Tipoki Finished

Timothy Bryce

From Breakingnews.ie

Munster centre Rua Tipoki has lost his battle with injury and will return to New Zealand at the end of the season.

"I have had ongoing problems with my hamstring since October 2008 and despite the best efforts of the medical and fitness staff I have struggled to regain full fitness.

"Frustratingly, after recovering from a knee injury in that game, I suffered another hamstring injury against Ulster in Thomond Park in January. I have since suffered recurrences of the same injury which have meant I have not yet been able to play in competitive games, despite being able to take a limited part in training.

"It has been a deeply frustrating time for me as I would dearly love to get back to helping the boys achieve the goals that they'd set out at the start of the year. At the minute, however, I am not up to the level of fitness required and would not like to do the jersey or the team an injustice by taking the field when I know I can’t give my all.

"Everyone in Munster has been really supportive and understanding. I appreciate their encouragement and just wish I could maybe repay them by getting back and playing a bit of footy.

"This time in Munster has been brilliant for me and my family and while there is only one place you can call home, we will leave Munster with some great memories and having made lifelong friends".

bleg

ya saw that last night alright. pity, he wasa huge help to us and was unfortunate with injury. good luck and thanks.

spoon

Sorry to see the guy go. He was a great player and character and brought a lot to the team both on and off the pitch. Would have loved if he could have stayed on in a coaching role. He will be missed, but now it's Earls time to shine I hope!

anonymous_joe

Great player, with one hell of a violent temperament. Shame to see anyone retire but he really did have discipline problems.

Not entirely sure he's a good role model for young players to copy.

[Jackass]

I think this was always going to be his last season, after all he's 34, but it's a shame it had to be cut short by injury. Luckily for Munster they have plenty of cover in the likes of Earls and Murphy not for it to have too much of a negative impact.

Pshan

anonymous_joe wrote: »

Great player, with one hell of a violent temperament. Shame to see anyone retire but he really did have discipline problems.

Not entirely sure he's a good role model for young players to copy.

I'd be shocked if there wasn't a sting in the tail from you in regards to a Munter player.

He was one hell of a player for Munster and despite his age will be missed.

anonymous_joe

Pshan wrote: »

I'd be shocked if there wasn't a sting in the tail from you in regards to a Munter player.

He was one hell of a player for Munster and despite his age will be missed.

In fairness Tipoki was always a good player for Munster, and indeed maybe always a great player, but doesn't he still have a record for the longest ever ban in Super 14's history?

I don't like violence on the pitch. I wasn't happy with Elsom and Cullen against Connacht this season. It's a nasty unpleasant thing and does nothing but harm rugby. The sport is growing massively in terms of popularity in this country, and the last thing we need is for rugby to be dismissed as violent, squalid and nasty.

Anyone know if Tipoki's going into coaching or what?

NickNolte

Sorry to see him go as it's always good to have a player of his quality on these shores. Agree with anonymous_joe though, his temper didn't really endear me to him as a person.

zenmonk

Never put a foot out of place for Munster. Great player , hard as nails, I'd say the likes of Earls and Murphy learned alot from watching him.

zenmonk

Pshan wrote: »

I'd be shocked if there wasn't a sting in the tail from you in regards to a Munter player.

Seconded

thehighground

anonymous_joe wrote: »

Great player, with one hell of a violent temperament. Shame to see anyone retire but he really did have discipline problems.

Not entirely sure he's a good role model for young players to copy.

I actually think he is to be admired for turning his game around and actually learning to control his temper.

Must be very difficult to do when you get a reputation because everyone would have been trying to get him to lose the plot.

He picked up three yellows in his time in Munster. Sounds like to me he got it under control.

An excellent role model for turning himself around.

