance against the Hurricanes in Hamilton this Friday night.

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R
RedWarrior 1 hour ago
Three-way race to be number one in World Rugby men's rankings

IF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.


As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.


Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).

This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.

If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.

Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.

After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.

Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.


Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)

Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.

Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.


Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.


Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:


Seeding Band 1

IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG

Seeding Band 2

SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: FIJI

1/8 final opponent GEORGIA

Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA

1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND

Prognosis: You know the prognosis


I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?


Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.

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