Super Rugby Trans-Tasman: Chiefs target improvement despite unbeaten start against Aussies

The unbeaten Chiefs know they have to improve on their opening Super Rugby Trans-Tasman performances, if they're to stand any chance of lifting the trophy next month.

After finishing runners-up to the Crusaders in Super Rugby Aotearoa, the Waikato-based side are currently the worst-placed NZ franchise against their Australian counterparts.

All five New Zealand teams boast 2-0 records and if they all remain unbeaten across five rounds, spots in the final will be determined by points differential.

The Chiefs have been the least prolific of the NZ teams, with 60 points from their first two matches and have the smallest differential (+22).

While the Hurricanes lead scoring stats with 99 points, the Blues (98) enjoy the best differential (+74).

That scoring record is something Chiefs midfielder Anton Lienert-Brown wants to rectify, even after their 40-19 win over the Brumbies on Saturday.

"We have our own standard," Lienert-Brown tells Newshub. "Even though the scoreboard looked pretty, we can be a lot better.

"I thought we executed fairly well, but we can still get a lot better, we probably left about 20 points out there.

"We're always chasing perfection, not that you're going to get it, but there's plenty of room for improvement."

Lienert-Brown's position is backed up by assistant coach Neil Barnes, who insists the Chiefs aren't the finished product.

"We had a couple of situations on the weekend where we're making good line-breaks and we didn't finish them," Barnes says.

"We were a step up from where we've been in the past, but we all know there's still improvement to make."

Barnes rejects the notion that bragging rights are on the line for the five New Zealand sides, none of whom want to become the first Kiwi team toppled by the Aussies.

After the first two weeks, New Zealand holds a perfect 10-0 winning record over Australia's Super Rugby teams.

"We've got our own goals here and it has nothing to do with that," says Barnes. "We're just carrying on with what we're trying to achieve."

Join Newshub for live updates of the Hurricanes v Force Super Rugby Trans-Tasman clash from 7:05pm Friday