By Tim Cronin

Now that the first full round of Super XV is out of the way and we’ve had a look at all of the teams in action (except the Crusaders, who had the bye last weekend) it’s a good time to ponder who could be the key players across the competition, and what could be the determining factors in deciding the outcome of this year’s tournament. Today I’m looking at the New Zealand conference.

The Chiefs got their title defence off to a winning start in Dunedin on the weekend, slipping seamlessly back in to their expansive, attack-minded style of play. But the big question still remains – can they be the force they were last year without the might of Sonny Bill Williams? While that question remains to be answered the early indications suggest they will be there or thereabouts at the business end of the season.

New Blues’ Sir John Kirwan has a huge task ahead of him if he is to turn around the worst season in the history of the franchise, and do so with a team of young, inexperienced players. But his side would have grown hugely from their first-up win over the ‘Canes on the weekend, and if he can continue to build their confidence they will continue to upset the big boys.

Of the other New Zealand franchises, both the Hurricanes and the Highlanders will have been disappointed with their first outings, while the Crusaders have the most pressure on their shoulders. Having made the playoffs for the last four years in a row without converting those opportunities in to titles, popular opinion suggests this could be Todd Blackadder’s last year at the helm if his chargers can’t get across the line this time.

All in all I think the New Zealand conference again shapes up as the most competitive, with the five teams likely to cause each other plenty of grief, and potentially cost each other playoff spots, as the season unfolds.