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Sean O'Brien cleared to play in third Lions Test as citing is dismissed

The Ireland flanker’s hearing in Wellington lasted almost three hours.

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.

Sean O'Brien with Beauden Barrett Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO

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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