Munster will be without Rua Tipoki until the New Year after the centre injured medial ligaments in last week's agonising defeat to New Zealand. Later today, hooker Jerry Flannery will undergo a scan on a knee injury he picked in Ireland's win over Argentina at the weekend.
Tipoki, who pulled up sharply towards the end of the 18-16 loss, was already ruled out of this weekend's Magners League meeting with the Scarlets but a Munster statement this afternoon confirmed he will be sidelined until 2009.
Munster face the Llanelli Scarlets (November 28th) and Connacht (December 28th) in the Magners League between now and end of the year, while they also have back-to-back meeting with pool rivals Clermont Auvergne (December 7th and 13th) to prepare for.
Denis Hurley (knee) and Darragh Hurley (back) are out of the Scarlets game and are also doubtful for the meetings with Clermont after it was confirmed they will not train for two or three weeks.
David Wallace was injured when playing the Pumas but is expected to resume light training this week and coach Tony McGahan will be encouraged by the news that Frankie Sheahan and Denis Leamy, who both left the field early against the All Blacks, have been cleared to train in Limerick tomorrow.
Munster have pencilled in the Magners League meeting with Connacht as the likely debut for New Zealand flanker Nick Williams, while namesake and scrumhalf Duncan emerged unscathed from 40 minutes for Cork Constitution yesterday.
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