A fine player for Munster, best of luck to him - who will ever forget the 'Munster haka'.

thehighground

anonymous_joe wrote: »

I don't like violence on the pitch. I wasn't happy with Elsom and Cullen against Connacht this season. It's a nasty unpleasant thing and does nothing but harm rugby. The sport is growing massively in terms of popularity in this country, and the last thing we need is for rugby to be dismissed as violent, squalid and nasty.

You mustn't have been happy with this either

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRZRQI_69OQ

vorbis

Shame his last season was cut short by injury. Always gave his all for Munster and was one of our key players over the last few seasons. A key player in giving our back line more bite, he will be missed.

anonymous_joe

thehighground wrote: »

I actually think he is to be admired for turning his game around and actually learning to control his temper.

Must be very difficult to do when you get a reputation because everyone would have been trying to get him to lose the plot.

He picked up three yellows in his time in Munster. Sounds like to me he got it under control.

An excellent role model for turning himself around.

A fine player for Munster, best of luck to him - who will ever forget the 'Munster haka'.

There might be something in that in fairness.

thehighground wrote: »

You mustn't have been happy with this either

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRZRQI_69OQ

Well t'would be pretty hypocritical to be disgusted with what was done to O'Driscoll and then enjoy that.

As I said, I don't like violence in rugby (or any sport really). It does nothing but damage the sport as a hole.

bleg

i like seeing a few handbags in rugby i must say, gets the crowd going and the blood rushing. gert smal's punch is somewhere on youtube and it's an absolute beaut.

Fozzie Bear

bleg wrote: »

gert smal's punch is somewhere on youtube and it's an absolute beaut.

Christ. You can actually see the tweety birds spinning around Knights head!!

Ouch

[Jackass]

The worst I saw this season was John Fogarty against Connacht in the RDS. He landed about 6 or 7 punches to the face of a Connacht player who was defensless in a rook and could not free his arms even protect his face.

As far as I recall he went unpunished in the match, but even as a Leinster supporter I was disapointed to see he didn't get a very lengthy ban. Jackman was even injured at the time and that would have left us with Blaney!! :eek: But I don't care, I don't mind the odd punch up and man to man stuff, as said, it gets the blood going and at least shows the passion in the players and lifts the crowd.

Fogarty was just cowerdly and it was real sucker punch type stuff. Not something you want to see in any sport ... except perhaps boxing But maybe he was settling a few scores from his time at Connacht ... who knows.

Cullen v Connacht also sucker punched Keatley (I think?) as he ran by celebrating a try and then Rocky saw yellow from the following scuffle - that is also cowerdly stuff I don't like.

Tipoki may have had a bad disciplinery record, but he was a fine servant to Munster rugby and no team is perfect, every team has players who act up.

thomond2006

A really great player. His partnership with Mafi in the centre was the most dangerous ever seen in the HC imo and I'm sure guys like Earls and Murphy have learned a lot from him.

I was hoping he might get some game time in the ML at the end of the season and go out with a bang, but that's sport. Shame he isn't as young as Mafi and Howlett.

Anyway, sad to see him go but well done for helping Munster win the HC again!! :)

Zzippy

[Jackass] wrote: »

The worst I saw this season was John Fogarty against Connacht in the RDS. He landed about 6 or 7 punches to the face of a Connacht player who was defensless in a rook and could not free his arms even protect his face.

As far as I recall he went unpunished in the match, but even as a Leinster supporter I was disapointed to see he didn't get a very lengthy ban. Jackman was even injured at the time and that would have left us with Blaney!! :eek: But I don't care, I don't mind the odd punch up and man to man stuff, as said, it gets the blood going and at least shows the passion in the players and lifts the crowd.

Fogarty was just cowerdly and it was real sucker punch type stuff. Not something you want to see in any sport ... except perhaps boxing But maybe he was settling a few scores from his time at Connacht ... who knows.

Cullen v Connacht also sucker punched Keatley (I think?) as he ran by celebrating a try and then Rocky saw yellow from the following scuffle - that is also cowerdly stuff I don't like.

