Sonny Bill banned and O'Brien not
British and Irish Lions flanker Sean O'Brien avoided a ban on Sunday for an alleged strike during the second Test against New Zealand, meaning he is free to play next week's decisive third game.
In a major boost for the Lions, a judicial panel cleared O'Brien over the alleged strike on Waisake Naholo, which the citing commissioner had said "met the threshold for a red card".
"Having conducted a detailed review of all the evidence available... (the panel) dismissed the citing complaint," a statement said.
The decision comes after the panel issued a four-week ban for Sonny Bill Williams, who became the first All Black to be sent off on home soil during Saturday's 24-21 Lions victory.
O'Brien will be a key man as the Lions bid to win their first series in New Zealand since 1971, as shown when he completed a brilliant running try in the tourists' first-Test defeat in Auckland.
"Having conducted a detailed review of all the evidence available... (the panel) dismissed the citing complaint," a statement said.
The decision comes after the panel issued a four-week ban for Sonny Bill Williams, who became the first All Black to be sent off on home soil during Saturday's 24-21 Lions victory.
O'Brien will be a key man as the Lions bid to win their first series in New Zealand since 1971, as shown when he completed a brilliant running try in the tourists' first-Test defeat in Auckland.
Twitter - @SportswaveAndre