Regular readers of the BoP Mafia website (I'm sure there is somebody out there) will have noticed that we have been quiet for 2 months. Also the regular weekly column I began on the Chiefs tailed off after 3 weeks due to severe depression at their wretched start to the season and that 3 consecutive defeats had surely condemned them to another season of mediocrity.

Of course they went on to only lose to one more team, the Bulls in round robin and then the Bulls again in that rather embarrassing final at the weekend. During the season I thought about commenting on this improvement but didn't want to jinx them - not to mention being either too busy or too lazy to write anything.

So let's have a quick summary of the season for the Bay players.

Tanerau Latimer was immense, a tackling machine and into absolutely everything. He was rightly rewarded with a spot in the All Blacks squad although injuries to McCaw and Waldrom made it inevitable rather than likely. Foster did manage to give him a week off during the campaign but he still must be exhausted after that workload.

James McGougan grew from a bench player to a regular starter as injuries took hold and he enhanced his reputation hugely. He didn't look out of place at the higher level and was unlucky not to pick up a Junior AB spot.

Mike Delany, Joe Savage and Colin Bourke were rarely sighted, Delany usually a late sub as was Savage once May was injured. Bourke disappeared as Lilo became the bench loosie, usually replacing the tired Lauaki.

Of the other Chiefs players, the stars were de Malmanche (I can't call him de Blancmange any more), Clarke for his hard work, Messam for finally getting stuck in where forwards should, Donald although he still can't control a game as he should, the flying wingers when fit and Muliaina who was superb all season.

Finally to Foster. I can't take back everything I have ever said about him but what a fantastic season. I was impressed that the team really knuckled down in those hard-fought wins against the Hurricanes and Brumbies. It was a shame that their performance in the final was so poor but not surprising after such a hard season and having to travel to play in such an atmosphere. The tight 5 really improved from their early shambolic performances and that was key - we always knew the Chiefs could match or better any side from numbers 6-15.