Rugby: Commentator could face Bulls

Ross Filipo could make a surprise return to the Chiefs on Friday night. Photo / Getty

The locking crisis at the Chiefs has created the possibility of a rather unorthodox combination packing down in the second row against the Bulls in Rotorua on Friday night.

With first-choice pair Brodie Retallick and Matt Symons both sidelined through injury, the Chiefs could turn to commentator Ross Filipo to team with loose forward Johan Bardoul against the South African side.

Filipo, a Herald on Sunday columnist who has also been fronting games for Sky Television this season, has been bracketed with a more conventional choice in Michael Fitzgerald, while Bardoul has been named to start in the No5 jersey.

Fitzgerald suffered a corked thigh in the Chiefs' loss to the Hurricanes last weekend, a match that also saw Michael Allardice ruled out for the rest of the campaign to further deplete the locking stocks.

Retallick, currently recovering from a shoulder injury, could return to action as early as next week, while Symons is battling his second concussion of the season.

The glut of injuries left the Chiefs to turn to Filipo, who was a member of the squad last season. The 36-year-old has spent this year as a player-coach at club side Hamilton Marist, answering Dave Rennie's SOS call along with young Waikato lock Brian Alainu'uese, who could make his Super Rugby debut off the bench.

The Chiefs' health worries have not been limited to the forwards, however. James Lowe was a last scratch from the Hurricanes clash and a subsequent scan on his right shoulder revealed the wing has suffered cartilage damage, left requiring a rehabilitation period of four-to-six weeks.

Sonny Bill Williams was another to miss last weekend's loss through injury and a back strain will again preclude the second-five's involvement against the Bulls.

Elsewhere, Augustine Pulu has earned a rare start at halfback after playing second fiddle to Brad Weber for much of the campaign, while Mitchell Graham will start at loosehead prop in place of Pauliasi Manu.

Chiefs team to face the Bulls at Rotorua International Stadium on Friday night:

Tom Marshall, Hosea Gear, Charlie Ngatai, Anton Lienert-Brown, Bryce Heem, Damian McKenzie, Augustine Pulu, Michael Leitch, Sam Cane, Liam Messam (c), Johan Bardoul, Michael Fitzgerald/Ross Filipo, Ben Tameifuna, Hika Elliot, Mitchell Graham. Reserves: Quentin MacDonald, Siate Tokolahi, Pauliasi Manu, Brian Alainu'uese, Maama Vaipulu, Brad Weber, Andrew Horrell, Tim Nanai-Williams.