Lions coach Clive Woodward has demanded action against All Blacks captain Tana Umaga and hooker Keven Mealamu after Lions skipper Brian O’Driscoll dislocated a collarbone in a crunching tackle early in the first rugby Test.
The 3-21 loss to the All Blacks proved costly for the British and Irish Lions. Their side lost O’Driscoll as well as veteran flanker Richard Hill, who wrenched a knee early in the match.
Utility back Tom Shanklin had been ruled out of the tour earlier in the day with knee problems.
After viewing a video of the incident which ended O’Driscoll’s tour one minute into the Test, a fuming Woodward told journalists early on Sunday that the two All Blacks should have been ordered off during the match.
”In my opinion it is a pretty horrendous tackle and it has put him out for a long time,” Woodward said.
The case is in the hands of independent citing commissioner Willem Venter who will decide later on Sunday whether there was a need for a full hearing into the incident.
O’Driscoll will likely be out of the game for a lengthy period, and Woodward was convinced action needs to be taken against Umaga and Mealamu.
”I’ve now watched the tapes and I’ve spoken to Brian, who is in a sling, and he is in no doubt he was spear-tackled by two New Zealand players, Keven Mealamu and Tana Umaga,” said Woodward.
The Lions have reported their conclusion to the citing officer who had 12 hours to confirm whether or not action would be taken against the two players, Woodward said.
Immediately after the match, Umaga was reluctant to comment on suggestions of foul play.
”I’m obviously not going to talk about those kind of things. There were a few incidents out there that will probably be under scrutiny in the next couple of days,” he said.
However, Woodward said the incident was very clear on the video tape.
”In a ruck the ball goes away and one player lifts up one leg and the other lifts up the other leg and they spear him into the ground. The ball was long gone and it is a bad injury,” the Lions coach said.
”And it could have been a lot worse.”
Woodward said O’Driscoll was angry because he was in ”a totally defenceless position” when the incident happened.
No immediate decision was taken on calling in replacement players for the Lions. Woodward has ruled out anyone arriving in time to be considered for the second Test in Wellington next Saturday.
”We’ve lost Richard Hill. He’s got a serious knee problem so he’ll be out of the trip and also Tom Shanklin was ruled out of the trip this morning,” said Woodward, calling it ”a tough day all-round”.
Earlier in the tour the 45-man Lions squad lost loose forward Lawrence Dallaglio, lock Malcolm O’Kelly and number eight Simon Taylor. ‒ Sapa-AFP