Tipoki may have had a bad disciplinery record, but he was a fine servant to Munster rugby and no team is perfect, every team has players who act up.

Agreed, Fogarty should have got a lengthy ban for that. Punching a player who can't even defend himself is cowardly.
Don't forget Jennings in that match too, punched Frank Murphy in the head from behind, just as cowardly.
I thought Elsom was hard done by in the Connacht game though, Mike McCarthy went for him with the head and all he did was swing a punch to defend himself - Mike even had the wrong player in the first place, should have gone for Cullen! Cullen's elbow was a dirty piece of work, shows the character of the guy.

As for Tipoki, well I never saw him lose the head while playing for Munster, he was a great servant the last couple of years and really gave them some oomph in midfield. A great signing at the time, and now is a good time to move on with Earls coming through, so at least he won't be missed.

jdivision

I really think Tipoki took Mafi's game to another level, the aggressiveness in Mafi's game went through the roof after his arrival. Tipoki was brilliant, people talk about O'Connell's tackles but some of Tipokis were amazing. He'll be missed, not least for his intensity.

barnesd

So you're happy to judge Cullen's character but ignore Tipoki's previous indiscretions just because you didn't see them?

Jennings didn't puch Frank Murphy in the back of the head by the way, more shouldered him or something, and that's not what he got cited for. He was cited for punching someone else who was holding him off the ball.

Sangre

I don't call him called Eye-pokey for no reason.

louthandproud

Sangre wrote: »

I don't call him called Eye-pokey for no reason.

What do you call him then?

RuggieBear

ah lads can we keep it civil and without resorting to name calling. and is there really a need to be dragging up tit for tat acts of foul play and turning it into another provincial squabble.

Peter B

We will really miss Tipoki.

Fortunately we do have the players to fill his shoes.

Think how he turned for being a violent player to a brilliant leader and controlled player is a compliment to the man himself.

SomeFool

Peter B wrote: »

Think how he turned for being a violent player to a brilliant leader and controlled player is a compliment to the man himself.

True, tis a compliment to the coaching team at Munster for helping to being the best out in him too, hopefully they will work their magic on Williams next season!

louthandproud

louthandproud wrote: »

What do you call him then?

Eye-pokey, obviously

Aidric

Best of luck to Tipoki for the future, he was a great servant to Munster rugby. The timing is ok because Earls is there to step in to the breach in the centre.
Some dissappointing trolling from joe in this thread.

phog

He was a great servant to Munster rugby, I would put him in the Langford and Jim Williams mould as he not only brought his game to Munster but he helped develop existing players on his arrival none more than Mafi. He'll be a big loss but with Barry Murphy and Earls chomping at the bit there is certainly home grown talent to repalce him.

Best of luck Rua and to you family for the future.

toomevara

Aidric wrote: »

The timing is ok because Earls is there to step in to the breach in the centre.
.

Rumours of a big name signing to replace tipoki abound, scuttlebut or any truth?

chupacabra

toomevara wrote: »

Rumours of a big name signing to replace tipoki abound, scuttlebut or any truth?

Rumours are rumours until they are confirmed, so no truth. Having said that i wouldnt mind watching Jean De Villiers or Conrad Smith tearing around thomond next season.

Henry Ford III

De Villiers is strongly rumoured to have already signed. Immediately after that he got injured. Typical.

Zzippy

barnesd wrote: »

So you're happy to judge Cullen's character but ignore Tipoki's previous indiscretions just because you didn't see them?

Jennings didn't puch Frank Murphy in the back of the head by the way, more shouldered him or something, and that's not what he got cited for. He was cited for punching someone else who was holding him off the ball.

No, I said that I hadn't seen him do anything like that while playing for Munster, thats not the same. I hadn't seen any of his previous incidents before he joined Munster, if I had I might have a similar opinion.

Actually, Jennings did punch Murphy from behind, it was shown on TV3 news a day or two after the match, Murphy (I thought it was Keatley at the time but was incorrect) had no idea he was coming up behind him or was about to hit hit him.

