British and Irish Lions loose forward Sean O'Brien is free to play in the deciding test against the All Blacks after being cleared by a judicial hearing last night.
O'Brien was cited for dangerous play which was deemed to have met the threshold for a red card during the second test in Wellington, won 24-21 by the Lions.
Citing Commissioner Scott Nowland cited O'Brien under law 10.4 (a) for allegedly striking All Blacks winger Waisake Naholo with a swinging arm.
Naholo had to go off for a concussion test and did not return to the field. The Citing Commissioner said the incident, in the 19th minute of the second half, was deemed to have met the threshold for a red card, therefore was worthy of a judicial hearing.
However, the hearing, which lasted nearly four hours, eventually cleared O'Brien, leaving the Irish flanker free to don the number seven jersey at Eden Park on Saturday.
