Chiefs finally in the groove

It's an easy argument to make: the Chiefs are finally showing the required urgency as time is running out on their semifinal aspirations.

They will try to make it three wins from as many games against South African opposition when they meet the Bulls in Pretoria on Sunday.

It might be too much to expect a third 40-point performance, but there's no question the Chiefs are sharper now than in the early weeks of the Super 12.

When they beat the Sharks a fortnight ago in Hamilton, they had to, or accept that the season was over in practical terms. The same applied against the Cats last week.

Coach Ian Foster admitted there was a heightened urgency in his team, but did not put it down to any Last Chance Saloon philosophy providing a mental kick in the backside for his squad.

"It's fair to say we have got more urgent, but every team gets more urgent after a loss," Foster said.

"I don't want to sound like I'm making excuses, but we had some key players, like Deacon Manu and Jono Gibbes, have virtually no pre-season rugby.

"Others such as Byron Kelleher and Marty Holah had little to do early and were not quite at their best.

"In their first year in Super 12, players like Bernie Upton and Sosene Anesi have really had to learn to adjust to this level. Now we're starting to reap the benefits.

"And then, there's the quality of Sitiveni Sivivatu. He's come in and made a massive difference."

The flying winger's slashing try against the Cats last week, after bagging two against the Sharks, showed what the Chiefs have been missing as he recovered from shoulder surgery - a serious cutting edge out wide. And the squad have an air of soaring confidence. "There's certainly a feeling our game has dropped into place," Foster said.

"We're all a bit frustrated it hasn't happened as quickly as we'd like.

"But in the last two or three games we feel we're starting to make that shift.

"The team are enjoying the way we're going and we're developing a style the guys are enjoying playing."

In the lead-up to Sunday's game, the Chiefs have based themselves at Nelspruit, about 400m above sea level, close to the famous Kruger National Park and a three-hour bus trip to Pretoria.

They are chasing their eighth win in 10 meetings with the Bulls.

As well as the Chiefs have bounced back from early-season ordinariness, time is against them and they have no room to manoeuvre.

They have to keep winning.

As do the Bulls, who are two points above the Chiefs in seventh place, and clearly the pick of the South African quartet.

They could make the semifinals with a strong finish, but one or other of these teams will drop out of the reckoning on Sunday.

Foster was impressed with the way the Bulls beat the Crusaders, then the Reds.

"Against the Crusaders they were outstanding and in the first 40 minutes they blew the Reds away.

"It's a team that can beat anyone.

"They're scoring tries and getting bonus points."