O'Driscoll has 'no animosity' over tackle

This time Irish captain Brian O'Driscoll was prepared for the tackle.

But he had to wait about 10 minutes yesterday to show his vocal defence had repaired as well as the right shoulder he damaged in the controversial dual tackle from Tana Umaga and Keven Mealamu on last year's Lions tour.

O'Driscoll said he had no ill-feelings towards the All Blacks.

He accepted there was no malice and that Umaga and Mealamu were not dirty players.

"There is no animosity on my part," he said. "Of course it was a difficult moment in my life and in my career, but I'm a big believer in time healing all wounds."

O'Driscoll said he had made some strong statements last year when his emotions were raw and on reflection it would have been better to have chilled out.

He would not make a detour trip to see Umaga in Wellington and if he ran into the former All Black captain at either of Ireland's tests he would keep any handbag gags to himself.