Wynne Gray: Sivivatu's injury opens door for other contenders

Several questions concerning the Chiefs have filtered through my consciousness since they graduated to their first Super rugby final.

One of my inquiries might be in danger of taking us through to the off-season, such is the scale of the task of sifting through the reasons the Chiefs have had such a slow burn to the top.

It has been a painful 14-year wait for their supporters who nailed their colours to the Chiefs' mast when the good ship first set sail with Brad Meurant as coach and Sid Going as his assistant.

Down the years the Chiefs have had some extremely talented players, yet only managed to make the playoffs in 2004. On that occasion they were blown away by the Brumbies.

This time they have made the bigger stage. But that leap has been counter-balanced by the loss of wing Sitiveni Sivivatu.

Banged up several months ago, he returned in scintillating form before his left shoulder lost another battle with an opponents' frame. It was dislocated again, his season in limbo as the medics decide on the best remedy.

Sivivatu will be missing from the All Blacks opening squad to be announced on Sunday. So too halfback Andy Ellis, who revealed he had played with broken ribs for the last part of the series and would need several months rest to heal his damage.

Throw in others who are injured, such as Daniel Carter, Anthony Boric and Corey Flynn and the fact that Leon MacDonald is departing the national scene and the national selectors suddenly have a few more issues.

Sivivatu's absence may offer a lifeline for someone with utility skills, such as Anthony Tuitavake or Hosea Gear who was a wing on the last tour, but has been injured.

It could open the door for a rookie talent.

It could even alter ideas about Joe Rokocoko who on experience would make the squad, despite his form mirroring much of the Blues patchy work in the Super 14.

Those in the selection shuffle will be Rokocoko, Rudi Wulf, Gear, Tuitavake and the new faces, Lelia Masaga and Rene Ranger.

Wulf's claims, once he returned from a wrist injury, were enhanced by his high work-rate and the fact he made few errors. He can also cover fullback.

If the All Blacks chose Wulf, Toeava and Piri Weepu on the bench that trio would easily cover any backline substitute or injury needs.

After a strong start to the season, Gear's chances of an All Black recall were hindered by injury and then a reluctance to choose him ahead of David Smith, Tamati Ellison and others in the last part of the Hurricanes season.

Ranger's wildcard claims may have expired with the Blues' sorry record while Masaga has returned after injury, but without quite the same dynamic impact from the early part of the Super 14.

But the hard grounds for the Super final in Pretoria might be just the stage for Masaga to persuade the selectors he is ready for the next level.