RUGBY NEWS:WAS THERE anyone who watched the match between Munster and the All Blacks last Tuesday in Thomond Park that didn't question what the final toll would be given the levels of commitment and physical contribution from the home side?
Those thoughts were answered yesterday when Munster team manager Shaun Payne confirmed that the knee injury sustained by Maori centre Rua Tipoki has ruled him out of this week's Magners League match against Llanelli Scarlets and more importantly the next series of Heineken Cup matches, against French side Clermont Auvergne at the beginning of December. Tipoki may also miss the final pool stages of the competition in January.
It was also confirmed that Irish hooker Jerry Flannery, who hobbled off at Croke Park on Saturday in the first half of Ireland's game against Argentina, is also doubtful for this week, but the longer-term view will not be known until he undergoes a knee scan in a Dublin hospital, which was expected to take place yesterday.
"Rua suffered medial ligament damage and is not expected to return to action until sometime in January," said Munster manager Payne.
Tipoki alongside his regular centre partner Lifeimi Mafi, have added a fresh spirit to Munster's attacking edge, although in Barry Murphy and Keith Earls the side has ready-made replacements in that position, particularly going forward.
Munster doubtlessly have the depth to preserve their top position in the Magners League but depending on what part of the month of January the Kiwi can make it back for, he may also miss rounds five and round six of the Heineken Cup, which takes place on January 16th-18th and the following week on January 23rd-25th.
On those two weekends Munster have huge games, firstly at home to English side Sale and then an away match against French side Montauban. Missing both January's Cup weekends would represent a worst-case scenario for Munster as the pool stages are then complete with the subsequent quarter-finals not taking place until mid April.
Elsewhere Irish flanker David Wallace, who was carried off the field on a stretcher following a collision with Argentinian captain Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe on Saturday, is reported to be fine. Wallace took a precautionary trip to hospital following the blow but he and backrow colleague Denis Leamy are both expected to attend training today when the Munster squad assembles in Limerick.
The woes of Munster coach Tony McGahan do not end there as the knee injury to Denis Hurley and the disc problem affecting forward Daragh Hurley are not expected to clear up soon.
Neither player is expected to resume training for up to three weeks. The Munster management has targeted the Magners League game with Connacht as a likely debut match for Nick Williams, while scrumhalf Duncan Williams made a return to competitive rugby with Cork Constitution on Sunday.
In Leinster, the infection in Felipe Contepomi's hand is expected to sideline him for Leinster's last home league match before Christmas in the RDS. Gordon D'Arcy remains sidelined for the meeting with the Dragons but Leinster may expect to see some of their contingent of Irish players back in harness.
Malcolm O'Kelly, Bernard Jackman, Girvan Dempsey and Shane Horgan were not involved in last week's international and will probably team up with the rest of the squad before the following weekend's Heineken Cup clash with French side Castres Olympique.
The French side's captain, Lionel Nallet, has a rib injury that will keep out of his club's Top 14 clash with Bourgoin this weekend as well as the tie against Leinster.
Meanwhile, Wales forward Ian Evans looks set to miss the entire Six Nations Championship after suffering a serious knee injury.
The Ospreys lock was hurt during Wales' 29-9 defeat against New Zealand on Saturday.
A doping charge against Scotland forward Scott MacLeod has been dropped after investigators accepted that his high levels of testosterone were triggered by alcohol.