Not trying to start any inter-provincial ****e, I'm neither Munster nor Leinster, but this holier-than-thou attitude is BS. I'm a Connacht fan and condemn my own players when they do something dirty, I don't try and justify their actions.

All I said in my initial post was agreeing with another Leinster poster, but I also pointed out that one of his team who he had called dirty was hard done by to get a yellow in the incident.

remus808

thomond2006 wrote: »

His partnership with Mafi in the centre was the most dangerous ever seen in the HC imo

:rolleyes:

Tomtom364

Henry Ford III wrote: »

De Villiers is strongly rumoured to have already signed. Immediately after that he got injured. Typical.

Oh well if hes injured then that proves he is signed. Because thats how munster do things. Sign a player and they get injured lol

handsomecake

anonymous_joe wrote: »

In fairness Tipoki was always a good player for Munster, and indeed maybe always a great player, but doesn't he still have a record for the longest ever ban in Super 14's history?

I don't like violence on the pitch. I wasn't happy with Elsom and Cullen against Connacht this season. It's a nasty unpleasant thing and does nothing but harm rugby. The sport is growing massively in terms of popularity in this country, and the last thing we need is for rugby to be dismissed as violent, squalid and nasty.

Anyone know if Tipoki's going into coaching or what?

yeah one of the dirtiest players to ever play the game. he fractured aguys eye socket in the super 14 with an elbow and also left jean de villiers with eye surgery with a punch in back play

phog

Tomtom364 wrote: »

Oh well if hes injured then that proves he is signed. Because thats how munster do things. Sign a player and they get injured lol

I suppose that's why we have two H/Cup trophies in the cabinet and one more on the way.

thehighground

handsomecake wrote: »

yeah one of the dirtiest players to ever play the game. he fractured aguys eye socket in the super 14 with an elbow and also left jean de villiers with eye surgery with a punch in back play

Pity you have to go down this road of digging up the past of a player who has been a delight to watch in his time playing rugby up here. Now for a bit of balance.

"A large part of Rua constantly feels he has to prove himself. It’s a constant battle – he’s always trying to prove he’s as good as the next fella."

That’s why Harbour took the unusual, from the outside at least, step of making Tipoki captain of the NPC team last year.

Whatever happens to the little second five-eighth in the future, what this incident has once again highlighted is the inequity of the Sanzar judicial process.

The logistical problems of organising a judiciary for a competition, which is spread over three countries in three different time zones has beaten Sanzar and left it with something which is less than ideal.

In the previous week Hilgendorf’s* midfield partner Scott Staniforth threw an elbow in the direction of Josh Blackie’s throat during a late tackle which left the Highlanders flanker on the ground receiving attention for some time and then got just one week for his indiscretion.

For the new Super 14 to have credibility it must sort out the issues that surround its judiciary – surely something in this technological age shouldn’t be insurmountable.[/B]

*Hilgendorf is the player that he got the 16 week ban for this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ed-Abx2aWuE

Note, the newspaper article referred to Tipoki as a journeyman, so hardly just one of his cheerleaders who can see no wrong in him:

"No one doubts the talent of the rugby journeyman. Tipoki has one of the biggest steps in New Zealand rugby, which is no small feat, and a surgeon’s eye when it comes to cutting through a defence. He can create indecision in defensive lines which appear to be well set, a rare skill and one that becomes even more dangerous when he is paired with his North Harbour team-mate Anthony Tuitavake."

spoon

His defensive work will be missed i feel. When himself and Mafi were on song, the two of them turned over an unreal amount of ball. Earls tackeling has improved since the game where Evans ran through him, but i don't think he will be able to turn over ball as much as Tipoke did.

