Murray Kinsella reports from Queenstown
SEAN O’BRIEN HAS been cleared to play in the third Test against the All Blacks after his citing for allegedly striking Waisake Naholo with a swinging arm in the second Test on Saturday in Wellington was dismissed.
O’Brien’s disciplinary hearing in Wellington on Sunday evening lasted almost three hours, during which time the three-man Australian judicial panel deliberated over the Ireland flanker’s citing.
The Leinster man was not penalised for the incident during Saturday’s game at Westpac Stadium, but he was later cited by the Australian citing commissioner Scott Nowland.
However, having “conducted a detailed review of all the evidence available, including all video footage and additional evidence from the Player and submissions from his legal representative” O’Brien’s citing complaint was dismissed by the panel in Wellington.
The panel was made up of Adam Casselden, David Croft and former Munster player John Langford.
Earlier today, the All Blacks lost centre Sonny Bill Williams to a four-week suspension in the judicial hearing the preceded O’Brien’s.
Williams was red carded in Saturday’s Test in Wellington for a no-arms tackle to the head of Lions wing Anthony Watson.
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Post fight interview was cringe
@Chris Irwin: Disagree. Perfect interview to make a name for himself in the States.
Shur, he hardly touched him! (Eeek!)
His defence was non-existent. Got lucky with the ko. Interview was cringe.
Fair play to him . But why is name dropping that other tool?