Henry fed up of tackle talk

NEW Zealand coach Graham Henry believes it is time to “move on” and stop dwelling on the spear tackle on Brian O’Driscoll during the opening Lions Test last summer.

The Irishman was left with a dislocated shoulder after he was tackled by All Blacks captain Tana Umaga and Keven Mealamu after a minute’s play in Christchurch, with suggestions they deliberately targeted the tourists’ influential player.

New footage has given a different perspective on the challenge, but Henry - whose side tour to Britain and Ireland next month - wants the issue to be forgotten and is annoyed by the continued debate.

He told Sky Sports: “I haven’t seen it and quite frankly I think we should let it go and move on, I think it’s ridiculous quite frankly and I’m disappointed it’s continuing. Nobody went out intentionally to hurt anybody, it’s unfortunate it happened and we felt sorry for Brian O’Driscoll at the time, and it is time - sensibly - that we moved on.”

Wallaby coach Eddie Jones says international rugby has far more pressing matters to address than spear tackles. Jones is more concerned that international teams are finding it almost impossible to score after the third phase. He made it clear where his priorities rested after being asked about his stance on the International Rugby Board’s crackdown on spear tackles, which could see offenders suspended for up to six months.

“I don’t think spear tackles are a huge issue in the game,” Jones said at Sydney Airport before leaving with the Wallabies for their European tour.

“It worries me from the point of view that there are many other things in the game we have got to get right rather than spear tackles.

“The thing we have got to get right in the game is an even contest between the attacking side and the defending side.”