Mauger insists O'Driscoll incident was accidental
All Blacks centre Aaron Mauger tonight described the sickening 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.
O’Driscoll saw his Lions Test captaincy last just 77 seconds, and he has now been replaced as leader by Welsh international Gareth Thomas.
While O’Driscoll copes with the mental and physical pain of an injury that could sideline him until Christmas, both Umaga and Mealamu are set to run out in next Saturday’s second Test at the Westpac Stadium.
Match citing commissioner Willem Venter decided not to intervene, despite the Lions highlighting what they viewed as a major episode of foul play.
Umaga once received a top fair play award for stopping in a Test against Wales to check that Colin Charvis had not swallowed his tongue after being knocked out by a tackle from All Blacks flanker Jerry Collins.
But 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 today.
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, which is likely to worsen in the short-term 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.
Having produced average rugby – at best – on this forgettable trip, the Lions have inevitably been written off by many pundits, and All Blacks supporters certainly do not expect their heroes to trip up against seemingly inferior opponents.
“I think the boys are in pretty good shape and pretty excited about the possibility of finishing it off this weekend, putting the series beyond their reach. It is not going to be too hard to get up for that, mentally,” said Mauger.
“I think our boys did a pretty good job of shutting them out of the game, especially up-front, last Saturday. Our tight-five domination really set the platform.
“I think though, the Lions will be hurting a little bit after the weekend, and they will be keen to come back and give us a good crack. It should be a lot tougher this week.
“But 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.”
Lions head coach Sir Clive Woodward seems certain to make mass changes, given his team’s appalling performance in Christchurch, but while Mauger perhaps expects to see call-ups for the likes of Gavin Henson, Geordan Murphy and Shane Williams, he predicts at least one constant – Jonny Wilkinson.
Wilkinson looked out of sorts at inside centre last weekend, and it would be no surprise if Woodward switches him to fly-half, should he retain his services.
“You have got to fit Jonny in there somewhere, because he is a pretty special player.
“It is pretty hard to see Jonny not involved. He has won games in the past, especially during the World Cup,” added Mauger.
“It doesn’t take much for a guy like that to click. He could do a couple of things well, and he could destroy you.
“They (Lions) have got the players to play a structured game, and the players for an expansive game. I am sure players like Geordan Murphy and Shane Williams will come into contention for this game – they can spark a game alight.
“I was a bit surprised Geordan Murphy didn’t get a look-in for the first Test, and from what I have seen from Henson, he is a pretty skilful player who has got all the attributes to go well. He is certainly a guy we will be wary of.”
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