British & Irish Lions officials have lodged a complaint with the match citing officer following an incident that ended captain Brian O’Driscoll’s New Zealand tour.
The second-minute incident left O’Driscoll with a dislocated shoulder, with the Lions alleging he was double spear-tackled by All Blacks hooker Keven Mealamu and skipper Tana Umaga.
Richard Smith QC, who provides legal support for the Lions, has brought the incident to citing commissioner Willem Venter’s attention, and the South African has 12 hours to decide on a possible citing.
Lions head coach Sir Clive Woodward, accompanied by media consultant Alastair Campbell, called an impromptu post-midnight news conference local time in the travelling media’s hotel in central Christchurch.
"I have watched the tapes from all the angles, and spoken at length with Brian, who is back at the hotel [with his shoulder] in a sling," Woodward said.
"He is in no doubt he was spear-tackled by two New Zealand players, the hooker and Tana Umaga.
"Via Richard Smith, we have reported that incident to the citing officer. He has 12 hours to either confirm that action will be taken against the two players, or not.
"In my opinion, it is a pretty horrendous tackle which has put Brian out for a long time. It took half an hour to put his shoulder back in.
"This guy [citing officer] has got 12 hours now to say one way or the other whether he is prepared to take action for what I would describe as a double spear-tackle that has put O’Driscoll out of the trip."
