Rugby: Chiefs' locking nightmare a fairytale for Filipo

Ross Filipo. Photo / Sportpix Limited

The clock is yet to strike midnight on Ross Filipo's fairytale return to the Chiefs.

A few days ahead of the commentator and club coach's stunning return to Super Rugby, Filipo is back at Chiefs training and preparing for Saturday's tilt with the Highlanders.

The 36-year-old was summoned from professional retirement after four Chiefs locks fell injured and, while Michael Fitzgerald could return to action in Invercargill, the casualty ward is running at capacity.

Brodie Retallick looks unlikely to meet the initial timeframe for recovery from his second shoulder injury of the season. The four-week rehabilitation period has nearly elapsed but the world player of the year is still struggling for full fitness.

The problem in Retallick's left rotator cuff has hampered blood supply to the joint and, as coach Dave Rennie explained, can come with a painfully slow recovery time. Once the injury is healed there should be no further flare-ups, but that outcome was still doubtful four days out from the New Zealand conference showdown.

"There's a question mark over whether we'll get Brodie right in time, but we won't push that," Rennie told Radio Sport yesterday. "If there's any doubt we'll leave him out and try to get him back on the park next week."

The Chiefs were being equally cautious with fellow first-choice lock Matt Symons. The Englishman is undergoing concussion protocols after missing the last two matches and, since the head knock is his second of the season, his team are wisely adopting a cautious approach.

There is no chance of a return for the two other locks on the Chiefs' books. One week after Michael Allardice was ruled out for the season after rupturing the medial ligament in his right knee, flatmate Johan Bardoul suffered the same fate.

Bardoul, a loose forward playing the position only because of the Chiefs' locking emergency, suffered the injury in the early stages of last weekend's win over the Bulls. But, rather than worsen the crisis, Bardoul strapped the joint and proceeded to form an impressive pairing with Filipo, helping his side to a bonus-point victory.

That win put the Chiefs one point ahead of the Highlanders in the race for fourth spot overall, and it looks as though Filipo will have a chance to pad that lead. Based on his efforts in Rotorua, the former All Black will be first choice to partner a fit-again Fitzgerald if Retallick and Symons fail to return, while 21-year-old development lock Brian Alainu'uese could make another appearance off the bench.

Rennie's injury woes have not been confined to the second row. Sonny Bill Williams is set to miss another week with a back complaint. The second five has been on the sidelines since the Chiefs' loss to the Rebels at the start of the month and his focus is now firmly fixed on finding fitness ahead of the playoffs.

"It's a lumbar issue and he just can't run fully," Rennie said. "We know what the back's like - you can have pain in your back but it will also affect your hammies and glutes, so there's a lot of frustration.

"He's working and trying to do everything he can but we're hopeful for next week. More than likely it may even be the [final] week against the Hurricanes."