Tomtom364

phog wrote: »

I suppose that's why we have two H/Cup trophies in the cabinet and one more on the way.

oh ya i know. i am a munster man and was there to see the lads raise both those trophies. as well as every home game in the magner league for the last 6 years (im only 17), and quiet a number of away pool and knock out games in the heineken cup. oh and a few away magners games...

but signing injured players seems to be munsters style.

handsomecake

thehighground wrote: »

Pity you have to go down this road of digging up the past of a player who has been a delight to watch in his time playing rugby up here. Now for a bit of balance.



Note, the newspaper article referred to Tipoki as a journeyman, so hardly just one of his cheerleaders who can see no wrong in him:

"No one doubts the talent of the rugby journeyman. Tipoki has one of the biggest steps in New Zealand rugby, which is no small feat, and a surgeon’s eye when it comes to cutting through a defence. He can create indecision in defensive lines which appear to be well set, a rare skill and one that becomes even more dangerous when he is paired with his North Harbour team-mate Anthony Tuitavake."

ive seen that from a different angle on rugbydump and its much worse. he absolutely shattered his face.he is a scumbag end of

Tomtom364

handsomecake wrote: »

ive seen that from a different angle on rugbydump and its much worse. he absolutely shattered his face.he is a scumbag end of

so is darcy a scumbag?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRZRQI_69OQ&NR=1

handsomecake

Tomtom364 wrote: »

so is darcy a scumbag?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRZRQI_69OQ&NR=1

im delighted you found that clip. ive been looking for it. i was using that darcy spear as evidence of irish hypocrisy regarding the o driscoll spear.

i think you think im a bitter leinster fan who derides munster. im not. i hate irish rugby full stop.
umaga was pilloried over here for his hit on o driscoll,no mention of darcys identical tackle in the maori match. only difference was poor little brians shoulder popped out......god love him.and as for hector o hochigain(however you spell the inbred ***** name),giving umaga a hard time.what a load of hypocrisy.

tipoki is a class rugby player i agree,but one of the dirtiest cheating scumbags to grace the super 14. he had loads of previous


so yeah darcy is a scumbag. ball was long gone

Tomtom364

handsomecake wrote: »

im delighted you found that clip. ive been looking for it. i was using that darcy spear as evidence of irish hypocrisy regarding the o driscoll spear.

i think you think im a bitter leinster fan who derides munster. im not. i hate irish rugby full stop.
umaga was pilloried over here for his hit on o driscoll,no mention of darcys identical tackle in the maori match. only difference was poor little brians shoulder popped out......god love him.and as for hector o hochigain(however you spell the inbred ***** name),giving umaga a hard time.what a load of hypocrisy.

tipoki is a class rugby player i agree,but one of the dirtiest cheating scumbags to grace the super 14. he had loads of previous


so yeah darcy is a scumbag. ball was long gone

Just the lil bit bout hector in there is enough to tell me you wont provide sensible debate so i wont bother.

Yours,

Tómas O'Gabhlann

handsomecake

Tomtom364 wrote: »

Just the lil bit bout hector in there is enough to tell me you wont provide sensible debate so i wont bother.

Yours,

Tómas O'Gabhlann

i could debate with you about rugby all night my friend.
hector clearly didnt know what he was talking about.
and as usual the green tinted spectacles came out

thehighground

handsomecake wrote: »

ive seen that from a different angle on rugbydump and its much worse. he absolutely shattered his face.he is a scumbag end of

If you are going to judge him to be STILL a sc***ag, despite an excellent disciplinary record with Munster, you might provide the link as to why you have come to this conclusion.

... using 'end of' just isn't convincing.

Tomtom364

handsomecake wrote: »

i could debate with you about rugby all night my friend.
hector clearly didnt know what he was talking about.
and as usual the green tinted spectacles came out

You completly missed my point. I was not on about his antics. I was refering to your disgraceful comments towards his name.

Now this has gone way off topic so i shall not be replying to you anymore.

Good day

RuggieBear

handsomecake banned.
i've already asked on thread for no more petty name calling of players. i thought that would be warning enough...