Attacking improvements needed

THE CHIEFS are happy with their defence, but not their attack.

The Hamilton-based franchise tops the New Zealand conference and is second overall following last week’s 20-12 victory over the Western Force in Perth.

The defensive system was once again strong and is one of the most impenetrable in the 15-team competition. The Chiefs have only conceded six tries and 103 points in their six games this season.

The top-of-the-table Stormers, who also lead the South African conference and are two points ahead of the Chiefs on 28 points after a perfect six-from-six record, have let in one more try, but have conceded the least number of points (97).

“Again defence was crucial for us and a lot of it's based on character and attitude,” coach Dave Rennie told the Waikato Times following the win over the Force.

However, while happy with the defensive side of things, Rennie wants the side to become more efficient on attack.

“It is a concern,” he says. “It's funny, you know, in the last couple of weeks we've beaten a couple of Australian sides and we've been frustrated as in the coaches’ box.”

He feels the side is not too far off where it needs to be with the ball in hand.

“We were able to put them (the Force) under real pressure and every time we got the ball we looked a real threat and that was the big difference between the two sides because they had a lot of ball and never really stretched us.

“When we implement it well we're putting a lot of pressure on but to build pressure we've got to be able to hang on to the ball for a bit longer and that was the frustrating thing [against the Force] – we just weren't accurate enough.”

The Chiefs play the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein this weekend, before travelling to Durban to take on the Sharks.