O’Driscoll calls time on injury controversy following Umaga ‘apology’

BRIAN O’DRISCOLL last night sought closure on the Tana Umaga spear-tackle controversy which clouded last week’s second Test build-up.

New Zealand captain Umaga escaped censure following the incident, which left his opposite Lions number nursing a dislocated shoulder and reflecting on a personal Test campaign which lasted less than two minutes.

The Alastair Campbell-led Lions ‘spin’ department then got to work, and the saga provided an unhealthy undercurrent ahead of a game which saw Umaga’s All Blacks triumph 48-18 in Wellington and clinch the Test series with one game remaining.