Right, best season the BoP have had since they won the NPC in 1976.  Will they be rewarded by selection of players in the Chiefs, or will the Waikato run Chiefs franchise to the same old same old and pick the Waikato team with a few token Boppers in there to appease the masses?  And besides that point, did you know the Waikato union charge the Chiefs $400,000 each season in administration costs.  No wonder the Thames Valley union got their poxy $20,000 (odd) after the 2001 season, and probably even less after this season in which the useless Waikato dominated Chiefs were crap game in and game out.

Which leads me back to subject.  Will the Chiefs again be dominated by the Waikato side?  Pick the same old team, and get the same old results - isn't that the saying - change is needed, and now is the time to make it.  Can't bloody do much worse than last season at any rate...

Which Boppers deserve spots in the Chiefs side - well, ask the BoP Mafia for the full team list, as that'll be there answer I would expect.  But there are a few that even an outsider such as myself can see that deserve spots in the side.

First, and obvious is Glen Jackson.  Best first five in the Chiefs region by a long way.  David Hill always injured and rubbish anyway (one good season and he wore a silverfern, how wrong is that).  Can't kick goals at the moment to save his life either, and since that All Black tour has been living on reputation only.  Jackson has got to be in the team, and got to be starting EVERY game.  Not living through supercoach Kevin Green's random selection pattern.  Lets see what Foster does - bound to be impartial - only the record holder for most games for Waikato, so won't have red, yellow and black blood running through his veins then will he...

Then inside him there is Kevin Senio.  He's up against Issac Boss for the second halfback position - Rhys Duggan has got to be put out to pasture.  Byron Kelleher will have the number one spot obviously, so who will be his backup?  On form, Kevin Senio, the former Auckland and Counties Manukau halfback should get the nod.  But that won't be good for Waikato's development of halfback stocks, so expect Boss to get the nod.  Wrong, but it'll happen.

Go one space out, and you have Grant McQuoid.  In the past few weeks he has been on fire.  The best second five in the Chiefs region at the moment for sure - Keith Lowen is better off at centre at any rate.  Mark Ranby has not played this season (where is he, shoulder injury or something)?  Derek Maisey has been playing in the 12 jersey for Waikato, but he is an average player at best at provincial level.  There is one choice at the moment for second five, and it's gotta be McQuiod.  But that's not good for Waikato rugby, so Maisey will probably get the nod there too.  Shite again, but don't be surprised.

The rest of the backline is not up to it - at least I don't think so, I'm sure the BoP Mafia will correct me if I'm wrong.  One decent winger isn't there...?  Apoua Stewart?

The forwards.  Can't go past the three Waikato props Collins, Briggs and Manu (unless Manu signs another ten contracts while no one is looking)...  That leaves one spot open, for a tighthead prop.  Nothing wrong with Ben Castle to fill that spot.  last season they had that Waikato bloke, can't remember his name, but he was rubbish.  His career is over now though with a back injury.  Ahhh, Tony Philp!!  Castle should get the nod, unless Waikato pull up some prop from the their B team (the same B team that was flogged by the Bay B side a few weeks ago).  Wouldn't put it past them, would be a crime, but don't be surprised!

The three loose forwards are all deserving of places in the lineup.  Nili Latu is far better than our old mate Scott Couch, who is actully getting some game time this season with Holah at the World Cup.  Playing alright too for Waikato, but Latu is playing better.  But Latu's jersey is not red, yellow and black - that will count against him. 

Wayne Ormond will make the squad again, but he is unfortunate enough to be coming up against Waikato and Chiefs captain Jono Gibbes, who is playing the best football of his career at the moment.  He'll be in the match day 22, but not in the starting XV, unless he's converted to a number eight.  Now there's an idea.

Last of the pretty decent BoP loose trio is Clayton MacMillan.  Packing down at number eight, the 29 year old is also playing the best rugby in his career.  But in his way is incumbent number eight Steve Bates.  Bates plays some decent footy - make no mistake, but MacMillan is playing better.  The only point, again, is that Bates was bought down from Auckland by the Waikato union, and they don't want to waste that money now do they by having their investment watching the Super 12 from his couch...  MacMillan - should be starting number eight, probably won't make the squad...

Of course, the one of the Chiefs hookers next season has to be the raging bull from the Bay, Aleki Lutui.  Good runner with the ball as always this season, but looks like he's been weaned off the pies a little, as he is getting around the paddock for the full 80 minutes this season, and not hiding too often.  Tom Willis will be the starting rake of course.  The other Waikato options, Smith and Linklater both have about as much impact as a face on the bottom of a size 14 boot.  But don't be surprised if Linklater gets the nod.  Lutui's Tongan allegiance may be the excuse used by the scumbags to not select him...

More Boppers next season for sure - here's a team that could be selected...

15 Todd Miller (Waikato)
14 Sitivini Sivivatu (Counties, but Waikato 2004 NPC)
13 Keith Lowen (Waikato)
12 Grant McQuoid (Bay of Plenty)
11 Loki Crichton (Waikato)
10 Glen Jackson (Bay of Plenty)
9 Byron Kelleher (Waikato - hahahaah, that sounds funny)
8 Clayton MacMillan (Bay of Plenty)
7 Marty Holah (Waikato)
6 Jono Gibbes (Waikato)
5 Keith Robinson (Waikato)
4 Sean Hohneck (Waikato)
3 Deacon Manu (Waikato)
2 Tom Willis (Waikato)
1 Michael Collins (Waikato)

Reserves:
16 Aleki Latu (Bay of Plenty)  17 David Briggs (Waikato)  18 Wayne Ormond (Bay of Plenty)  19 Nili Latu (Bay of Plenty)  20 Regan King (Waikato)  21 David Hill (Waikato)  22 Kevin Senio (Bay of Plenty).

And the team that WILL be selected by Dirty Scumbag Waikato next season - check this Friday's Waikato Times for their semi final lineup against Wellington, and add in the two former Otago boys.