We're in to win says new chief

The Chiefs coach has high expectations, writes CHRIS RATTUE.

New Chiefs coach Kevin Greene says winning the Super 12 is a realistic goal next season.

The 51-year-old takes over from new All Black coach John Mitchell, whom he assisted this year when the Chiefs finished sixth.

Greene has yet to determine who his assistant/forwards coach will be, although Richard Loe and Daryl Halligan will remain part of the set-up.

The Chiefs had a six-win, five-loss record last year, finishing four points adrift of a semifinal place, after finishing 10th in the previous season. They are the only New Zealand side yet to play in the semifinals.

After a nomadic existence as Rugby Park in Hamilton was rebuilt, the Chiefs will play four games at their base and two in Rotorua in the upcoming season.

And, with their match against the Blues being an away game, seven of their 11 games will be "local."

"We've got a very favourable draw and there can be no excuses. Winning the competition is not a realistic goal if you don't set it as the goal," said Greene, who selects his side next week.

He coached Waikato from 1992 to 1994, with Mitchell as his captain. In that time they won their province's only NPC first division title and scored the historic Ranfurly Shield victory that ended Auckland's glorious run.

The former Waikato halfback, who had eight non-test games for the All Blacks, also coached for three years in Scotland and assisted Ross Cooper at the Chiefs last year.

He was interviewed for an hour and a quarter by a panel of Chiefs chief executive Gary Dawson, New Zealand Rugby Football Union representative Steve Tew, former Chiefs player Matthew Cooper, former All Black manager Neil Gray and Chiefs board member Graeme Elvin.

The beaten contenders included former Waikato coach John Boe, present coach Kiwi Searancke, and Northland's Bryce Woodward.

Greene said: "This is not something I had as a goal.

"I hadn't thought about it until John moved on. Then I thought it was something I wanted to have a crack at.

"There are a lot of things I want to carry on from what we achieved last year but, as head coach, I might make the odd selection change, although we don't have the depth of other franchises so our options are fairly limited.

"I won't be as direct as Mitch - he never left any doubt about what he required of players. My approach will be more conciliatory."

Greene said they had introduced 12 new players to the Super 12 this year, and the use of resource coaches was a key.

"Our goalkicking went from 60 per cent to 80 per cent with Halligan there. That made an enormous difference - that might have made all the difference the year before."

But the side had to be more consistent - they had very heavy losses this year.

"[Wallabies coach] Eddie Jones reckoned he worked out at the Brumbies that if you are down just 3 per cent on your base level, you can lose by 30 points.

"It is a very tough competition playing 11 games of international football. There's no other competition like it."