Tipoki out for two months

Munster have suffered a blow with the news that centre Rua Tipoki is expected to miss the province's remaining Pool games in the Heineken Cup due to a medial knee ligament injury

Munster have suffered a blow with the news that centre Rua Tipoki is expected to miss the province's remaining Pool games in the Heineken Cup due to a knee ligament injury.

The medial problem was picked up last Tuesday against New Zealand in the historic fixture at Thomond Park and forced Tipoki from the field.

The former New Zealand Maori captain is now set to miss Munster's back-to-back Pool fixtures against Clermont Auvergne next month, as well as the January clashes with Sale Sharks and Montauban.

In further concerns, Munster coach Tony McGahan is awaiting scan results regarding hooker Jerry Flannery's knee injury, which he sustained during the first half of Ireland's win over Argentina on Saturday.

However, there's encouraging news regarding the fitness of back-row internationals David Wallace and Denis Leamy, with the former only suffering bruising to a worrying-looking neck injury.