MAURO BERGAMASCO WAS extremely lucky not to see yellow or red following a gruesome dump tackle on Leinster’s Brian O’Driscoll.
The Zebre flanker zeroed in on the Blues’ captain at the end of the first-half, in the Pro12 win over Zebre, and lifted him shoulder high before tipping him into the turf.
The Italian then compounded matters by holding O’Driscoll’s head on the ground for several seconds as the Irishman reacted angrily. O’Driscoll complained to referee Neil Paterson and his touch judges but the foul play was not spotted by any of the officials.
O’Driscoll was out of the game for six months with a dislocated shoulder following a tip tackle by All Blacks Keven Mealamu and Tana Umaga in 2005. He was able to finish the half on this occasion and returned to the field for the final 40 minutes.
YouTube credit: RaboDirectPRO12
O’Driscoll was certainly clear of mind in the second-half as he set up Isa Nacewa for a try with a wonderful, flicked pass:
YouTube credit: RaboDirectPRO12
