RUGBY NEWS: SAM TUITUPOU may be joining fellow Munster centre Lifeimi Mafi on the sidelines through suspension having been cited for upending London Irish scrumhalf Paul Hodgson in last Saturday’s Heineken Cup match in Reading.
Tuitupou was sinbinned for the incident after 22 minutes of Munster’s 23-17 defeat at the Madejski Stadium (they conceded six points during his absence) by referee Christophe Berdos but match commissioner Ray Wilton (Wales) believed he has a case to hear for “lifting from the ground and dropping or driving a player into the ground” under IRB law 10.4 (j).
Simon Thomas, also from Wales, has been appointed as the independent judicial officer for the hearing that will take place at the ERC offices in Dublin tomorrow.
If found guilty the low end suspension is three weeks, mid-range six weeks, with the top end between 10 and 52 weeks.
Mafi is serving seven weeks for a dangerous tackle on Gordon D’Arcy in the Magners League defeat to Leinster on October 2nd so Munster coach Tony McGahan is potentially without two centres for the visit of French Top 14 league leaders Toulon to Thomond Park on Saturday.
Having touched down for the try that salvaged a precious bonus point in defeat to London Irish, the loss of Tuitupou, capped nine times by New Zealand, would leave a void at inside centre.
The versatile Paul Warwick is an obvious candidate to return to the side at 12 rather than his usual role at fullback, where Johne Murphy currently resides although Murphy can also play centre.
The Kildare-born former Leicester player is proving to be the signing of the season after two excellent recent displays.
Cork Constitution centre Tom Gleeson is another option, having been promoted to a full contract this season.
Niall Ronan’s head laceration, which curtailed his involvement against London Irish to just 32 minutes, makes him a doubt, although David Wallace’s second-half display makes him almost certain to return to the openside flank either way.
Alan Quinlan also comes back into contention after being dropped, while Jerry Flannery’s 40 minutes for Shannon last Friday night against Garryowen indicates the Irish hooker should be part of the squad announced today.
Flannery last played a professional game in June, for Ireland against the Barbarians, after a string of injuries that included a troublesome calf.
“What it came down to was that a nerve was getting pinched in my back,” Flannery told The Limerick Leader. “That was why I kept tearing my calf. We didn’t figure this out for a while. The feeling was this is a calf injury, it shouldn’t be dragging on this long. So that is why I got the anti-inflammatory injections in the spine. It was helping to soothe the nerve and fix things. It has worked so far.
“I am almost ahead of schedule hitting this game against Garryowen. Originally, I wasn’t aiming to be back until this week. Everything has gone well so far.”
With Denis Fogarty also injured, Damien Varley is currently in possession of the number two jersey.
“There is a lot of rugby to play,” continued Flannery. “The trick now is to try and stay fit. There is a lot of competition everywhere for places. If you are not fit, you are not even considered.
“Hopefully, I will be considered for selection. They may want me to play some more club rugby or they may want me involved in the game with Toulon. That is up to the management team.”
Three other players have cases to answer arising from incidents in last weekend’s first round of matches: Clermont’s Canadian lock (and former sparring partner of Paul O’Connell) Jamie Cudmore is cited for allegedly stamping on Saracens’ Jacques Burger, Cardiff flanker Martyn Williams for allegedly kneeing Edinburgh’s Chris Patterson and the Scarlets’ Jonny Fa’amatuainu for an alleged dangerous tackle on Perpignan winger Adrien Plante
These hearings will also take place tomorrow at Huguenot House on St Stephen’s Green.
