No punishment for O'Driscoll tackle duo
Saturday, 25 June 2005 19:05All Black pair Tana Umaga and Keven Mealamu have been cleared of any wrongdoing after they were cited by Lions officials for a double-spear tackle that left Brian O'Driscoll with a dislocated shoulder and out of the tour.
Instead, Lion Danny Grewcock has been cited for allegedly biting Mealamu.
Lions coach Clive Woodward was furious about the incident that ruled his captain out of the second and third test against New Zealand.
"I have watched the tapes from all the angles, and also spoken at length with Brian who is back at the hotel with his shoulder in a sling," he said.
"He is in no doubt he was spear-tackled by two New Zealand players, the hooker and Tana Umaga."
"In my opinion, it is a pretty horrendous tackle that has put Brian out for a long time. It took half an hour to put his shoulder back in, and after watching it he was pretty lucky, if we are honest.
"Brian was in a ruck, the ball goes away and one player lifts up one leg, one lifts up the other, they turn him over and spear him into the ground. The ball was long gone," he added. "It is a very serious injury, and looking at it, he was lucky to get away with what he did, because he landed on his neck. It could have been a lot worse.
"Brian is fuming. He is extremely upset and very angry. The incident is very clear, and it's a shame because it is the only bad incident we have had on the whole trip."
