Mauger insists O’Driscoll incident was ‘accidental’

ALL BLACKS centre Aaron Mauger believes the incident which ended Brian O’Driscoll’s Lions tour as “a pure accident.”

Lions players and management are still fuming about the double spear-tackle by All Blacks skipper Tana Umaga and hooker Keven Mealamu which put O’Driscoll in hospital with a dislocated shoulder.

And there was a reminder of Saturday’s incident when Umaga ran out for the All Blacks’ public training session at the Basin Reserve in Wellington yesterday. As the New Zealanders trained, a banner was unfurled on the terraces, proclaiming ‘Shame Tana - Cheap Shot.’

Mauger, though, is certain his midfield partner Umaga meant O’Driscoll no harm, claiming: “It was a pure accident, really.

“If you look at Tana’s record, he is a pretty clean player, so we have put that behind us. It has been dealt with, and we are just moving on.”

And Canterbury star Mauger sympathised with O’Driscoll’s plight as he prepares for the probability of surgery.

“The boys certainly wish Brian all the best with his recovery. It is pretty sad to see a good player like that leave the tour so early,” Mauger added. “Personally, I was looking forward to getting a bit of a run against him to match myself against one of the best players in the world. It is a shame he is out of the tour.”

On the field, Mauger insists the All Blacks will adopt a no-mercy approach to a second Test showdown that could finally put the Lions out of their misery.

“If we concentrate on this weekend, we can finish this series. The motivation for us is just knowing if we play well and to our potential, then we will finish the series on Saturday.”

Trevor Leota, the 20 stone Samoan hooker, has left Wasps by mutual consent to pursue a new career in the Super 14.