Murray Kinsella reports from Queenstown
SEAN O’BRIEN HAS been cited for dangerous play in the Lions’ second Test win over the All Blacks and now faces the prospect of being banned for the decisive third Test in Auckland next weekend.
A judicial panel will hear O’Brien’s case at 8pm local time in Wellington on Sunday [9am Irish time on Sunday] after Australian citing commissioner Scott Nowland cited him for striking Waisake Naholo with a swinging arm.
The incident occurred in the 59th minute and forced Naholo off the pitch for a HIA, which he did not return from.
Nowland deemed O’Brien’s actions to have “met the threshold for a red card.”
As with the Sonny Bill Williams judicial hearing, which takes place at 5pm on Sunday in Wellington [6am Irish time on Sunday], the panel will consist of three Australians: Adam Casselden, David Croft, and former Munster player John Langford.
Given that Nowland deemed O’Brien’s actions worthy of a red card, the Lions now face the prospect of being without their highly-influential openside flanker for the third and decisive Test.
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