Tipoki Facing Two Month Lay-Off
Munster centre Rua Tipoki is expected to miss the province’s remaining pool games in the Heineken Cup, following further examination of the medial knee ligament injury he sustained against New Zealand last Tuesday.
The injury forced Tipoki to be taken off during the second half of the 18-16 defeat to the All Blacks at Thomond Park Stadium.
The former New Zealand Maori captain has had an injury-disrupted season so far, with a thigh strain ruling him out of Munster’s Heineken Cup pool win at Sale last month.
The medial knee ligament injury will keep Tipoki out of the province’s back-to-back pool games against Clermont Auvergne next month, as well as the January clashes with Sale and Montauban.
Munster coach Tony McGahan is also waiting on scan results of hooker Jerry Flannery’s knee injury, which he sustained during the first half of Ireland’s GUINNESS Series win over Argentina.
But there is better news for the Munster management regarding the fitness of back rowers David Wallace and Denis Leamy.
There was widespread concern when Wallace was fitted with a neck brace and stretchered off during the latter stages of the Argentina game. But a hospital visit confirmed that the 32-year-old had only suffered bruising.
Leamy, who had to be replaced during the encounter with the All Blacks, has also escaped serious injury and is expected to be in the mix when Munster announce their squad for their Magners League trip to the Scarlets on Friday.