Just why, is something of a mystery. Based in Hamilton, their squad is built around the Waikato team one of the strongest unions in New Zealand, the holders since 1997 of the much-coveted Ranfurly Shield. Last year they lost their first six games, then won the next five to finish sixth.
Consistency is clearly one of their problems.
In Ross Cooper, an ex All Black selector, they have the only New Zealand coach still coaching the same team as he did last year. They will be skippered by Super 12 gypsy, Northland lock Glenn Taylor, who started with the Chiefs before moving to the Hurricanes, then the Blues. He toured with the All Blacks in South Africa in 1996, had an outstanding NPC in 1999, his aggressively athletic brand of second row play marking him out as one of New Zealand's finest. Indeed, an outstanding Super 12 for Taylor could yet force him into Wayne Smith's calculations as All Black captaincy candidates are thin on the ground. Matt Cooper in action for Waikato last year.