O’Driscoll tackle ‘done and dusted’

THE International Rugby Board (IRB) insist the Brian O’Driscoll spear-tackle case is “done and dusted” — but will use new footage of the incident as an example to referees of the sort of ‘illegal ’conduct to clamp down on in future.

The Irishman was left with a dislocated shoulder after he was up-ended and dumped to the ground by New Zealand captain Tana Umaga and Keven Mealamu after a minute of play in the Lions' first test match in Christchurch last summer.

An independent citing officer decided to take no action against the All Blacks pair, despite the protests of Lions coach Clive Woodward, and the IRB have made it clear no action will be taken now either.