By David van der Merwe - Super Rugby Writer

The Chiefs are one of the NZRU teams that competes annually in the Super Rugby competition. Although they have sported some All Black players they have never really lived up to expectations. It took them till 2004 to reach a semi-final and 2009 to reach a final. They lost both of these encounters. At most they are a middle of the log team that can show some brilliance at times but not nearly enough to compete on a consistent level with the big names.

They have finished consistently between 6th and 8th place on the log. The best they have done is losing in the 2009 Final to the Bulls by 61-17. This was a season where they were the team to beat. Given that there were one or two decisions that went against them in that game, but in the end they were outplayed. they seem to have what it takes, but never live up to their potential.

2012 Squad:
Ben Afeaki Prop
Shane Cleaver Prop
Toby Smith Prop
Sona Taumalolo Prop Tonga
Ben Tameifuna Prop
Hikawera Elliot Hooker
Mahonri Schwalger Hooker Samoa
Craig Clarke (C) Lock
Brodie Retallick Lock
Romana Graham Lock
Michael Fitzgerald Lock
Kane Thompson Lock Samoa
Sam Cane Flanker
Tanerau Latimer Flanker
Liam Messam(C) Flanker
Scott Waldrom Flanker
Fritz Lee Number8 Samoa
Alex Bradley Number8
Brendon Leonard Scrum Half
Tawera Kerr-Barlow Scrum Half
Aaron Cruden Fly Half
Andrew Horrell Fly Half
Sonny Bill Williams Centre
Asaeli Tikoirotuma Centre
Richard Kahui Centre
Jackson Willison Centre
Lelia Masaga Wing
Declan O'Donnell Wing
Maritino Nemani Wing Fiji
Robbie Robinson Fullback
Tim Nanai-Williams Fullback

Players who have joined:
Shane Cleaver from  Taranaki
Aaron Cruden from  Hurricanes
Michael Fitzgerald from  Manawatu
Maritino Nemani from  Hawke's Bay
Brodie Retallick from  Hawke's Bay
Robbie Robinson from  Highlanders
Ben Tameifuna from  Hawke's Bay
Asaeli Tikoirotuma from  Manawatu
Kane Thompson from  Hawke's Bay
Mahonri Schwalger from  Highlanders
Sonny Bill Williams from Crusaders

The two most notable players to join are Sonny Bill Williams and Aaron Cruden. Both explosive players that can win games.

Players who have left:
Colin Bourke
Mike Delany to  Panasonic Wild Knights
Aled de Malmanche to  Stade Français
Stephen Donald to  Bath Rugby
Toby Lynn to  Western Force
Ben May to  Hurricanes
Taniela Moa to  Pau
Mils Muliaina to  NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes
Culum Retallick to  Highlanders
Isaac Ross to  NTT Shining Arcs
Stephen Setephano to  NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes
Sitiveni Sivivatu to Clermont
Dwayne Sweeney to  Kyuden Voltex
Hayden Triggs to  Honda Heat
Tana Umaga (retirement)
Nathan White to  Leinster

With Sonny Bill Williams and Aaron Cruden in the mix, the Chiefs might surprise a couple of the stronger teams. It does however seem that they are becoming the Liverpool of Super Rugby. Building a team around one or two star players, but that might just not be enough. They have to play more consistent rugby if they are to feature in this tough competition.

Currently they have the squad to beat most teams but are up against two of New Zealand's strongest teams in the Blues and Crusaders. I don't see them finishing higher than 3rd in the NZ conference but they might just surprise me and make it to second. Overall they will probably finish in the top 8 depending on weaker teams in the other conferences. However I don't see them going to the finals.

Follow Dave on Twitter @djvanman